The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-02-22
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSG1O0L
LESSON
CBy II o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
sunday School Course Of Moody Bible
Copyright. 1911. Western Newspaper union.)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
JESUS AT POOL OF BETHESDA.

11pocN lEAl-JOnn bsl-lD.
GOLDEN TEXT-It was Jesus which
had made him whole.-John 5:l5.
Following the events Of last Sun
days lesson, Jesus went TO Jerusalem
to attend the feast ". ~. lie went up
according to the requirements Of the
Jewish law (Ex. "a :23; see Gal. 4:4),
but he was not satisfied with the con-
ventional 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 mlrth
on every hand, but In the midst of II
Is this great need so graphically pic
tured In this lesson. How true this Is
to our daily experience. Teachers
should appeal to the imagination Of
their scholars and describe as wildly
as possible this pool. Let them depict
n room, on the floor Of which Is a pool F;
in one corner Of the room n 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
wretched mes who sought the pool,
and evidently Jesus sought the most
wretched of this company.
l. Jesus went where there was need
". o.. In the midst Of this company
Jesus saw" this man lie. He had been
there often ". y, and his case seemed
to be beyond all hope, but there is
nothing too hard for God (Gen. Is IA;
Jer. PAD.
u. Jesus throws the responsibility
upon the nan ". o.. 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 w journey through life?
Are u eyes open to the great needs
of men, spiritually and morally, and
are we aware Of the u which
God has placed at Il disposal to meet
these fundamental needs of men2
~. Jesus was moved with compass
sion Matt. ii :14). He always has that
feeling when he looks upon suffering
and the misfortunes OF men (Heb.
3:S; 4:15-16; Isa. GO :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 wholef" The fact that he has
been n long time In his predlcament, or
the fact that n sinner has been a long
time In an evil state Is no reason for
supposing that Jesus will not take in
terest In him or that he cannot save
and help and heal him (Matt. 9:21;
Luke SAB; Acts 1922. His question
throws the whole matter upon the will
of the man. Jesus Is willing and able;
the only question Is, are we willlngf
Wev. 22-1O. The only thing that keeps
men from enjoying eternal life is their
personal attitude toward God John
5:40). Jesus did not ask the man II
he would be made better, but IL he
would be made whole. lie does not
wish to make the sinner better, but to
make him whole.
w. Jesus commands the impossible.
The man thought the only way he
could be made whole was through the
efficiency Of the waters In this pool,
but Jesus, by speaking n word, had
the power that would heal him FPS.
l07 :20) /; so today 1t 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
mand Of Christ, "Rise, take up thy
bed" was enabling power. The cure
was not only complete, but 1t was in
Simultaneous (Acts 1913.
v. He worked a complete cure. He
was made whole even according to the
question which Jesus had asked at the
outset. The man at once began to use
This Chrlst-glven strength by taking up
his bed, and doing exactly as he was
(I Tim. 3:12). Jesus
these hard cases, those Of "long
Standing ". 81. He also likes those
hat are the results OF sin. for that was
MS work in the world ". II; Matt.
:21).
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