The Dolores star., 1917-02-16

LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 1s
JESUS HEALS NosLEmAn.s SON

ef InAL Oh laSt SUnUayB leSSOu. II
was Jesus second miracle in Cana.
John the Baptist is still preaching. and
Jesus Is 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 Inn
portnnt fields to which our Master de
voted much of his time. (For descrip-
tion see some good Bible dictionary
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"
I. suppIIeation (Testins) w. 43-49.
Jesus left the revival at Samaria wv.
a9-44) and returned to Galilee. His
own people of Nazareth refused to ac-
cept him ''for prophet hath no honor
in his own country" 1t 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 2:14-17). In Cana
(Ch. 2:11) one came to him who was
a kings officer, one who was used to
command, and whose great personal
need overcame any prejudice (Matt.
9:1S; Luke 7:2). God uses Affections
ofttimes to drive us to him, and the
most effective way to 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
wonders. 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 us well Il Tim.
:15; Heb. 7:25). He can heal not
only those who are "at the point of
death" but those who are already
dead (Eph. 2:1). The child was dy-
ing, the father had not strength to
wait to see wonders, but he could and
did trust Jesus to heal his son.
u. Surrender (Trustina) w. 5O-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. He
did not ask Jesus again to go to Capar-
naum. We must not confuse this kind
Of faith, however. with his having &c
cepted Jesus as Savier. He accepted
Jesus only as healer. We have men
today who will accept Jesus Christ in
the perfection Of his character and the
purity Of his teachings but who will
not accept him to be their personal
Savior. Such men want to receive the
benefits Of Christianity falling to rec
ognize its spiritual power and author
ity.
III. Satisfaction (Triumph) (vv. 81
54). The fathers faith rose to the
need for 'he believed the word that
Jesus spake." That word did not seem
" oA PhooouASs uuI ~ was cuouSh AHS
word Of Jesus who is, himself, the
truth, is sure and more reasonable
ground Of faith than any amount Of
speculation. This fathers walk from
Cana to Capernaum was walk Of
faith. He had nothing but bare prom
ise to support him, yet on his return
he found his son living ". 52). On
this word Of Jesus he, himself, be-
lieved, and his whole house. It seems
Improbable that this could be otherwise
If he were an honest man.
w. Suggestions (1) The living, per-
sonal presence of Christ is not need
full. It was a wise provision of Gods
economy that Christ should have re-
turned to heaven.
(2) Acts are the true Indications of
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 sufficient
facts upon which to base faith.
(s) Faith is progressive. Notice the
growth from verses 4S to SO and 53.
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 in
that he does not believe alone, for his
whole house believed with him.
(4) Faith is the source of all
Christian gifts and graces. We have
an advantage over these Galileans Of
nearly nineteen centuries of what
Christ has wrought among the peoples
Of the earth among those who have
believed on him. He has been tried
and proved. and the gifts OF Gods
grace, eternal life. the gifts Of the
Spirit are all conditioned upon our
faith in him and in the Lord Jesus.
Our salvation from SIN. our effective
ness as disciples and followers depend
1pon our faith in Jesus Christ as our