Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-16
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 18
JESUS HEALS NoBLEMAN's SON.


This event occurred a few days aft
er that of last Sundays lesson. Ii
was Jesus second miracle in Cana.
John the Baptist is still preaching, and
Jesus is closing the fret year of his
ministry and beginning his work in
Galilee. Teachers should bring a
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 descrlp-
ton see some good Bible dictionary
The people of that land were more
worldly, less bound by conventional
itieS, 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"
|. SuppIication (Testing) w. 43-49
Jesus left the revival at Samaria (vv
39-44) and returned to Galilee. His
own people of Nazareth refused to ac-
cept him "for a prophet hath no honor
in his own country" It was in Galilee
that he had his great victories. Here
he was welcome ". 45) because they
had known the things that he did at
Jerusalem, the report of which was
brought back by those who had visited
the feast John 2 2:14-1O. In Cana
(Ch. 2:1D one came to him who was
a kings officer, one who was used to
command, and whose great personal
need. overcame any prejudice Matt.
9:18; 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 tc
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 as 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. PLY. 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.
!
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 ac-
cepted Jesus as Savior. 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, failing to rec
ognize its spiritual power and author
ity. 1t was probably one o'clock when
Jesus spoke the healing word in Cana.
At that same hour the household at
Capernaum saw the change in the sick
boy for 'the fever left him." We
may well imagine the joy which pos.
sessed the father and that household
on the following day when he received
this report.
Ill. Satisfaction (Triumph) wv. So
54). The fathers faith rose to the
need for "he believed the word thai
Jesus spake." That word did not seen
at all probable, but it was enough. Tht
word of Jesus who is, himself, tht
truth, is a sure and more reasonable
ground of faith than any amount O.
speculation. This fathers walk from
Cana to Capernaum was a walk O.
faith. He had nothing but a bare prom
ise to support him, yet on his return
he found his son living ". 52). Or
this word of Jesus he, himself, be
lieved, and his whole house. It seem
improbable that this could be otherwis
If he were an honest man. If an,
father who is an honest man will rea,
: the records of the life of Jesus with
t out being convinced that the storie
) are true, by that disbelief he give
: evidence of his lack of sincerity an
2 any father who believes, and who's
1 household does not also believe, give
r evidence of a fundamental weakness
f in either his own profession or in hi
$ application of the truths of the gospe
4 w. Suggestions Q) The living, pei
4 sonai presence of Christ is not nee(
j full. 1t was wise provision of God
economy that Christ should have n
turned to heaven.
(2) Acts are the true indications c
our faith. Gods written revelatio
and the revelation of his son, the Ii,
| ing Word, and the witness of the e,
| perience of Gods saints are sufficier
| facts upon which to base faith.
| (3) Faith is progressive Notice til
i growth from verses 4S to so and Sc
i At first the man believed in Jesu
1 power; then he believed in Jesu
Il word, and believed in Jesus. himself
i then he reaches the highest point
Il that he does not believe alone, for h
i whole house believed with him.
II (4 Faith is the source Of a
Il Christian gifts and graces. We hay
H an advantage over these Galileans ,
II nearly nineteen centuries of VIII;
ll Christ has wrought among the peopl
II of the earth among those who ba7
ii believed on him. He has been trit
II and proved, and the gifts of God
III grace, eternal life, the gifts of Il
A Spirit are all conditioned upon o.
1 faith m him and in the Lord Jesus.
Our salvation from sin, our effectiv
II ness as disciples and followers depel
II upon our faith in Jesus Christ as O.
II Savior from sin, and as our Lord al
y Master.
AS we obey him in all things. as '
follow him to be our guide, as we 10
him to be our perfect and Holy r
le deemer, our faith develops, grows al
q constantly reaches purer and high
&c levels.
ne The highest faith is the result