Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-14
Sunday School Lesson for March IS Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
JESUS HEALS NAN 30 RN BLIND John. ix.1,e


CONTEXT.-The address of Christ
in the temple was considerably pro-
longed, interrupted at times by the
questions Of the Jews. which were al
ways answered in an adroit way. Dur =
ing the controversy Jesus asserted His
nature and mission with increasing
clearness and holiness. At, last He as
tonished His hearers by declaring that
He existed prior to Abraham. (Chap.
viii:5S.) This was highly exasperating
to the excited persons, who, at the in
stigation of the clerical party. had
sought opportunity to do Him violence.
Regarding the statement as BIAS
phemous. they did not wait Tor any
formality Of trial. but took up stones
and cast at Him. BY quick movement
He eluded the murderous purpose and
escaped, going out of the temple into
the streets. The events of our lesson
followed. During the quarters lesson
we have seen Christ under various cir
cumstances. AS He gained first dis
cipleS at the Jordan, as He wrought His
first miracle in Cana, as He conversed
with Nicodemus in Jerusalem, as He
sat at Jacobs well teaching the woman
of Samaria, as He healed the noble
mans son, as He fed the five thousand
ON each occasion He manifested some
phase of His unique character called
out by the associations. Now shall we
study Him as related to a begSar, sit
ting by the wayside. brought suddenly
into His presence at time when. hu-
manly speaking, He might have been
excused from all service. Let US keep
the eye upon the Master as we advance,
for He is the central figure.
OCCASION oversees 1-3).--As He
passed hastily along, Jesus saw the
blind man sitting near the temple door.
where the beggars were accustomed TO
wait (Acts. iii:2), because there aims
giving was ostentatiously practiced
Matt, vi:D as a prominent feature In
religious service. duke, xix:S) 1t was
on the Sabbath (verse ~, when many
were coming and going. The disci-
Piles inquired whether the blindness
was the result of the mans sin or of
bis parents sin. They assumed, as the
patriarch's friend did Dob, iv:1; vtil:6).
and as the heather generally believed
(Acts, xxviii:4 that bodily ailments
were direct infections from God. In this
they were encouraged by rabbinical in
depreciation of the law, and they might
have understood Chriets words (John,
v:14) as an Endorsement aOf the view
On account Of this notion blind people
were summed as sinners John. :x:3D,
and the apostles, by their question, may
have sought to turn Jesus away from
one esteemed unworthy. But He IN
formed them that this blindness was
not the result of sim He did nos mean
that sin never brings bodily suffering.
duke. xiii:2-4.) He then added, but
that the works of God might be mani
tested" Some have construed this.to
signify that the man was born Dllhd
that a miracle might be performed. A
most horrid doctrine. Gam., iii:33.) He
meant rather to say that this furnished
an occasion for the display OF HIS
power, that the man was not TO be de-
spised, but helped. ~,
Jesus pause to help the blind beggar!
He states His motive. He had been sent
into the world This was the Messlanlc
idea (Mal., it'll; Matt. xi:1O). He was
here as a messenger or agent, the repre-
sentative of the Father John, WOO. AS
such he had been charged with doing
the works of God John, iv:3D, which
constituted the secret spring OF HIS being.
Those works had been determined In the
councils of the Divine mind John, v:19).
and they had been spe officially mentioned
in the prophecy. Not to do the works
would be to violate His commission. Be
sides He declares Himself to be the light
of the world, a fact several times repeat
ed John, i:4-9), and this also had been
predicted. The force of the remark was
twofold. Because He was the light He
must Shine by His wisdom and power,
SO that men might see. And because he
was the light men were looking constant
ly even on that occasion, for the glory
of His character, and He must not dis
appoint them. His deeds were credentials
John, v:36). He calls attention to the
further fact that His time was short.
Six months remained only before the
crucifixion. AS men work during the
day and cannot work at night, SO He
must occupy His time that at the end
He may report His work well done John.
xvfi:4. These considerations SO pressed
Him that He said must work. He
was impelled as in boyhoOd duke, HID,
tinued to the last phil. ii:S. which the
apostles afterward copied and commended
Eph., vic; Col, iv:5). 49,,
METHOD oversees 6-O.-How did
Jesus cure the blind man? He spit (old
English, spat) on the ground. made clay.
anointed the eyes, and sent him to
wash in the pool Of Sloan. The man
went, washed and same seeing. Jesus
went, washed and came seeing. Jesus
touching and speaking-on two other oc-
casions mark. vii:SS, viu:23-2). The
bathing was ordered by the prophet In
the cure Of Naaman. Q1 Kings, v:lo)
But why this method? Jesus had power
to cure without means Mark. x:o2), with
out speech, touch, ointment or pool. There
was no medicinal value in any appliance.
Why bring instruments? Perhaps IT
would be well to answer that it pleased
Jesus to do so. Some have suggested that
this method was an educational process
for the mans good, that, as faith was de-
sired, this condescended to his infirmity
and helped him to believe. Others argue
that there was a system of charms and
imported from India Oil
Kings, v:1D, in popular use at that time
and that Jesus desired to distinguish His
acts from them. Another key to the
might be found in the pool. ST.
loan was fountain near the eastern wall
of Jerusalem, from which a stream flowed
to supply the pool of Bethesda. John va.
1t was the kings pool (Neh., ii:14; iii:15),
having been highly esteemed and beauti-
fed by David The waters flowed from
Mount Zion, which signifed the throne
and kingdom of David, and pointed to
Messiah, as the rabbis assert. Evidently
the sacred writer's had Sloan in mind
psalms, xlvi:4; Zech., xiii:D. and used
1t as an emblem of the healing and
cleasing power of Christ. Hence the ira
dition concerning Bethesda. John. v:4.
BY sending the blind man there, Jesus
recognized and fulfilled prophetic symbol
and interpreted popular impression. If
any fail to appreciate this point, let them
reject it.
OUTCOME oversees S-1D.-Whats fol-
lowed the cure? The neighbors wondered.
questioned Ahe mans identity, secured his
statement, asked concerning the method |
and heard his description. What followed
that may be learned in the remainder Of
the chapter not included in our lesson.
The change in the man must have been