Evening star., 1917-04-01
MIRACLE AND A MYSTERY.
A Discussion of the International Sunday School
Lesson for Today-"Jesus Gives Sight to
the Blind'-John. 91-38.

| ing: any physician can give particulars
| upon that point. But there is much
suffering that may not be so easily ex-
| planned. In the case of the blind -
| the Master made plain that il v kor
| the glory of God that this visitat lad
come upon him. That is to saya Osse-
cret lies behind the veil OF the in>
scrutable purposes of God. 'Hapiy we
know somewhat more than we know.
| Here again. in this lesson story. we
have the ecclesiasties hot and hungry
and hateful on the trail of Jesus. They
We're openly displeased over the heal
| ing of the blind man. They cared more
| for their dogmas than for human well
fare-a sure sign that the dogmas are
not of God. Theirs was the ignoble
mind which Longfellow characterized
as the strife for triumph more than
| truth The deeds of Jesus ran counter
| to their little creeds. Like all estab<
| lished religions or forms. their faith
| had solidified into a set of rules. which
| is always contrary to the spirit of
Jesus. The great helping. healing
heart of Jesus had broken the ecciesiS
astical regulations concerning the SabS
| bath. This made one more occasion for
ntagonZing the new Teacher, who
| cared so much more for life than He
did for the organization.
Even the restored beggar came to dee
| spise these place holding ecclesiastics,
| who cared so much for their jobs and
| for triumph over One whom they DEEM
| ed a rival than they did for the truth OF
God. That is why most prophets are out
of official position. How few of the real
| statesmen of the church today are holders
| Of high office. In his new manhood, this
| heggar who had lost his whine when he
| found Christ. answered up like an equal
| even indulgiug in sarcasm at the expenS6
of the Pharisees. He dared state to them
| the uttermost truth He knew. His simple
| lcgic-the logic of testimony-confuted
, the sophstries of the ecclesiastical Laws
| yers.
hi fl,f Ia 1.,d t.aux
blind. and now he could see. In that posis
tion he was unshakable, TO the confusion
OF the Pharisees. He might not be abl0
! to pass an examination in the catechisn.
His tormentors knew more about theologS
ical hair-splitting than he would eveR
learn. In position they might overawe
him. But his feet could not be moved
from the rock Of his personal experience.
Much fruitleSs controversy would b0
avoided if We would all but stick to tho
fact which we know. DR.. Albertson sayss
There is more logic in a simple demons
stration than in a whole volume of reaA
soning man wrote n book to
prove that no vessel could cross tho
Atlantic propelled by steam a stean-
ship carried the first copies of his book
across the sea" The lawyers might out
argue the blind man: but he knew ono
fact which upset all their arguments.
Thereupon he was cast out of the synaS
gogue. 1t was the> old, old argument OF
the AK, the stake. the stones. When you
cannot convince. Sfnlle. II a man IedCncS
uncomfortable truth, boycott him. or take
his job away from him. or crush hirn
somehow. How often some of us have
felt that, Every man who would spea6
the truth that is given to him must reckon
with the stones in the hands of the strong.
Driven out from the synagogue. this
newly bold beggar found himself driven
to Christ. All, that made ii worth while
to be an outcast- Some persons, even
of those who have received most signal
benefits from the Savior do not really
find Him. until, in turbulence and distress
of SOUL they are forced TO fly to Him
for refuge Bitter seemed the fate
OF the prosecuted man, who was one OF
the first to suffer for Christs sake. ic
was a means to fuller knowledge. larger
life. No price is too high to pay for find~
ing Christ: and many there be who have
found Him in the stress of soul. who
would never have known the fullness OF
His personality and power had they res
manned unsheltered from persecution.
This is but one of the aspects of tho
blessedness of persecution. For the blind
beggar entered into the goodly company
of those who have not only received fAs
vors from Christ's hand, but who also
have entered into the secret of real fel~ .
lowship with Him. Once he had been
blind even TO the beauties of earth. hut .
now his eyes had been opened to seO
Jesus himself