The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson III.-Third Quarter, Fol
July 10, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verses, 51S 52-Goiden Texh
lea. xxxv, 6, documentary Prepares
by Rev. q. M. Stearns.
Causing the blind to see, the deaf to
hear, the dumb to sing and the lame to
walk were samples of what will be
more fully when His kingdom comes
Elsa. xxxv, 49,. 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 mes
among them preferred their blindness
because all the time they thought they
saw clearly. Our Lord called them
blind Pharisees, blind leaders Of tho
blind (Matt. xiii, %; XIV, ~, and when
they asked Him, Are we blind alsor
He said unto them, "If We were blind
ye should have no sin, but now We say
We see; therefore your sin remaineth"
John TX, 40, Az. 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. 1884, 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. 35, to xix. u. Mat
thew and Mark both say that the heal
ing of our lesson tool 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 a 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 CMatt. xi. 49,
xii, %; John Ky. and we cannot but re-
Joice with every poor fellow who re-
ceived his sight, feel sorry for hose
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
lisa. xxxiii, II, "a; John iii. /, 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; I never knew you" The cry
Of the nan 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 K. At; Luke xviii. 38).
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, q
fullness Of meaning in those languages
which it is difficult to express in Eng
1ISu. 4uGES ID DOlllSIUl1S very ISlllub A.
able here. and it Is this: The words Be
of good comfort" Greek ''tharsei") are
used by our Lord on FIVE different oc-
casions, oil exceedingly interesting and
helpful, four while He was on eartb
and once after He returned to heaven
(Matt. *, 2, %; xiv, 81; John xvi, 339
Acts xiii, III. They make a beautiful
helpful Bible study on forgiveness
peace, victory and the purpose Of Cod
The remarkable thing Is that this
word, used only elsewhere by u Lord
Is used in our lesson by those who
called the blind man. l wonder why
they should use one Of our Lords spe-
cial words. I do not understand 1t. e
only note the fact. If it was the dis
clples who used the word they did it as
His representatives. and we think OF a
later WORD = His, A my Father hath
sent Me. even so SENT l you" John Xxx
2D. If some Of the multi used tha
word, then l am perplexed. r"a
Casting way his garment. he caLrNs
TO Jesus, and / expect that he did so
very quickly. He knew his need and
that there was a deliverer at hand, and
he did not hesitate nor make any ex.
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" luke, /. So.
1t is also written, Blessed are ye that
hunger now, for ye shall be filled''i
duke vi, 21). The poor and the needy
are those who obtain help speedily (PS.i
lxxii, A.. The rich and the self sufficient
and self righteous are the ones whoma
it Is impossible to help.
what wilt thou that l should do.
unto thee?" 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 T.
will do it, IF We abide in Me and My
words abide In you We shall ask what
We will and it shall be done unto you're
John xiv, IA; XIV, ~ How brief and
definite is the blind mans request,
Lord, that I might receive my sight,,
He did not want FIVE things, nor three
nor two-just one He knew we'll what
he wanted, and he asked for 1t. If we
knew our need as we'll and were an
definite in our asking, what might we.
not receive! The longer ! live the
more clear 1t seems to me that we have
but one great need as believers, and
that is to be filed with and controlled
E4