The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-02-23
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
JESUS At POOL OF BETHESDA.


to attend the feast ". -. He went up
according to the requirements of the
Jewish law (Ex. "a :23; see Gal. ~,
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 mirth
on every hand, but in the midst of 1t
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
room, on the floor of which is pool;
in one corner of the room a stairway
leading up to the ceiling; surrounding
the room, at the top of the wall q
broad walk on the wall, looking down
toward the floor and the pool is "a
multitude of them that We're blind, halt
and withered." These were the
wretched ones who sought the pool.
and evidently Jesus sought the most
wretched of this company.
!. Jesus went where there was need
". g.. 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. 18 IA;
Jer. 81 10.
u. 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?
III. Jesus was moved with compass
sion (Matt. 4:1D. He always has that
feeling when he looks upon suffering
and the misfortunes of men (Heb.
13 81; 4:15-16; Isa. 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 q sinner has been 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 8:43; Acts 9:2). His question
throws the whole matter upon the will
Of the man. Jesus is willing and able;
the only question is, are we willing?
~. 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 word, had
the power that would heal him Cps.
1O7 :2O); SO today it is the power of
the word of Christ that can save all
who believe on him NRom. l :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 it was in
Simultaneous (Acts 1919.
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 Christ-given strength by taking up
his bed, and doing exactly as he was
commanded (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus
likes these hard cases, those of "long
standing" ". 81. He also likes those
that are the results of sin, for that was
his work in the world ". IA; Matt.
l :2D.
vi. Opposition and danger wv. 10
15). The objection raised was that Je-
sus had transgressed the Jewish law.
The mans answer to this was, HE
hath made me whole" The word Of
God is our law (Matt. 1850. The
strength that Jesus gives us is to be
used in obedience to him in glorifying
his name. The man did not tell the
Jews who it was that made him whole,
because he did not know, himself; but
as soon as he found out who it was he
told 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
truly saved will at once give his wit
ness 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
drink habit or some other evil in life,
and who have grown Indifferent or
and returned to their sin only
to have "a worse thing come unto
them" 1t is interesting to notice that
Jesus performed this miracle in the
face of great opposition and danger.
Summary: G) Jesus cures the sick.
not by what he does to them, but what
he does in them.
(2) Christianity is the pospel for
the body as well as for souls of men.
(3) The gospel of Jesus is the begin
ming of new life for every man who
accepts it.
(4 Sickness and trouble are fire.
quently the instruments Of Gods
bringing men to realize
their sins and their need.
l5l M maftar how uroat tho x,ror.