Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17
Jesus at the Pool
Of Bethesda
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD ". rOMKISS.
Texts st. John W, LIS.
Texts st. John W, LIS.

bipie statements. ! warmly recommend
.Hicc books which help in Bible Study:
LiSh,s On the Old Testament From
ISABEL by A!fr'G 7. Clay Of Yale
t'ners'|; Formerly OF the University
OF Ienns! lvanin: "Archaelogy and the
n'pie' by George 4. Barton. of Bryn
Ala"r College: "Oricntalisms i'm Bible
lands. by Edwin W. Rice of the sun
gay School Union. IL is we'll for US to
stuny SUCH books. for they not only
tnrow iisht rpon the :,blc and its
teachings. hut they prove how reliable
INC ftDlc ~ even in little things We
can well be thankful that men are dig
S'nE UP ourie'! cities and finding the
'Aact places wits which we are ia
miliar from our Bible reading. Here
then. was a pool of water having heal
ing qualities. and about IL were gath
crco 4 number of diseased people seek
ihE IN IT'S waters :: longci for health
among these was a poor paralyzcd
man carried to the pool daily by his
iricnds who lett him there hopinu that
some kindly pcrson would helD him
rcach the edge or the pool and battle
III It's healing waters. Alas. for de
ierrcd hope! He had been there for
thirty-eight Years. still waiting and
waiting in vain. Wreichcd helpless
suffering, he Mas a type of sinful Au-
manly trying 10 help itself for age.
ana only TO be cicanscd and redeemed
by the Son OF cod. If you and are
seeking to make ourselves good ana
happy We are as badly on a. this inn
potent man. hose thirty-eight years
or hope only mocNrd him
HOW WEAK ARE OFTEN
ONERW H1:LMED ny STRONG
This is selfish world particularly
when number OF people want tc,
same thing and there is not enough for
All. HOW "a crowd OF people will josile
and push each other. while the weak
IA ne IL, I
tianity has done much to lead the
strong TO help the helpless. but still
the old cry is heard Might makes
right and the poor and discouraged
nave little chance. 1t is a simple dis
grace when any man profits by the ne
cessity OF another. From Jacobs day tn
TINS present "a curse must surely rest
upon any gain which has come through
sclhshncSs. Christ came. divnely
strong, 10 save the weak and when He
saw this poor man HIS loving heart and
hand were ready: "Eise. take up thy
bed and walk" And the man was
healed
We have here an assurance OF.
Christs interest in our physical In
frmit.es. He knows and He cares
when we are sick. He does not always
heal US. but Hs comforts US and gives
US strength 10 endure. some people
think tina, IL we had faith enough all
sickness conld be cured. Certainly we
ought 10 have faith. bu we also should
have trust in Gods wisdom. Paul had
taith. but his thorn in the flesh was
not removed. something better than
that was done Cor him. that he could
cry. 81 glory IN my ,narmlies II Is
tight and our bounGcm duty TO call
Upon God when VIC arc III He * the
great physician under whom alone can
the SIKH OF human pl 'aicians prosper.
Hut He knows Wha, is best for us else
q mn SpL- ~
10 continue on earth. There arc two
messages which come to us through
all Christ& miracles OF healing. IT,,
hrst Is that he Ion CT Us and cares for
us. and hencc We gan strength to .n-
dure The second is iha; sickness
represents sin and He is ready TO for
give sin and wash away it's stains We
do not know anything about the life
Of this mpotcni man after he was
healed but VIC can easily understand
how new life came TO him aud "A JOY
In the consciousness that his sins were
forgiven. Christ found him in the
Temple. which would seem TO imply
that he had found something more
important than health and the power
to walk, namely. the b!eSscdness OF
religion.
NOT COMMANDMENT
MT THEIR TRADITIONS
II was tho Sabbath day when Chris,
added to the fourth comma ndment
many ideas of their own. were offend
cd Doubtless they were anxious TO
hnd some accusation against Christ.
and so. they seized upon this kindly act
OF healing. this miracle. AS A matter
Of fact, tho commandment was not
broken. but only their poor traditions.
To do. good on tho Sabbath. to help
people. is quite in accord with all the
teaching OF the Eible. II is the sell
fish disregard OF God and the pursuit
Of personal pleasure that contradict
the commandment. In these days
need to keep holy the Christian day
of rest. which has taken the place Of
tho seventh day Hui We may he sure
that any deed OF kindness, any mcrcitul
service We can render is not a break
ing. but keeping of the law. We
break the law OF cod when we neglect
church and worship and seek our own
pleasure and profit. | am inclined TO
think that these Pharisces who accus-
ed Christ were themselves guilty OF Sc
cret violations of the spirit OF the COM
mandment. for honestly they could find
no fault with Him. 1t is often guilty
conscience that makes us critical OF
others, though we may not realize il.
The man who loves God and loves his
fellows looks for good rather than
OWL, seeks to praise rather than con-
denim; and. while he never treats sin
lightly. he draws near to the sinner
and tries to help him. Let us beware
of the Pharisaic spirit.
How wonderful it was that our Lord
found this man later in the temple and
recognized him. He WAS so constantly
meeting people. and there were so
many in the temple. and besides this
healed man had doubtless changed in
approximation he had carried his
mattress or pallct home and probably
fitted himself to enter the temple
that IL proves Christ's knowledge and
love, and memory when He grects him
in the temple. God knows us personal
ly, individually. AMI He never forgets
what He has done for us or what
may have done for Him. Although
there arc many Of us, not one is
forgotten, and the joy of Heaven will
be great when we remember, as we
doubtless will, all the events OF our
lives, and greater still will he our
jOyful wander when we find how the