Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Sunday School Lesson for February Is Discussed
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education


opportunity to reveal the state OF his
own mind. as already resting upon the
mark could shake It, The display OF
such faith could not go without its re-
ward tverse O). Jesus said. GO thy
way; thy son liveth.'' The healing had
already begun, through the exercise OF
Divine power over all the Intervening
space. 1t was not necessary for the
Lord to be present in body. He was pres
ent in spirit. He proposed to show for
the nrst time new element OF His ma
ture; a further proof OF His divinity
proves himself equal to this new test laid
upon him-"he believed the Word" and na
went his way. That was true faitsn-re-
lance upon ones utterances. The words
OF Christ are the fullest revelation OF
Him. and he who accepts those words as
as absolutely truthful shows highest con-
hdence John. iii:32.
REPORTING.-The nobleman went
home believing: every step was an act Of
faith He needed no evidence except
the word of Jesus. On that he rested
with fullest assurance that the desire OF
his heart had been attained. On the
way he met his servants coming TO re-
port that his son was alive verse 81.
The Information did not surprise him:
1t was only what he expected But there
appeared then a disposition to verify all
that had transpired-to connect to a GER
tainty the word spoken in Cana with the
cure wrought in Capernaum. He learned
that at the very hour when Jesus spoke
the fever left the son. The coincidence Of
the announcement and the occurrence was
PROOF to him that one was the cause OF
the other. That was good reasoning. for
there was no other adequate influence
that could have stayed the course OF the
disease and in an instant of time begin
the work OF restoration. 1t will be no
ticed that the report of the servants was
rendered on the day following the remark
or Jesus (verse J2), SO that the nobleman
had not FASTENED homeward.
BELIEVING.-Therew was a rejoicing
household. in Capernaum when the noble
man returned. A son saved from death
is an unspeakable blessing to an oriental
list duke xv:24). But the joy changer
Its character somewhat and took on an
element Of thanksgiving when the facts
or the journey were related in detail.
How the plea had been presented. how II
was at first received with apparent in
difference. how in more urgent words
the urgency Of the case was made
known. how the benign and gentle Jesus
had spoken, how the heart OF the father
chung to that word. how he turned away
homeward. feeling that the work was
done-all this the nobleman must have re-
cited again and again to eager listeners,
dwelling on the circumstance that at 1
CLOCK the fever left when Jesus uttered
the word. And as a result OF that ac-
count all the household Of the nobleman
believed In Jesus-believed Him to be tho
Son OF God, the Messiah Of the Jews
John, fn:2). These were the first con-
verts made in Capernaum, the beginning
OF that large number who afterward be-
came attached to Him in His future homo
(verse So.
REFLECTIONS.-Let us try to dis.
cover the elements OF the rulers faith.
which secured for him the life Of his son.
1. He heard that Jesus had done great
cures. and on that testimony he believed
Him to be able to work this cure . he
heard that Jesus was in Cana, and be-
lfeved that he might go to Him and plead
his own cause. 3. He had heard of the
goodness of Jesus. and believed that He
would be willing to go twenty miles to do
a generous deed. 4. He knew that his
son was near to deaths door but be.
lieved that Jesus might save his life s
He heard the rebuke administered to un-
believing Jews. who were incapable OF
faith except by demonstration to the
senses. vet he believed that Jesus had the
power to heal without being present. g.
He went home alone. not in great haste.
because he believed that the one he loved
would live Usa.. xxviii:16). Z. Withal. his
faith was contagious. 1t spread through
the family. Other hearts and minds than
his yielded their tribute to Jesus and new
plans and purposes. as well as new joys,
entered in to make a new home.