The new South-news., 1908-03-14

~ss ~~sso ~sO@Omh9t vetDet
10, 1l-COmmentary.
TnAE--October IL. A. d. 80.
PLACE-Jerusalem
EXPO6rTlCN. - 4. R~ceivins
Sight, IL. There are three words OF
Immense import in the first verse,
Jesus passed BY" Great things may
be expected to occur when Jesus
passes by. The case Of this man was
absolutely hopeless. He had been
blind from his birth. No human skill
could touch his case. But Jesus
passed by. That changed everything.
What man cannot do, Jesus can.
Jesus II ever passing our way in these
Gays. 10 We may constantly expect
wonderful things to happen (Jno. n:
I'D. This blind man IL q suggestive
illustration Of the upsaved sinner:
blind Il Cor. 2:1O, he never had
seen; he was beyond human help ".
32); his case was hopeless, humanity
speaking doubtless he himself had
given up all hope of ever seeing): he
was without human sympathy. sus-
pected and despised Tvs. 2, 34): he
was poor. beggar. But all his need
was only an opportunity for Gods
abounding grace in Christ Jesus not
only passed by, He saw" He ever
sees us In our need and distress (cf.
Elk. 3:7; 6:5). Contrast the feeling
OF Jesus disciples as they looked at
the man with that of Jesus Himself
Their feeling was one OF curiosity
and contempt. His OF deepest COM
passion G., 4, 60. Are we likest TO
the Master or the disciples? What is
your FEELING as you gaze upon the
poor, the outcast and the unfortu-
mater Jesus saw In this mans mis-
fortune a call to help: they saw In It
only the Just consequence OF sin. The
disciples thought all sickness must
be the direct consequence of sin.
Jesus plainly declares this is not SO.
that there is another purpose In ply
stcal inflrmity, viz: that the works
OF God should be made manifest"
They were made manifest in this
mans case by his healing. Some
times they are made manifest by
Gods sustaining grace in weakness
(2 Cor. 12:S-1M. Doubtless sickness
is often the direct result of sin. (Jno.
5:14; Mark 2:5: Acts 1920, In
other cases It Ia the indirect result.
When Gods children wander from
Him He suffers sickness to oyertake
them, to bring them to their senses
and Himself Cob 33:14-3O). But
sickness does not always arise from
this cause (Phil. 2:27, 80; 2 Kings
1910. We live in a day when men
are making sweeping cancellations
about sickness from only part Of the
data. Jesus did not teach py verse 3.
that neither this man nor ,his parents
had ever sinned. but that they did
not sin as the cause OF this blindness
tsee X. W The parent 30 far from
being sinless, sinned before the chap
ter ends. That is wonderful must
In verse 4. Il must m w., We must)
work the works OF Him. that sent Me.
while Y Is day" Indeed we must.
Night Is coming fast. mo man can
work then. Up ard at the work now.
Oh. those solemn words, The night
cometh.' the night OF death. when we
sleep. not work. not unconscious, but
shut out OF activity and shut up with
Christ In blessed communion (Phil.
l:23). but beyond the possibility OF
nnishing any work we have left un-
done mere. The other night cometh
when the church shall have been re-
moved from the earth. and the dark
ness OF the great tribulation shall
l.
works we muss do; not our own, but
the works OF Him that sent Me-" 1t
Is plain from comparing VS.. 2 and 4.
that Jesus considered delivering men
from evil far more important than
speculating about the origin of evil.
II we are to follow Jesus, we ought
not to wait until misery comes to us.
we should 60 to It, The command.
Go. wash. etc." was q test of faith
q Kings 51O-14: Mark 3:5; Luke
17:1D. Sloan" means sent" and
was q type Of Jesus Himself ". 4;
Jno. 1926; Ro. S:3; Gal. 40. II
We wish sight for our blind ewes We
should 60 to Him and bathe (Jno. S;
I'D. The man gave the best evidence
In the world OF faith. prompt obe-
dience. The result, he came see
Ing"
ii. Witnessing. S-12. The blind
mans cure occasioned discussion and
division. Christ's work always
arouses discussion and causes divis-
Ion. The discussion gave an oppor-
tunity for testimony. The man
showed his ma ILLNESS by saying, Il
am he" che that sat and beggad'D.
His frank testimony for Jesus cost
him excommr 1icasion ". 34). but II
brought him deeper. fuller knowl-
edge of the Lord Tvs. 35-3S). When
he was ask I'd how his eyes we're
opened he gave model statement OF
the case, shor,. right to the point and
giving the exact facts. He spoke OF
his oeliverer as the Man called
Jesus" Later in the day he said.
He Is prophet" ". ~. Later
still. he recognized Him aa .stha Cor