The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-03-30

This, another of the signs which
Jesus performed, is recorded only by
John. 1t probably occurred in Octo
Der, six months before the crucifixion
while Jesus was attending the Feast
of the Tabernacles. There are six
other cases of blindness recorded as
having been cured. Look them up.
I. The Case wv. Id. 1t was abso-
lutely hopeless. No human skill could
touch it, but Jesus passed by" and
that changed everything. What men
cannot do Jesus can. Jesus is passing
today, and we may expect things quite
as wonderful to happen John 14:12).
This blind man illustrates the unsaved
sinner Il Cor. 2:14). He never had
seen. He was beyond human help ".
32). He had doubtless given up all
hope of seeing. He was without SYM
pathy, suspected and despised wv. 2,
34. Poor-he was a beggar. He is
also type of the nation of Israel
Grew. 3:1D. We must not attempt to
explain all sickness ". 81. God fire.
quently uses it for the advancement
| VI Ills hihSdOhl \JOlih IL ~. jesus
not only passed by but he "Saw." The
feeling of the crowd was that of Curl
osity and contempt. His feeling was
that of compassion wv. 2, 4 and 81.
Sickness sometimes manifeStS Gods
sustaining grace (II Cor. II 800. 1t
is doubtless true that a large percent
age of sickness is the direct result Of
/ c; ohr nh 90
some, of course, indirectly Dob % ID
3O).
II. The Cure wv. Ally. The word
must" in verse four is a strong one.
| The time for us to do our work is
now" This word must" carries with
1t the idea of divine imperative, and
the reason for that imperativeness is
the approaching might" Night is
coming fast, when no man can work.
Notice the works we are to do are not
our own, but 'the works of him that
sent me-" Compare carefully verses
two and four, and see that Jesus con-
sidered delivering the man from evil
far more important than specializing
about the origin of his complaint. Too
much time is spent In investigation.
Let US have more of action. The
means used in this cure were clay and
spittle. The miracle was performed in
plain view of all who might see. The
man did not ask Jesus to help him, but
Jesus had gone where he was ". 81.
His words, go wash" were a test Of
the mans faith (II Kings 5:1O-14,
and his part in the transaction was a
testimony that it was Christ who
worked the cure. The use Of the
material means in this ceremony made
the man more willing to go and wash. /
is always an end to faith. Sloan
means "sent," and was a type of Jesus
himself ". 4; John 10 SO; Rom. 8:3;
Gal. 4:4). If we wish to receive sight |
for our blind eyes, we should go to
him and battle John S:12).
III. The Controversy ". IL to end of
chapter). This controversy gave OPP
portunity for testimony, as we have
already seen, first of all upon the part
of the man whose testimony was pro-
gressive. At first he merely spoke of
the fact. He was not acquainted with
Jesus, for he calls him "The man
called Jesus" Later on he is moved
prophet ". 10, and later still he
recognizes him as "The Son of God"
wv. 35-3S). This controversy estab-
Iished beyond question the fact of the
cure. 1t brought out the deity of
Christ ". 33). The man was excom-
but for that matter he was
already outside because of his physical
nfrmity, but, best of all, he became
truly Christ's disciple.
w. Comments. This lesson with it's
vivid contrasts of belief and unbelief
gives us a wonderful opportunity to
lrge upon pupils a decision to live the
Christian life. Has Christ opened the
5od to the awfulness Of sin, to the
need of a Savior, our divine Leader
Ind Brother? Urge them, in the class
Ind out, to be as outspoken and cOur-
lgeous for Christ as was this man who
lad never before perhaps seen or
heard of Jesus, and whose gratitude at
nee called forth this wonderful con-
ession.
Being cast out by the rules Of the
ynagogue brought this man into closer
md deeper fellowship and commun-
on with Jesus.
He had believed far enough to obey
lis bidding, and had thus been healed.
Now he is brought to great saw
ng, transforming faith, viz, that Jesus
s the Son of God.
Do we take advantage of our privi-
eye of confession?
Before Christ came there were no
ospitals.
He is the inspiration Of all charitable
but healing Of the body is
f secondary importance; the healing
f the soul is primary. "Whereas I
vas Blind, now 1 see."
Start with what you know-your own
xperience-and he will reveal himself
ccording to your developing and pro-
ressive needs. q