The Yale expositor., 1917-03-29

GOLDEN TEXT am the light of the
wOrld.-John 9:5.
This, another of the signs which
Jesus performed, is recorded only by
John. 1t probably occurred in Octo-
ber, six months before. the crucifixion,
while Jesus was attending the Feast
Of the pnbernacles. 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 dc Jesus can. Jesus is passing
today. and we may expect things quite
as wonderful to happen (JOhn il :12).
This blind man illustrates the unsaved
sinner q Cor. -2:1D. He never had
seen. He was beyond human help w..
81. He had doubtless given up all
hope of seeing. He was without SYM
pathy, suspected and despised wv. 2,
30. PoOr-he was a beggar. He is
also a type Of the nation of Israel
(Rev. 3:1O. We must not attempt to
explain all sickness ". -. God fire.
Guently uses it for the advancement
af his kingdom (John II ~. Jesus
not only passed by but he "saw." The
feeling of the crowd was that of curl
1sity and contempt. His feeling was
that of compassion wv. ., and 6).
Sickness sometimes manifests Gods
sustaining grace UI Cor. u :S-10). 1t
IS doubtless true that large percent
age Of sickness is the direct result of
sin (John 3 ii; Nix. 2 %; Acts y :23),
some, of course, indirectly Dob % Id
3W.
II. The Cure (vv. 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
{ the idea of divine imperative, and
.he reason for that imperativeness is
.he 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
Nro and four, and see that Jesus con-
,dered delivering the man from evil
ar 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 We're clay and
spittle. The miracle was performed in
plain view of all who might see. The
nan did not ask Jesus to help him, but
IeSus had gone where he was ". 81.
lis words, "GO wash were q test of
he mans faith QI Kings 5:10-1D,
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
he man more willing to go and wash.
It gave him something to do, and doing
always an end to faith. Sloan
means 'sent," and was type of Jesus
himself ". 4; John 10:36; Rom. 8 %;
Ial. 4:4). If we wish to receive sight
COR our blind eyes, we should go to
him and battle (JChn S:12).
III. The Controversy ". IL to end of
,hapter). This controversy gave OPP
)ortunity for testimony, as we have
Ilready seen, first of all upon the part
IF the man whose testimony was pro-
yressive. At first he merely spoke of
.he fact. He was not acquainted with
Jesus, for he calls him "rhe man
allied Jesus" Later on he is moved
% call him a prophet" He is a
prophet ". 10, and later still he
.ecognizes him as "The Son of God"
tvv. 35-3S). This controversy estab-
jshed 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
infrmity, but, best of all, he became
truly Christ's disciple.
w. 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
end out, to be as outspoken and cour-
lgeOus 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 coni sssion?
Before. Christ came there were no
hospitals.
lie is the inspiration of all charitable
institutions, but healing Of the body is
of secondary importance; the healing
of the soul is primary. Whereas