Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-03-30
LESSON FOR APRIL |
JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO BLIND.

This, another of the signs which
Jesus performed, is recorded only by
John. 1t probably occurred in Octo-
ber, six months before the crucifxlon,
while Jesus was attending the Feast
of the Tabernacles. There are SIX
other cases of blindness recorded as
having been cured. Look them up.
|. The Case (vv. Ia. 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 l4:12(f
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. z,
30. Poor-he was "a beggar. He Is
also a type of the nation of Israel
,(Rev. 8 10. We must not attempt to
explain all sickness ". ~. God fire.
quently uses 1t for the advancement
of his kingdom John IL AZ. 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 '(vv. 2, A and 81.
Sickness sometimes manifests Gods
sustaining grace (II Cor. 12:8-10). 1t
is doubtless true that a large percent
age of sickness is the direct result Of
| * a%5 O.0Q
some. of course, indirectly Dob % ID
3o).
u. The Cure CIV. 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
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 speculating
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 CH Kings 5 :10-l4),
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
1t gave him something to do, and doing
is always an end to faith. Sloan
means 'sent," and was a type of Jesus
himself ". 4; John 10 :38; Rom. g
Gal. 4:4. If we wish to receive sight
for our blind eyes, we should go to
him and bathe John 8:12). Prompt
obedience was the best evidence of the
mans faith. The nature of this cure
was that it was complete ". y
Christ's work always arOuses discus
sion, and causes division wv. S-12).4 1t
,, answer to an inquiry the man showed
a AlS AoAAAACSS ny Sd5lhS, dlH Lie O1s
that was cured" (He that sat ant
begged). His frank testimony abou
Jesus was not well received.
q III. The Controversy ". II; to end oi
, chapter). This controversy gave op
portunity for testimony, as we have
already seen, first of all upon the par
Of the man whose testimony was pro
gressive. At first he merely spoke O.
the fact. he was not acquainted will
, Jesus, for he calls him 'tThe maj
! called Jesus" Later on he is moved
2 to cali him a prophet" He is {.
prophet ". 10, and later still h,
recognizes him as 'aThe Son of God
(vv. 35-3S). This controversy ,estab
. lished beyond question the fact of tn,
cure. 1t brought out the deity O
Christ (v. 33l. The man was exeom
municated, but for that matter he wa
a already outside because of his physica
: infirmity, but, best of all, he becam
. truly fChrist's disciple. Those wh,
4 heard him testify wanted to see Jesu
(v. 80. The man did not dodge tn
issue when he was brought before TIL
enemies of Christ. His question, 4'HOy
can "a man that is "a sinner do Sucl
: signs?" was AN 'unanswerable one, ant
t when he saw their hesitancy and con
e sternatiOn he boldly proclaimed O
e Jesus-'tHe is a prophet"
r ~. Comments. This lesson with it
: vivid contrasts of belief and unbelie
a gives us a wonderful opportunity t
e urge upon pupils decision to live tn
e Christian life. Has Christ opened tn
e eyes of our scholars to the love O
e God, to the awfulness of sin, to tn
need of a Savior, our divine Leade
and Brother? Urge them, i'm the clas
and OHt, to be as 0ltspoken and eoul
| ageOus for Christ as was this man VIII
| had never before perhaps seen o
| heard of Jesus, anG whose gratitude a
i once called forth this wonderful cor
II fession. Conditions of healing ia thi
H case are twOfold: First, faith, and
II second, obedience. AS we have alread
Il indicated, all sickness is not the resul
Il of sin,. nor are We convinced that al
/ healing is of faith, Independent of tn
II use of remedies. We do not questio
H Gods ability to cure with or withou
il remedies; According to your faith b
Il it unto yOu," nor do we consider hea
ing by faith the highest evidence q
the grace and power Of God as W
Il often infer from the testimony of som
Christians.
II Being cast out by the rules of tn
II synagogue brought this man into close
Il and deeper fellowship and commur
: ion with Jesus.
He had believed far enough to ODE
his bidding, and had thus been healet
Now he is brought to a great sa,
ing, transforming faith, viz, that Jesu
Y is the Son of God.
q, Do we take advantage of our priv
. lege of confession?
f. Before Christ came there were n
u hospitals.
He is the inspiration of all charitabl
institutions, but healing of the hodv