Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-14
Jesus Heals a
Man Born Blind
Sondsy School Lesson for March IS. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT.-John s:l-s1. Memory
verses. TO- IL
GOLDEN TEXT am the light of
the world. "-John 9:5.
TIME.-About six months after our
last lesson. October. A ID. % At the
Feast OF TabernacIes. which began that
year October H. Toward the close OF
the third year OF Jesus ministry.
PLACE.-The pool or Sloan, at Jeru-
salem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. l. "As Jesus passed by" Walking
to Jerusalem on Sabbath day ". IA.
probably near the temple where he
may have been worshiping, and
around the gates of which were usu-
ally crowds Of the poor and unfortu.
nate begging for help from the wor-
shippers. whose hearts were softened
by the religious influences of the
place. Saw a man which was blind
from his birth" OF the six miracles
connected with blindness which are
recorded in the Gospels. this is the
only case described as blindness from
birth. In this lies it's special charac.
teristic ". 32)
V. 2. who did sin, this man, or his
parents. that Gas the result Of his
SIM he was born blind?" The R. "
That he should be-" expresses the
meaning. Sin. as Jesus himself rec
ognized in more than one instance.
was the cause of suffering MARK q:
5; Luke 10: Is; John 5:14) Hence
the disciples wrongly inferred that
special suffering wss always caused
by some special sin.
V. 3. Jesus answered. Neither hath
this man sinned. nor his parents
Not that they were perfect. and had
never done wrong. but the afiliction
had not come as the result or pun
ishment Of any particular sin, beyond
that OF others who did not suffer an
shiiction., as I'm the case OF those up
on whom the tower OF Siloam fell
duke 13: 1-5) SuTerings do come
upon children from the sins of par.
ents. as stated in the second com
mandment: but Il is not a punishment
OF the sufferer Everybody in the
world to-day is suffering more or less
from the sins OF others. but the suffer.
ing is not a punishment for those
sins But (the blindness camel that
expressing not the purpose Of the
blindness but the result, the outcome)
the works OF God should be made
manifest in him" Manifest TO him
self. and through him to the world
all down the ages. Who would not
be willing TO be blind for few years
II thereby he could reveal and pro
claim Jesus as the light Of the world,
and reflect the goodness. the power
the comfort OF God 10 millions OF his
fellow-men? The blindness was no
wrong TO the man. for IT gave him a
knowledge OF Jesus. hope OF heaven
new virtues. and experiences which
could not have been his in any other
way
V. Z. Go. wash in the pool OF
Siloam.' 20 wash of the clay from his
eyes. The pool OF Sloan is in the
valley or the Kidron. south OF the
Temple Area. and 200 feet little
southwest OF the Virgins fountain (the
probable pool OF Bethesda from which
living fountain n stream flows through
a rock-cut aqueduct to the pool OF
Sloan. II must have been a large
pool 20 feet square. surrounded by
an arcade. II was from this pool that
the water was taken In a golden pitch
er in the celebration OF the Feast OF
TabeTnacles. Sloan (Hebrew)
by Interpretation. Sent" Greek
The pool may have been called sent
because the waters were sent" forth
from the aqueduct from the Virgins
Spring. The word sent" is so fire.
quently used by Jesus OF himself that
we naturally apply it here also to him
self as il the noiseless stream which
their fathers had d0spised lisa. $3.50
and which they could trace TO its
source. was a At type of him whom
the Jews rejected because they knew
his origin, and because he had no ex-
ternsl force. Exp. Greek Test.
He obeyed. He washed. and came
seeing either TO his home or TO the
temple region where Jesus had met
him.
Jesus the Light Of the World
/. Jesus is the Light OF the World be-
cause he brings light from heaven.
the light we need in our darkness:
The light OF the knowledge OF God, OF
his fatherhood, his love. his forgiving
mercy. his truth. his law, OF heaven
and the way there. Jesus himself,
with his character. his teachings, his
deeds. was himself Light in the world.
revealing these things.
2. He is the Light OF the world be-
cause he opens our eyes TO see the
light of heaven. and ourselves, and
life, and the world in the light of
heaven. New Life in the soul. the
life given by the Holy Spirit, is the
means OF our seeing the light
3. Jesus is the Light because he
sheds light on all our sicknesses, and
troubles, and burdens. He cures dis
eases, he makes all things work to-
gether for good to those that love
him. he gives new motives and hopes
that tighten our burdens.
An Example.-Very much OF our
growth and progress depends on bet
ter seeing-seeing more OF the mean
ing OF Gods Word. seeing God, seeing
eternal realities, seeing the signifi-
canoe of life, seeing opportunities OF
doing good. seeing better ideals and
possibilities. Heaven and earth. SO full
of blessings and truths, and opportu-
mites and glories. are often invisible