The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
AENTS FOR FEBRUARY 23.
Subject: Jesus at the Pool OF Beth
esda, John 5:1-1S - Golden
Text, Matt. S:17 - Commit

TINfE.-April, A. D. %. PLACE.
Pool of Bethesda. Jerusalem.
EXPOSLTION.-I. In Need Of the
Great Physician, is. 1t was an oc-
casion of great rejoicing that took
Jesus I'D to Jerusalem, but there was
no Joy in it for those whom the open
ing of the chapter pictures to us.
There is not much real joy in any
feast without Christ in it. The com
ing Of Christ brought JOY to at least
one miserable man., Jesus went up to
the feast because this was the re-
uairement of the Jewish law (Ex.
34:23; CT. Gal. 4:4). 1t was a
wretched company that was gathered
around this pool, this multitude Of
them that were blind, halt, wfthered," I"
a picture of the multitudes of this
world. Men soon found out that the
best place to bring these afflicted ones
was to Jesus Himself (Matt. 1890.
Wretched men sought" the pool, but
Jesus first seeks the men. Apparent
ly the most miserable and helpless
and hopeless case present was the
one that Jesus specially noticed and
helped. He had been there often ".
y, and his case seemed to be beyond
all hope; but it was not beyond hope
because there is nothing too hard for
the Lord (Gen. 1914; Jer. 32:1D.
II. Made Whole by the Great Ply
sician, SO. Jesus saw this man in
his wretched and hopeless condition.
He always sees men in their wretch
edness, helplessness and hopelessness.
He was at once moved with compass
sion (cf. Matt. 14:14). Jesus al
ways has that feeling as He looks
upon the sufferings and misfortunes
Of man (Heb. 1873; AIS, 16; lisa.
$500. The fact that he had been q
long time in his wretchedness espe-
,ially awakened the sympathy Of
Jesus. The fact that any sinner has
oeen in his present evil case for q
long time Is no reason for supposing
Jesus will not take an interest in him.
save, or help, or heal him, but a
reason for supposing that He will
lake special interest in him Mark
9:21; Luke 8:43; Acts 3:2; CT. 4:22;
DAB; 14:8). Jesus apparently Sc
Iected this man from all the sad cases
1t the pool because it was the saddest
and most hopeless case Of all. He de-
lights in the hopeless cases. The
question that Jesus put to the man
". g. implies that our being made
whole depends upon our will. Jesus
IS ever willing and able. The only
question is, are we willing Grew.
22:17). The only reason why any
man does not obtain life in Christ is
because He will not come to Him
John 5:40). To every one of us
Jesus puts the question to-day, wilt
.hou be made whole?" Jesus does
lot ask the man If he would be made
better but If he would be made whole.
The trouble with the average sinner
IS that he wishes to be made better,
but is not willing to be made whole.
This man could not make himself
whole. The man must first recognize
now dire was his need; 80 it is with
:he sinner. The only way Of being
made whole of which this man had
any thought was through the efficacy
If the healing waters of the pool, but
Jesus spoke word and by the power
If that word he was healed. He must
De divine in whose word there is SO
much power (Ps. 107:20). There is
power in the word Of Christ to-day
10 save all who will believe it (Rom.
1:16). All one has to do to live Is to
hear and believe John 5:24). The
cure was not only complete but in
sts1taneous (cf. Mark 1891, AZ;
5:29, Al, AZ; 1852; Acts 81, 81.
III. Confessing the; Great Physi-
clan, 1O-15. The man used his
Christ-given strength by doing what
The Lord Jesus told him to do, but he
found opposition in doing. as Jesus
babe him. So will every one that
obeys Jesus e Tim. 3:12). The OBJ
lection raised was that he was trans
crossing the Jewish law. His all
sufficient answer was. He that hath
made me whole, the same saith unto
me, etc." 1t Is sufficient answer to
any objection. The strength that
Jesus gives us should be used in
obedience to Him. The man did not
tell them yet who had made him
whole, because he did not know him.
self, but as soon as he found out who
it was he told them without fear. He
did not wait for them even to ask
him. He himself sought an oppor-
tunity for witnessing. AS soon as we
/ know who it is that has blessed US,
we ought to confess Him (Rom.
1910; Matt. 10:32, 33). It took
courage to confess Jesus to these
men. The man did it because bis
heart was so full that his mouth must
speak (Matt. 12:34): One truly
saved cannot keep it to himself
Jesus found the man after He had
healed him in the temple. Jesus
ought often to find us in the house OF
God, after He has blessed US. Jesus
counsel to the man, and to all whom
He heals, is worthy of earnest medita-
tion, "Sin no more" Evidently sin
was the cause of this mans p 'evious
suffering, and Jesus to-day is ready
to heal the misfortunes which are the
result Of our own SHINING. If after
He has healed us of the sorrows
which ;.re the result of our SHINING
we go back to our SHINING again a
worse thing will befall us ". 1)
The Jews gave more thought to Jesus
disregard of their traditions than
they did to His goodness toward an
unfortunate man. Many to-day sc
disregard their traditions that they
quite overlook the benefcent WORK
God does through him. The hatred
of the Jews toward Jesus for His dis
regard of their tradition in perform
ing a good deed to the impotent mai
on the Sabbath went so far that the,
sought to kill Him ". 18).