The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-02-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON C0ar-
AfENTS ron FEBRUARY %.
Subject: Jesus at the Pool Of Beth
esda, John 5:1-18 Golden
Text, Matt. SIR Commit
Verses 8, documentary


Verses 8, documentary.
TIME. April, A. D. 2s. PLACE.
Pool of Bethesda, Jerusalem
EXPOSITION.--I In Need Of the
Great Physician, 1-5. 1t was an oc-
casion of great rejoicing that took
Jesus up 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-
auirement of the Jewish law Elk
34;23; CT. Gal. 4:4) 1t was
wretched company that was gathered
around this pool this multitude of
them that were blind, halt, withered, /"
a picture of the multftudes 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 w.
| ~, 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. 1874; Jer 32:17).
I'll. Made Whole by the Great Ply
stefan, CD. 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 all
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 a
long time in his wretchedness espe-
1ially awakened the sympathy of
Jesus. The fact that any sinner has
oeen in his present evil case for a
long time is no reason for supposing
Jesus will not take an interest in him.
ave, or help, or heal him, but a.
'eason for supposing that He will
AXE special interest in him mark
5:21; Luke 8:43; Acts 81; cf. APP;
s:43; 1879. Jesus apparently Sc
ected 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
~ 81 implies that our being made
whole depends upon our will Jesus
s ever willing and able. The only
question is, are we willing (Rey.
22:17). The only reason why any
man does not obtain life in Christ is.
because He will not come to Him
lJohn 5:40). To every one of us
Iesus puts the question to-day, wilt
hou be made whole?' Jesus does
aot ask the man If he would be made
better but if ne would be made whole.
The trouble with the average sinner
S that he wishes to be made better.
3ut is not willing to be made whole.
srhis man could not make himself
swhole. The man must first recognize:
low dire was his need; so it is with
he sinner. The only way of being
made whole of which this man had
any thought was through the efficacy
Of 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 Cps 107:20l. There is
5ower in the word of Christ to-day
% save all who will believe it (Rom.
l:16). All one has to do to live is to-
aear and believe (John 5:24). The
cure was not only complete but in--
Simultaneous (cf. Mark 1881, AZ;
1:29, Al, AZ; 1882; Acts 3:7, 81.
III. Confessing the Great Physi-
,ian, 1918. The man used his
1hrist-given strength by doing what
The Lord Jesus told him to do, but he
,ound opposition in doing as Jesus.
oade 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
ne, etc. 1t is a sufficient answer to
any objection. The strength that
Jesus gives us should be used in
obedience to Him. The man did not
:ell 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
lid not wait for them even to ask
nim. He himself sought an oppor-
unity for witnessing. AS soon as
know who it is that has blessed us,
we ought to confess Him from.
1910; Matt. 1882, 3S). 1t took
courage to confess Jesus to these,
men. The man did it because his
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-
ton, Sin no more. Evidently sin
was the cause of this mans D .ovious:
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 are the result of our SHINING
we go back to our SHINING agais a
worse thing viii befall us (v. 14).
The Jews gave more thought to Jesus
disregard of their traditions than
they did to His goodness toward an
unfortunate man. Many to-day so
disregard their traditions that they
quite overlook the beneflcent work
God does through him. The hatred
Of the Jews toward Jesus for His dis
regard OF their tradition in perform
ing good deed to the impotent man
on the Sabbath went so far that they
sought to kill Him ". 49,.