The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-07-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson IIl.-Third Quarter, For
July 19, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verses. 81, 52-GoIden Text,
lisa. xsxv, 5, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Causing the blind to see, the deaf to
hear. the dumb to sing and the lame to
walk We're samples of what will be
more fully when His kingdom comes
asa. XXxv, 40. The blind and all 9th
er afflicted ones were physical illustra-
tons of Israel's spiritual condition, and
He was as ready to open their eyes as
He was literally to open the eyes of a
few individuals. But the great ones
among them preferred their blindness
because all the time they thought they
saw clearly. Our Lord called them
blind Pharisees, blind leaders of the
blind Matt. xiii. 26; XIV. 14), and when
they asked Him, Are we blind alSo?"
He said unto them, IF We were blind
We should have no sin, but now We say,
We see; therefore your sin remaineth"
John iX. 40. AL In their case. as in the
case of multitudes today, the god of this
world blinded their minds. lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
who is the image of God, should shine
unto them III Cor. iv. A..
Our lesson story is found in Matt
XXX, 29-34. as well as in Mark. and is
the record of a healing as He left the
city of Jericho. He healed another man
who was blind as He entered Jericho,
and that man followed Him, clarifying
God as He entered and passed through
| Jericho duke xviii. 80, to xix. u. Mat
thew and Mark both say that the heal
ing of our lesson took place as He de-
parted from Jericho. and Matthew says
that there were two blind men. Well.
there are no discrepancies and nothing
to reconcile. He healed blind man as
He entered Jericho and two more as
He left the city. and one of the two
was called Bartimaeus and no doubt
there were many more blind people
| healed at different times Matt xi. 10:
xii. %; John iXl, and we cannot but re-
joice with every poor fellow who re-
ceived his sight, feel sorry for those
who did not and pity the spiritually
| blind who fancied that they did see. be-
cause they were wise in their own esti-
nation.
When the kingdom comes we shall
see the King in His beauty. and we
shall then think that we never knew
Him before, He will be so glorious
Qsa. Xxxiii, II. "a; John iii. l, p, Ev-
cry eye shall see Him, either to adore
Him and enjoy Him forever or else to
see Him and hear Him say, Depart
| from me; | never knew you" The cry
of the man who was healed as He en-
tered Jericho and that of the others
healed as He left the city is SO similar
that some cannot think that Luke is
telling of a separate incident Matt. Xxx.
30: Mark X. At; Luke xviii. 3S).
| In each event Jesus stood and com
manded the man or men TO be brought
| unto Him or called them to Him.
Mark says that those who called him
said. BE of good comfort: rise: He
calleth thee" That which we have in
eight words here is just four words in
the Greek
| envy those who can read the Greek
and Hebrew readily; there is such a
| fullness of meaning in those languages
which it is difficult to express in Eng
lish. There is something very remark
able here. and it is this: The words BE
of good comfort Greek "tharsei'0 are
used by our Lord on five different oc-
casions. all exceedingly interesting and
helpful, four while He was on earth
and once after He returned to heaven
Matt tx, ., %; xiv. 81; John xvi, SO;
Acts xiii. III. They make a beautiful,
helpful Bible study on forgiveness,
peace, victory and the purpose of God
The remarkable thing is that this
word. used only elsewhere by our Lord.
is used in our lesson by those who
called the blind man. | wonder why
| they should use one of our Lords spe-
cial words | do not understand it. |
only note the fact If it was the dis
ciples who used the word they did ii as
His representatives and we think of a
later word Of His, las my Father hath
sent Me, even so send | you" (John Ky.
2D. If some of the multitude used the
word, then | am perplexed.
Casting away his garment, he came
to Jesus, and | expect that he did so
very quickly. He knew his need and
that there was deliverer at hand. and
he did not hesitate nor make any px-
cuse. He was poor. empty. helpless,
ready to receive. In the song of Mary
it is written. HE hath filed the hun
CRY with good things, and the rich He
hath sent empty away" duke, l. 53).
1t is also written, Blessed are We that
hunger now, for We shall be filed"
Luke vi. 2D. The poor and the needy
are those who obtain help speedily Ps.
Xxi, ~. The rich and the self sufficient
and self righteous are the ones whom
1t Is impossible to help.
What wilt thou that l should do
unto theeY' This is the question ever
coming to us from Him in whom all
fullnesS dwells, for has He not said, IF
We shall ask anything in My name l
will do it,; IF We abide in Me and My
words abide in you We shall ask what
We will and 1t shall be done unto your"
John xiv. IA; XIV, ~ How brief and
definite is the blind mans request.
Lord, that l might receive my sight"