Greene County herald., 1917-03-30
LESSON FOR APRIL l
JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO BLIND.

GOlDiN 1EAI-l am the hsnt Oh the
world.-John 95.
This, another of the signs which
Jesus performed, is recorded only by
John. 1t probably occurred in Octo.
ber, six months before the cruciflxion,
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 (vv. 1-4). 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 IA :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 (vv. 2,
34). Poor-he was beggar. He Is
| also type Of the nation of Israel
(Rev. 3:17). We must not attempt to
explain all sickness ". 81. God fire.
quently uses it for the advancement
of his kingdom (John 11:4). Jesus
not only passed by but he "saw." The
I feeling of the crowd was that of curl
| osity and contempt. His feeling was
that of compassion (vv. ., and 81.
sustaining grace (II Cor. II $40. 1t
Is doubtless true that large percent
age of sickness is the direct result of
sin (John 5 IA; Nix. 2 10; Acts II :23),
some, of course, Indirectly (Job % Ia
SO).
II. The cure wv. 4-11). 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
It the idea of a 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, $50 wash" were test of
the mans faith (II Kings 5:10-14).
and his part In the transaction was
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.
1t gave him something to do, and doing
is always an end to faith. Sloan
means "sent," and was type of Jesus
himself ". A; John 10 :36; Rom. :3;
Gal. 4 AZ. If we wish to receive sight
for our blind eyes, we should go to
him and battle John S:12).
III. The Controversy ". II to end Of
chapter). This controversy gave Op-
portunity for testimony, as we have
AlLCduy SCCu, LII ot VI dll uROA LAC pal
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 1.-THE man
called Jesus" Later on he is moved
to call him a prophet" He Is a
prophet ". ~, and later still he
recognizes him as 'sThe Son of God"
wv. 35-38). This controversy estab-
lished beyond question the fact of the
cure. 1t brought out the deity of
Christ ". 33). The man was excom-
municated, but for that matter he was
already outside because of his physical
infirmity. but, best of all, he became
truly Christ's disciple.
Nv. Comments. This lesson with its
vivid contrasts Of belief and unbelief
gives us a wonderful opportunity to
urge upon pupils decision to live the
Christian life. Has Christ opened the
eyes of our scholars to the love OF
God, to the awfulness of sin, to the
need of Savior, our divine Leader
and Brother? Urge them. in the class
and out, to be as outspoken and cour-
ageous for Christ as was this man who
had never before perhaps seen or
heard of Jesus and whose gratitude at
once called forth this wonderful con-
| fession.
Being cast out by the rules Of the
synagogue brought this man into closer
and deeper fellowship and commun-
Ion with Jesus.
He had believed far enough to obey
his bidding. and had thus been healed.
Now he is brought to a great saw
ing, transforming faith, viz, that Jesus
Is the Son of God.
Do we take advantage of our privi-
lege Of confession?
Before Christ came there were nt
hospitals.
He is the insDirAtiOn 0f NIL charitable