Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-02-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LFssov
MENTs FOR FEBRUARY IA

subject: Jesus Heals the Noble--.
Son, John 4:4S-54-Golden -
John 4:5o-Commit Verse. -
50-Commentary.
-, TINE. December. A. D. ;,
PLACE.-Cana. a.
EXPOSITION. II. The NJ,
mans Appeal to Jesus. 1870. e-
mad had a hearty welcome ana
sponsive hearing in Samaria
4-42). there had been a gIorior.v wa
vival thsNe. but His heart yearnsS
His own people in Nazareth vhers NJ
mad grown up, and He returned -
Galilee. 1t would have been ~ ,;,.,
use 10 go to them before He had -
tablished a reputation elsewhere ~
"a prophet hath no honor in his o -.
country" Human nature Is 81 ns..a
1t will not forgive a neighbor fo- ~.
passing his fellows, until he has h".r
well received elsewhere. But Jesns
had now demonstrated His power :,
the Capital, and Gahlee will ncs
listen. Indeed Galilee will he ~.
great scene of His victories. The oro
who came was kings officer. Not =
likely person to come to Jesus IN,
his deep need overcame his preiudica
There is nothing like a sense Of nsss
to drive men to Jesuc Matt e.1e.
15:22; 1874. IS; Luke 7:2, 81. All
Blessed are the Affections that brIn,
MS to Jesus. Many a man who hss
had nothing but contempt for Chris
and Christianity, has been found as
suppliant at His feet when the honr
of trial has come. The most effective
way to induce men to overcome ths
obstacles that lie between them ana
Jesus, is to bring them to a recogni.
ton OF those needs in themselves
which He alone can supply. This
nobleman's son was very sick, cat the
point of death" No human skin
could reach him. but there is moth
ing too hard for the Lord (Cen
1874: Luke S:49, 500. Often IN Jnr
own day does the Lord come in with
His healing when all earthly physI.
clans have failed. Indeed, mans err
tremity is ever Gods opportunitv.
And 1t Is not only extreme cases Of
sickness that can DE taken to Him.
but extreme cases OF sin, as well n
Tim. 1915; Heb. 7:25). He can heal
not only those who are eat the point
Of DEATH" but those who are already
dead" (Eph. 2:D. This man came
to Jesus because there was no one
else to whom he could go, no one else
who could help. For the same reason
men come to Jesus now (Jno. 6:6Sl.
II we would induce men to come to
Jesus, we must make clear to them
that there is no one else who can
save (Acts 4:12). Jesus wishes us 70
come to Him with all our troubles
Matt, 11:2S: Ps.. 50:15). There
was no haste on Jesus part in grant
ing the nobleman's request. The case
was, indeed, urgent, but there was
something more urgent than the heal
ing of the nobleman's boy; that was
faith. He had faith that rested
upon the sight, of signs and wonders.
Jesus would lead him out into a faith
that rested upon His naked word
comp. Oh. 20:29; l Jno. $40, II:
2 Pet. 1:17-19)! When Jesus said.
except We see signs and wonders, ye
will not believe" He was seemingly
contrasting the Jews With the Samar-
itans, who believed Him on simply
hearing Him Tvs. %, 42), though
they saw no miracles at all. The
Samaritans regarded Him and sought
Him as a Saviour; the nobleman re-
garded Him and sought Him as
Healer.
III. The Nobleman's Faith and Its
Reward, 50-54. At last Jesus saida
sfCa fhu NOV <huc nr lfuofh Navo~
had that nobleman heard such sweet
music. And Jesus is ready to say the
same thing to many to-day whose
hearts are breaking over their sins, II
they will only seek Him as this noble
man did. The mans faith rose to the
occasion. He believed the word that
Jesus spake." That word did not
seem at all probable. The sole ground
he had for faith was Jesus word.
His son was miles away; the man
could see no change that had taken
place, but he had Jesus word and
rested upon that. That was faith.
He proved that che believed the word
that Jesus had spoken unto him." BY
doing as Jesus had hidden him, he
went his way" He asked for no
come down." he counted that 1t was
all done because Jesus said so. From
Cana to Capernaum he walked By
faith. Jesus often demands OF us 70
walk in the same way. He gives US
bare promise-nothing else-and de-
mands that we walk by that. That
is enough. Happy is the man who
counts it enough. The nobleman's
faith proved to be we'll founded.
Faith that rests upon the sure WORD
of Christ always proves to be well
founded. Christ's words cannot fail
Matt. 24:35). Everything had
turned out as Jesus said 1t would, ana
everything will turn out every time
Just as God says It will (Acts 27;z5;
Josh. s3:14). The boys improve
ment had begun at the moment Jesus
had spoken the word. "He spake and
1t was done" He sent His word and
healed him" Surely the one who
had such power was the Son of God
(comp. rs. $3.50. 107:20). No Won
der that 1t is written that the noble
man himself believed and his whole
house." How could he do otherwise
IL he was an honest man? How can
any honest man read what Is recorded
In the various chapters of John with
out being convinced that the stories
related are true, AMI that the CHIEF
actor in them, Jesus, Is the Christ.
the Son of God?" The growth OF the
nobleman's faith Is an interesting and
suggestive study. In verse AZ we see
him believing in Jesus power, In
verse so believing in Jesus word. ana
in verse SO believing in Jesus Him
SELF.