The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-15
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10
JESUS HEALS NosLemAWs SON.


LESSON TExT-John 4:t3-H
GOLDEN TExT-As thou hast believ-
ed. no be Il done unto thee.-Matt. s:l3
This event occurred few days aft
er that Of last Sundays lesson. II
was Jesus second miracle In Cana.
John the Baptist is still preaching, and
Jesus In closing the first year OF his
ministry and beginning his work In
GalIlee. Teachers should bring
vivid picture. Of Galilee to their
classes, as that was one OF the I'M
portant fields to which our Master de-
voted much Of his time. (For descrip-
ton see some good Bible dictionary
The people Of that land were more
worldly, less bound by conventional
tiles, and more accessible to the teach
ings which Jesus brought than those
of Judea. Josephus says they were
"fond Of innovations, and disposed to
changes"
4. svpplIcatIon (restIng) w. 1919.
Jesus left the revival ut Samarfa wv.
SoL44) and returned to Galilee. His
own people Of Nazareth refused TO ac-
cent him for a prophet hath no honor
in his own country" II was In Galilee
that he had his great victories. Here
he was welcome ". 45) because they
had known the things that he did Mt
Jerusalem, the report Of which was
brought back by those who had visited
the feast (John 2:1+1D. In Cana
(Ch. 2:11) one came to him who was
n kings officer, one who was used to
command, and whose great personal
need overcame any prejudice Matt
e:ls; Luke 7:2). God uses afhictions
Outlines to drive us to him, and the
most effective way 10 induce men to
come to Jesus Is to bring them to
recognize their need which he alone
can supply. The lad was "at the point
Of death" hence the fathers Journey
of twenty miles from Capernaum to
Cana. seeking help. We have here the
weakness Of faith indicated In verse
forty-eight. in that the man would not
believe except he should see signs and
vondera We have also the earnest
ness of the man In verse 40.
"Sir, come down ere my child die"
Mans extremity Is ever Gods oppor-
tunity. Not only extreme cases OF
sickness can be brought TO him. but
extreme cases Of sin rs well Il Tim,
ms; Heb. 7:25). He can heal no,
only those who are at the point OF
death" hut those who are already
dead (Eph. 2:1). The child was dy'
ing. the father had not strength IA
wait to see wonders. but ne could and
did trust Jesus to heal his son.
%. Surrender (rrustIne) w. 50-51
When the soldier took Jesus at his
word. he surrendered his previous con
ception, and accepted the word OF God
literally acting upon his belief. He
went his way because he believed. Hs
did not ask Jesus again to 20 to Capar
naum. We must not confuse this kind
Of faith, however with his having &C
cepted Jesus as Savior. He accepted
Jesus only as healer. We have mer
today who will accept Jesus Christ II
the perfection Of his character and the
purity Of his teachings but who will
not accept him TO be their persona
Savior. Such men want 20 receive tn
benefits Of Christianity. failing to rec
ognixe Its spiritual power and author
ity.
~. satisfsctIon (Trlvmph) wv. 81
54). The fathers faith rose to tn
need for "he believed the word tina
Jesus spake." That word did not seen
at all probable. but II was enough. TIT
word Of Jesus who Is. himself, tn
truth, Is q sure and more reasonable
ground Of faith than any amount o
speculation. This fathers walk from
Cana to Capernaum was walk O
faith. He had nothing but bare prom
Use to support him. yet on his return
he found his son living ". 52). Oh
this word Of Jesus he. himself. be
lieved, and his whole house. II seem
improbable that this could be otherwis
II he were an honest man.
w. Suggestions (1) The living, per
sonal presence Of Christ is not need
full. II was wise provision Of God
economy that Christ should nave re
turned to heaven.
(2) Acts are the true indications o
our faith. Gods written revelation
and the revelation Of his son, the Liv
ing Word. and the witness Of the ex
perience Of Gods saints are sufficien
facts upon which to base faith.
(3) Faith is progressive. Notice tn
growth from verses 4s to 30 and 63
At first the man believed In Jesus
power; then he believed In Jesus
word. and believed In Jesus. himself
then he reaches the highest point u
that ne does not believe alone, for hi
whole house believed with him.
az Faith Is the source OF al
Christian gifts and graces. We hav
an advantage over these Galileans
nearly nineteen centuries Of wha
Christ has wrought among the people
of the earth among those who hav
believed on him. He has been trie
..a .rovaA and tha riffs NJ 9od'