The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-02-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VllI.-Fhst Quarter, For
Feb. 23, 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, John v. t.f2
Memory Verses, 8, s-Goidsn Text,
Matt. viii. f7-comnsntary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright. 1907. by American Prea Association
The Lord had appointed feasts TOR
Israel In which they might draw near
to Him and in which He might special
~ reveal Himself to them and bless
them. A full record Of these Is found
In Lev. xiii. These feasts had be-
come feasts of the Jews rather than
feasts OF the Lord John II. Is: v. j:
Vi. 4: vii. -. in which they relied upon
their outward devotion to Him rather
than on His undeserved mercy: hence
His saying. Go ye and learn what that
meaneth. ] vii! have mercy and not
sacrifice" Matt. *. Is: xii. y. He
came to bestow the mercy Of God, not
to demand sacrifices from them as II
they must pay Him for al. He did for
them We are all as helpless In the
matter OF salvation or OF service as
was the sick and dying hoy In last
weeks lesson to obtain health or his
father to give 1t to him. Here In this
lesson Is another Illustration. There
Is q pool whose waters at certain sea.
sous are troubles by an angel and be-
come possessed Of healing properties
which are exhausted by the first dis
eased one who steps In. About this
pool lay a great multitude Of impotent
folk waiting for the moving Of the wa.
ter They are constantly disappoint'
ed crowd. for only one OF the multi.
tude can be healed. The next must all
wait for the next scramble. and only
the least helpless stands any chance
whatever. and q wholly impotent per
son had no chance at all OF obtaining
health from that pool. The condition
Of the impotent represents the condi'
ton OF all by nature. without strength.
ungodly. sinners. enemies from. Y,
6-l0D, but what II represented BY the
pool. by which some one with q slight
aiIment was healed. Is not quite 50
clear. for there Is only one way Of sal
vatIon. and He Is a Saviour for sin
ners. not for righteous people who
think they can do for themselves. Je'
sus came to these porches by that pool
one day and saw there q truly impo
tent man whose trouble had already
lasted him thirty eight years. Motto
ing how matters stood. He said e
him. wilt thou be made wholeT The
mans reply. Sir. ! have no man tc
put me into the pool" shows bis help
lessness. All he could think OF was
the pool and a man 10 put him In. The
pool be could see. but the man TO put
bin in he bad not yet seen. and wher
there might be a possibility Of bis be
Ing healed by that pool who could tell
Yet In his helplessness be continued
until this day. when seemingly ordi
nary man asked him this question and
then added. Rise. take up thy bel
and walk" (verse ". wholly impos
sible thing for hICl 10 do. and yet b.
did IL. for Immediately be was vel
and strong AMI took up his bed anC
walked. A thirty weight year troubl'
gone In a moment: Compare the mir
ac!e wrought upon the man who wal
over forty years old by the same Jesus
risen and assembled through Peter anC
John (Acts Ill. .. y: ~. 81. Splendit
hcalings. Why not more Of them
But what about all the rest Of thu
multitude that day. Sometimes III
healed oil. Note Ills own remark
about only one widow aud only on
leper out Of the many In the days o
Elijah and Elisha duke ~. 2J-2II. ant
90 We are dumb while yet We trus
Tim fully and rejoice 10 sing. AS 10
God. Ills way Is perfect FPS. xviiiI
The Jews accused the healed maj
Of breaking the Sabbath. lie fell haci
af,On the command Of the One wh'
henled him. imt no knew not ant
therefore could not tell who lie va
until be met Him In the temple an
heard another message from Him
Thea he made It known that Jesus ba'
healed him After this the Jews d.
persecute Jesus and sought TO XIII Ill.
because. rs they said. lie had broke'
the Sabbath aud also made Hlmsel
equal with God by calling God I'll
Father. instead Of rejoicing In til
great dellverance granted TO the i'm
potent man and giving heed to th
words Of his dellyerer they have oni
hearts for their own affairs. their Law
their Sabbath. their authority. an
whoever does not submit TO them mus
he broken 10 pieces.
Contrast Gods treatment Of the On
In their midst whom they knew no
The Father Iovetb the Son. hath con
mittcd oil Judgment unto the Sol
showeih Him al things that Hlmse
dOeth" oversees -. ~. They we're pr
| wa.-4..a. a.. hunwH a TsrA nj fhaIr UsE