The new South-news., 1908-02-22

Sehtect: Jesus at the Pool OF Beth
esaa. John S:1-ts-C Golden
Text. Matt. e:ls Commit

uysNtAu~ Id. IL was an oc
casion OF great rejoicing that tool
Jesus mp 10 Jerusalem, but there wa.
no JOY In II Tor those whom the omen
Ing OF the chapter pictures to us
Inere is not much real JOY In an,
feast without Christ in IL. The com.
ing Of Christ brought Joy to at leas,
one miserable man. Jesus went nm tr
the feast because this was the re.
Quirement OF the Jewish law fFy
Si2S; cf. Gal s:4,. IL was a
wretched company that was gathered
around this pool. this multitude of
them that were blind. halt. withered. .
picture OF the multitndes OF this
world. Men soon found out that the
pest place to bring these afflicted ones
was TO Jesus Himself Matt. 15:2O).
Nretched men sought the pool. but
Jesus nrst seeks the men Apparent
~ tne most miserable and helpless
ana hopeless case present was the
one that Jesus snecially noticed and
neiped. he had been there often ".
~ ana his case seemed to be beyond
an nope; but II was not beyond hope
because there is nothing too hard for
tne LORD (Gen. 1874, Jer. S2:17).
H. Made Whole by the Great Phy.
stefan, 3D.. Jesus saw this man in
MS wretched and hopeless condition.
ne always sees men In their wretch
edness, helplessness and hopelessuess.
lie was at once moved with commas
sion tcf. Matt. 14:1n. Jesus al
ways has that feeling as He looks
upon the sufferings and misfortunes
of man fHeb. 1873; 4:15, l6: lisa
$3.50 The fact that he had been a
long time in his wretchedness espe.
cially awakened the sympathy OF
Jesus. The fact that any sinner has
been In his present evil case for n
long time Is no reason for supposinc
Jesus VIII not take an interest in him
save, or help. or heal him. but
reason for supposing that He will
TAKE special interest in him mark
9.2l; Luke :s3. Acts 3.2; CT. 4:o2:
S;43; 1850. Jesus apparently Sc
lectsd this man from all the sad cases
at the pool because 1t was the sadAest
ana most hopeless case OF all He de-
lights in the hopeless cases. The
question that Jesus put to the man
". 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.
2z;l1)- The only reason why any
man does not obtain life in Christ is
necause lie will not come to Him
SJohn 5:40) To every one Of us
Jesus puts the question to-day, wilt
thou be made whole?" Jesus does
not ask the man II he would be made
better but II ne 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 1t Ia 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 (Ps. 1O7:2O). There is
power in the word OF Christ to-day
to save all who will believe 1t (Rom.
1870. All one has to do to live is to
hear and believe John 5:2D. The
cure was not only complete but in.
stantaneous (cf. Mark 1881, AZ:
5;29. Al, AZ; 1852 Acts 3:7, 81.
III. ConfessinR the Great Physi.
clan. 1918. The man used his
Christ-given strength by doing what
the Lord Jesus told him to do. but he
found opposition In doing az Jesus
bade him SO will every one that
obeys 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" 1t is a SUFFICIENT answer to
any objection. The strength that
Jesus gives us should be used in
obedience to Him. The man did not
tell them yet who mad made him
whole, because he did not know him
self, but as soon as he found out who
1t was he told them without fear He
did not Wait for them even to ask
him. He himself sought an oppor-
tunity for witnessing. AS soon as we
know who 1t Is that has blessed US.
we ought to confess Him (Rom.
1910; Matt. 1922. 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. 12:3D. 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 O:
God, after He has blessed Us. Jesus
counsel to the man. and to all whom
He heals, is worthy OF earnest medfta-
t!on, Sin no more" Evidently sin
was the cause OF this mans 'svious
suffering, and Jesus to-day Is ready
to heal the misfortunes which are the
result OF our own SHINING. II after
He has healed US of the sorrows
which .,re the result OF our SHINING
We 90 back to our SHINING again =
worse thing will befall us ". 14),
The Jews gave more thought to Jesus
disregard OF their traditions than
they did TO His goodness toward an
unfortunate man. Many to-day 20
disregard their traditions that they
quite overlook the beneficent work
God does through him. The 3Atred
of the Jews toward Jesus for His dig
regard OF their tradition in perform.
ing = good deed to the impotent man
IN fho Sabbath Wout eo far ehst Ah~~