Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-23
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
JESUS AT POOL OF BETHESDA.

, LESSON TEXT-John 5:1-15.
GOLDEF TEXT-It was Jesus which
had made him whole.-John 5:15.
: Following the events of last Sun
days lesson, Jesus went to Jerusalem
to attend the feast ". H. He went up
according to the requirements of the
Jewish law (Ex. "a :23; see Gal. 4:4),
but he was not satisfied with the con-
ventional fulfilling of the duties for
that occasion, nor was he occupied
with social and commercial functions,
but in "going about doing good" The
feast was an occasion of joy and mlrth
on every hand, but in the midst OF 1t
is this great need so graphically pic
.tured in this lesson. How true this Is
to our daily experience. Teachers
should appeal to the imagination OF
their scholars and describe as wildly
as possible this pool. Let them depict
room, on the floor of which is pool;
in one corner of the room stairway
leading up to the ceiling; surrounding
the room, at the top of the wall
broad walk; on the wall, looking down
toward the floor and the pool is "a
multitude of them that were blind, halt
and withered" These were the
wretched ones who sought the pool,
and evidently Jesus sought the most
wretched of this company.
I. Jesus went where there was need
". g.. In the midst of this company
Jesus "saw" this man lie. He had been
there often ". y, and his case seemed
to be beyond all hope, but there is
nothing too hard for God (Gen. Is IA;
Jer. 81 I'D. .ss...s.-.,
II. Jesus throws the responsibility
upon the man ". 81. Jesus. had eyes
not only to see need, but he also saw
Gods and his own personal power to
relieve the need. The question is, what
do we see as we journey through life?
Are our eyes open to the great needs
of men, spiritually and morally, and
pre we aware of the resources which
God has placed at our disposal to meet
these fundamental needs Of men?
III. Jesus was moved with compass
sion (Matt. IA :14). He always has that
feeling when he looks upon suffering
and the misfortunes of men (Heb.
13 IS; 4:15-16; lisa. 63 :9). Jesus does
not do for the man what the man can
| do for himself; so he makes his first
appeal to the mans desire and, through
his desire, to the mans will, "Wilt thou
he made whole?'' The fact that he has
been long time in his predicament, or
| the fact that a sinner has been long
time in an evil state is no reason for
supposing that Jesus will not take in
terest in him or that he cannot save
and help and heal him (Matt. 9:21
Luke 8:43; Acts 8 3:2). His question
throws the whole matter upon the will
of the man. Jesus is willing and able
the only question is, are we willing
Rey. 22-17). The only thing that keeps
men from enjoying eternal life is their
personal attitude toward God (John
5:4O). Jesus did not ask the man ii
he would be made better, but If he
would be made whole. He does not
wish to make the sinner better, but tC
make him whole.
Nv. Jesus commands the impossible
could be made whole was through the
efficiency Of the waters in this pool
but Jesus, by speaking a word, hat
the power that would heal him (Ps
107 :20); so today it is the power o.
the word of Christ that can save al
who believe on him (Rom. :16). AL
we have to do to live is to hear anC
| haH hn
mand of Christ, "Rise, take up tn!
bed" was enabling power. The cur,
was not only complete, but it was in
stantaneous (Acts 1919.
v. He worked complete cure. HI
was made whole even according to tn,
question which Jesus had asked at tn
outset. The man at once began to us
this Christ-given strength by taking Vi
his bed, and doing exactly as he wa
commanded (u Tim. 3:12). Jesu
likes these hard cases, those of ''lon
standing" ". 81. He also likes thos
that are the results of sin, for that wa
his work in the world ". IA; Mat
1 :21).
vi. Opposition and danger wv. II
) 15). The objection raised was that Je
sus had transgressed the Jewish Law
The mans answer to this was, n
: hath made me whole" The word G
God is our law Matt. 17:5). Tn
strength that Jesus gives US is to
used in obedience to him in glorifyin
: his name. The man did not tell th
Jews who it was that made him Who'll,
because he did not know, himself; br
: us soon as he found out who it was
told them without fear or hesitanc,
He did not even wait for them to as
him, but sought an opportunity fC
witnessing ". 15). Any man who
truly saved will at once give his wi
ness to others. The admonition whic
Jesus gave to this man ". 14) sti
holds good. How many men we hay
seen who have been saved from tt
drink habit or some other evil in lif
and who have grown Indifferent
careless and returned to their sin on
to have "a worse thing come UNI
them" 1t is interesting to notice th
Jesus performed this miracle in Il
face of great opposition and DANCE
4 The Jews ". 16) sought to slay hi
Il for having thus violated their la
H They gave more thought to his disr
\ gard of their traditions than they d
4 to his deed of goodness on behalf
\ this unfortunate man. Many today a
H so occupied with the violations of co
H ventionalities or the disregard sor
i good man has for the traditions of e
4 lite society as to overlook the bene
ll cent work God may do through him.
II There are many today who q
Il greater sticklers for the religio
II traditions of the church than they O
Il to see the sinful, the sorrowing a
Il the needy ones relieved, and many
these, like those ancient Jews, a
T murderers at heart.
Summary: (1) Jesus cures the sir
mot by what he does to them, but wi
he does in them.
1g (2) Christianity is the gospel /
a. the hodv as well as for sOulS oF m.