The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
: INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY 1G.

5O-Commentary.
TIME. = December, A. D. 27
PLACE.-Cana.
EXPOSITION. Il. The Noble.
mans Appeal to Jesus, 43-49. Jesus
had had a hearty welcome and re-
sponsive hearing in Samaria Tvs
.4-42). There had been glorious re-
vival there, but His heart yearned for
His own people in Nazareth where He
had grown up, and He returned tc
Galilee. It would have been Of little
use to go to them before He had es-
tablished reputation elsewhere; for
"a prophet hath no honor In his OVID
country" Human nature Is so petty
it will not forgive neighbor for sur.
passing his fellows, until he has beer
well received elsewhere. But Jesus
had now demonstrated His power at
the Capital, and Galllee will now
listen. Indeed Galilee will be the
great scene Of His victories. The one
who came was kings officer. NOT
likely person to come to Jesus, but
his deep need overcame his prejudice.
There Is nothing like sense Of need
to drive men to Jesus Matt. 9:1S;
1922; 1914, is; Luke 7:2, 81, 3S).
Blessed are the Affections that bring
us to Jesus. Many man who has
had nothing but contempt for Christ
and Christianity, has been found as
suppliant at His feet when the hour
of trial has come. The most effective
way to induce men to overcome the
obstacles that lie between them and
Jesus, is to bring them to recogni.
tion of those needs in themselves
which He alone can supply. This
nobleman's son was very sick, "at the
point of death" No human skill
could reach him, but there is moth
ing too hard for the Lord (Gen.
1874; Luke $40, 50). Often in our
own day does the Lord come in with
His healing when all earthly physi-
clans have failed. Indeed, mans ex-
tremity is ever Gods opportunity.
And it is not only extreme cases Of
sickness that can be taken to Him,
but extreme cases OF sin, as well Il
Tim. 1:15; Heb. 7:25). He can heal
not only those who are Eat the point
of DEATH" but those who are already
dead" (Eph. 2:1). This man came
to Jesus because there was no one
else to whom he could go, no one else
who could help. For the same reason
men come to Jesus now (Jno. $3.50.
If we would induce men to come to-
Jesus, we must make clear to them
that there Is no one else who can
save (Acts 4:12). Jesus wishes US to
come to Him with all our. troubles
Matt. 1928; Ps. 50:15). There
was no haste on Jesus part in grant
ing the nobleman's request. The case
was, indeed, urgent, but there was
something more urgent than the heal
ing Of the nobleman's boy; that was
the development of the nobleman's
faith. He had faith that rested
upon the sight of signs and wonders;
Jesus would lead him out into faith
that rested upon His naked word
(comp. ch. 20:29; 1 Jno. $50, IL;
2 Pet. 1:17-19). When Jesus said,
Except ye see signs and wonders, ye
will not believe" He was seemingly
contrasting the Jews with the Samar-
itans, who believed Him on simply
hearing Him Tvs. 20, 42), though
they saw no miracles at all. The
Samaritans regarded Him and sought
Him as a Saviour; the nobleman re-
garded Him and sought Him as a
Healer. -,.
II. The Nobleman's Faith and It's
Reward, 50.54. At last Jesus said:
Go thy way, thy son liveth.' Never
had that nobleman heard such sweet
music. And Jesus is ready to say the
same thing to many to-day whose
hearts are breaking over their sins, II
they will only seek Him as this noble
man did. The mans faith rose to the
occasion. He believed the. word that
Jesus spake." That word ala not
seem at all probable. The sole ground
he had for faith was Jesus Woro.
His son was miles away; the man
could see no change that had taken
place, but he had Jesus word and
rested upon that. That was faith.
He proved that "he believed the word
that Jesus had spoken unto him." by
doing as Jesus had hidden him, he
went his way" He asked for no
sign; he no longer asked Jesus to
come down." he counted that 1t was
all done because Jesus said so. From
Cana to Capernaum he walked by
faith. Jesus often demands OF US TO
walk in the same way. He gives US.
bare promise-nothing else-and de-
mands that we walk by that. That
is enough. Happy is the man who
counts it enough. The nobleman's
faith proved to be well founded.
Faith that rests upon the sure word
of Christ always proves to be wei!
founded. Christ's words cannot fali
Matt. 24:35). Everything had
turned out as Jesus said 1t would ana
everything will turn out every time
lust as God says it will (Acts 27:Zo;
Josh. 23:14). The boys improve
ment had begun at the moment Jesus
had spoken the word. He spake and
It was done:" He sent His word and
healed him." Surely the one VINO
had such power was the Son OF GOO
(comp. Ps. 1919; 107:20). No won
der that it is Written that the nople-
man himself believed and his Wnole
house" How could he do otherwise
if he was an honest man? How can
any honest man read what is recorded
in the various chapters Of John with
out being convinced that the stories
related are true, and that the chlet
actor in them, Jesus, lis the Christ,
the Son of God?" The growth OF the
nobleman's faith is an interesting and
suggestive study. In verse At VIC see
him believing in Jesus power, IN
verse SO believing in Jesus word, and
In verse 5S believing in Jesus HlD
Self.