The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-02-19


in February. 1905.
Z. ". OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES --
If you intend to study the notes at home fill out
the above notice and send it Mr.. Meyers.
Feb. 23' Jesus at the Pool of
Bethesda John 5:1-9.
The lesson of this day tells us that
Jesus went up to Jerusalem at the
time of a Jewish feast. While
there he stood by pool. fed by an
intermittent spring which made the
water at intervals be bubble up
or be troubled. 1t was commonly re-
ported that the water of this pool had
healing powers just after the surface
had been disturbed by the infiowing of
a new supply from the spring. Such
was the belief in the healing powers
of the water thar the pool that day
was surrounded by poor unfortunate
ones. blind. lame. with withered
limbs. 1t appeared to be- the rule
that the first one who entered the pool
after the troubling of the water, was
healed. The attention of the sympa-
thetic Jesus was attracted to the most
helpless person there. one who was so
disabled that he could not obtain heal
ing for those more active than
he, always reached the water first.
1t was this one. helpless from a hui
man point of view, whom Jesus adj
dressed and healed. Jesus said to-
this helpless one. the gracious words,
"Rise. take up thy bed and walk. "
The man did not hesitate. he had
faith to believe that he could act, al
though he had been afflicted for nearly
forty years. He sprang. gathered up
his crude bed. and went into the
temple. He did not know who it was
who had healed him. but later Jesus
found him in the temple and adnon-
ished the man to sin no more. lest a
worse thing come upon him. Then
he knew who it was. whose words had
wrought such wonderful things for
him: 1t would appear from the
words of Jesus that the disability had
come from the results of wrong do
ing. There is blessed thought that
Jesus cane to the most helpless to one
whom human agencies could not help,
and healed him. Thus no one need to
say or think that they are so wicked.
so far down in despair that they are
beyond the powers of Jesus to save
and help. He came to seek and to
save those who were lost.
A great miracle had been per-
formed and it should seem that the
Jews would have been rejoiced at
what they had seen. But no. for this
good thing was accomplished on the
Jewish Sabbath. Putting aside the
great healing. the Jewish leaders as
sailed Jesus furiously for wrong doing
in breaking the regulations for the
Sabbath which they had established
by custom. The fanatical spirit broke
out insisting that the letter OF the law
is greater than the spirit. These
Jews who thus reviled the Savior
were at another time fitting described
by Him as whited sephulchre
scrupuously clean without. but within
full of rottenness and sin. 1t is we'll
to beware of man or woman who
parades his or her superior holiness in
public. the chances are that this is
but a cover for secret wrong doing.
The healing. and the assault of the
Jews. was made the occasion for Jesus
to give a talk which is of much i'm
portance. He again asserted His Son
ship with God; said that those who
did not honor Him. did not honor God
stated that God would raise up those
who were dead: that those who be-
lieved on Jesus should have everlast-
ing life. and should not come into con-
demnation. He told of resurrection
from the dead. and a Judgment for
what we have done in the body. In
fact the remaining verses of this fifth
chapter of John are most precious and
important. The lesson thus teaches
us that Jesus will help even the most
unfortunate; that we should act on
His command as willingly as the sick
man; that the spirit of the gospel is
more important than the letter: to
avoid hypocrisy; to honor Jesus, and
that everlasting life is in store for
those faithful to Him.