Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-02-22
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
JESUS AT POOL OF BETHESDA.


according to the requirements of the
Jewish law (Ex. "a %; see Gal. 4 ~,
but he was not satisfied with the con-
sentional fulfilling of the duties for
That occasion, nor was he occupied
with social and commercial functions,
but in "going about doing good" The
feast was an occasion of joy and mirth
on every hand, but in the midst of it
is this great need so graphically pic
tured in this lesson. How true this is
10 our daily experience. Teachers
should appeal to the imagination of
their scholars and describe as wildly
as possible this pool. Let them depict
a room, on the floor of which is pool;
in one corner of the room stairway
leading up to the ceiling; surrounding
the room, at the top of the wall a
broad walk; on the wall, looking down
toward the floor and the pool is "a
multitude of them that were blind, halt
and withered." These were the
Rretched ones who sought the pool,
and evidently Jesus sought the most
~retched of this company.
!. Jesus went where there was need
". 81. In the midst of this company
Jesus saw" this man lie. He had been
there often ". y, and his case seemed
10 be beyond all hope, but there is
nothing too hard for God (Gen. 18 IA
Jer. 80 ~.
II. Jesus throws the responsibility
upon the man ". g.. Jesus had eyes
not only to see need, but he also saw
Gods and his own personal power to
relieve the need. The question is, what
do we see as we journey through life?
Ill. Jesus was moved with compass
sion Matt. IA :14). He always has that
feeling when he looks upon suffering
and the misfortuneS of men (Heb.
1873; 4:15-16; lisa. 63 :9). Jesus does
not do for the man what the man can
DO for himself; so he makes his first
appeal to the mans desire and, through
his desire, to the mans WILL ''Wilt thou
be made whole?" The fact that he has
been long time in his predicament, or
the fact that a sinner has been a long
time in an evil state is no reason for
!erest in him or that he cannot save
and help and heal him (Matt. 9:21;
Luke SAB; Acts 3 :2). His question
throws the whole matter upon the will
IF the man. Jesus is willing and able;
he only question is, are we willing?
w. Jesus commands the impossible.
The man thought the only way he
.ould be made whole was through the
efficiency of the waters in this pool,
put Jesus, by speaking a word, had
lhe power that would heal him Cps.
l07 :20) so today it is the power of
The word of Christ that can save all
who believe on him (Rom. 1:16). All
We have to do to live is to hear and
believe John 5:24). With the COM
pand of Christ, Rise, take up thy
Ied," was enabling power. The cure
Fas not only complete, but it was in
ttantaneous (Acts 1919.
v. He worked complete cure. He
vas made whole even according to the
question which Jesus had asked at the
hutset. The man at once began to use
mis- Christ-given strength by taking up
ais bed. and doing exactly as he was
commanded QI Tim. 3:12). Jesus
likes these hard cases, those of 'long
Handing" ". 81. He also likes those
nat are the results of sin, for that was
ais work in the world ". a. Matt.
l:21).
vi. Opposition and danger wv. 10
t5). The objection raised was that Je-
nus had transgressed the Jewish law.
The mans answer to this was, HE
lath made me whole" The word of
God is our law Matt. :5). The
strength that Jesus gives us is to be
Ised in obedience to him in clarifying
lis name. The man did not tell the
Jews who it was that made him whole,
because he did not know, himself; but
rs soon as he found out who it was he
old them without fear or hesitancy.
he did not even wait for them to ask
him, but sought an opportunity for
witnessing ". 15). Any man who is
ruly saved will at once give his wit
tess to others. The admonition which
Jesus gave to this man ". 14 still
holds good. How many men we have
seen who have been saved from the
rink habit or some other evil in life,
ind who have grown Indifferent or
areless and returned to their sin only
% have "a worse thing come unto
sem." 1t is interesting to notice that
Jesus performed this miracle in the
lace of great opposition and danger.
Summary: % Jesus cures the sick,
,ot by what he does to them, but what
be does in them.
(2) Christianity is the gospel for
he body as well as for souls of men,
90 The gospel of Jesus is the begin
ping of a new life for every man who
accepts it.
a. Sickness and trouble are fire.
1uently the instruments of Gods
providence, bringing men to realize
their sins and their need.
a. fha no