Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-02-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY %.
Subject: Jesus at the Pool of Beth.
esda, John 5:1-1S Golden
Text, Matt. SLY - Commit

Text, Matt. SLY - Commit
Verses 8, documentary.
TIME.-April, A. d. 2s. PLACE
Pool Of Bethesda. Jerusalem.
EAPOSITION.|L. In Need of tn
Great Physician, 10. 1t was an oc
casion OF great rejoicing that tool
Jesus up to Jerusalem, but there wal
no JOY In 1t for those whom the open
ing OF the chapter pictures to us
There is not much real Joy in any
feast without Christ in 1t. The com
Ing OF Christ brought Joy to at least
one miserable man. Jesus went up tC
the feast because this was the re.
quirement of the Jewish law eek
'34:23; CT. Gal. 4:4). 1t was a
Ewretched company that was gathered
around this pool. this multitude OF
them that were blind, halt, withered,"
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. 15:3O).
lWretched 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 ~.
80, and his case seemed to be beyond
all hope; but 1t was not beyond hope
because there is nothing too hard for
the Lord (Gen. 1914; Jer. s32:17).
III. Made Whole by the Great Ply
stefan, Sd. 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. 1910. Jesus al
ways has that feeling as He looks
upon the sufferings and misfortunes
pf man (Heb. 1873; 4:15, 16; lisa.
$3.50. The fact that he had been
long time in his Indebtedness espe-
cially awakened the sympathy of
Jesus. The fact that any sinner has
been in his present evil case for a
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
take special interest in him mark
S:21; Luke S:43: Acts 3:2; CT. 1922:
9:43; 14:S). Jesus apparently Sc
1ected this man from all the sad cases
at 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
Nv. 81 implies that our being made
whole depends upon our will. Jesus
Is ever willing and able. The only
question is, are we willing (Rev.
22:1O. The only reason why auy
man does not obtain life in Christ is
because He will not come to Him
lJohn 5:4O. To every one of us
Jesus puts the question to-day, wilt
thou be made whole?" Jesus does
not ask the man IL he would be made
better but IL 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
how dire was his need; SO it is with
the 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
OF that word he was healed. He must
be divine in whose word there is so
much power FPS. 1O7:2O). There Is
power In the word of Christ to-day
to save all who will believe it rom.
1870. All one has to do to live is to
hear and believe John 5:24). The
cure was not only complete but in
Simultaneous (cf. Mark 1881. az:
b:29. Al, AZ; 1852; Acts 3:7, 81.
III. Confessing the Great Pbvs;.
clan, 1915. 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
bade him. So will every one that
opeys Jesus q 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. IT Is sufficient answer to |
any objection. The strength that |
Jesus gives us should be used in
opedience TO Him. The man did not |
tell them yet who had made him |
Wnoie, because he did not know him |
SELF, out as soon as he found out who |
it was ne told them without fear. He |
oid not wait for them even to ask |
MIN. He himself sought an oppof- |
tunity Tor witnessing. AS soon as we
know who 1t Is that has blessed us,
we ought TO confess Him (Rom. |
1910; Matt. 1882, 33). 1t took
courage to confess Jesus to these
men. The man did 1t because his
heart was so full that his mouth must
speak Matt. 1890. One truly
saved cannot keep 1t 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-
lion, "Sin no more" Evidently sin
was the cause Of this mans previous
suffering, and Jesus to-day is ready
10 heal the misfortunes which are the
result OF our own SHINING. If after
DC has healed us of the sorrows
which are the result of our SHINING
We go back to our SHINING again
worse thing will befall us (v. 14).
me Jews gave more thought to Jesus
disregard of their trad tons than
hey did to His goodness toward an
Unfortunate man. Many to-day so
disregard their traditions that they
lutte overlook the beneflcent work
sod does through him. The hatred
II the Jews toward Jesus for His dis
'egard of their tr l:tion in perform
ng a good deed to the impotent man
IN the Sabbath went so far thai they
'ought to kill Him ". 49,