The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-02-16
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSOO0L
LESSON
(By E. O.. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course of Moody Bible
Institute.)
Copyright. 1917. Western NEWSPAPER Union.)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 18
JESUS HEALS NoBLEMAN'S SON.
ESSON TExT-John 4:4S-54.

bEoSON 1EAl-JOnn 4.fo-Of.
GOLDEN TEXT-As thou hast believ-
ed, so be it done unto thee.-Matt. S:13.
This event occurred a few days aft
er that of last Sundays lesson. 1t
was Jesus second miracle in Cana.
John the Baptist is still preaching, and
Jesus is closing the first 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 deScrip-
ton see some good Bible dictionary
The people of that land were more
worldly, less bound by conventional
tiles, and more accessible to the teach
ings which Jesus brought than those
of Judea. J%osephus says they were
fond of innovations, and disposed to
changes"
|. SuppIication (Testing) w. 43-49.
Jesus left the revival at Samaria wv.
39-44) and returned to Galilee. His
own people of Nazareth refused to ac-
cept him "for a prophet hath nc honor
in his own country" 1t was in Galilee
that he had his great victories. Here
he was welcome ". 49, 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 2:14-17). In Cana
och. 2:11) n came to him who was
a kings officer, n who vas 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 to
Cana, seeking help. We have here the
weakness of faith indicated in verse
fOrty-eight, "a 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.
'4fr, come down ere my child die"
Mans extremity is ever Gods. oppOr-
utility. 1NOL Ouly tAIISI.t 'ChSCS VI |
sickness can be brought to him, but
extreme cases of sin as well Il Tim.
1:15; Heb. 7:25). He can heal not
only those who are "at the point of
death" but those who are already
dead (Eph. 2:1). 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.
II. Surrender (Trusting) w. 50-51.
When the soldier took Jesus at his
word, he surrendered his previous con-
ception, and accepted the word of God;
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
Jesus Is Savior. He accepted
Jesus only as healer. We have men
today who will accept Jesus Christfn
perfection Of his character and the
purity of his teachings but who will
lot accept him to be their personal
Such men want to receive the
of Christianity, failing to rec
,gnize Its spiritual power and author
ty.
III. Satisfaction (Triumph) wv. 81
~. The fathers faith rose to the
iced for she believed the word that
spake." That word did not seem
t all probable, but it was enough. The
yord of Jesus who is, himself, the
is a sure and more reasonable
round of faith than any amount of
peculation. This fathers walk from
Jana to Capernaum was a walk Of
aith. He had nothing but a bare prom
Sc to support him, yet on his return
e found his son living ". 52). On
his word of Jesus he, himself, be-
eyed, and his whole house. 1t seems
Improbable that this could be otherwise
he were an honest man.
w. Suggestions (1) The living, per-
onal presence of Christ is not need
IL. 1t was a wise provision of Gods
economy that Christ should have re-
1rned to heaven.
(2) Acts are the true indications Of
ur faith. Gods written revelation
nd the revelation of his son, the Liv-
g Word, and the witness of the ex-
of Gods saints are sufficient
lets upon which to base faith.
(3) Faith is progressive. NOTICE the
,owth from verses 48 to so and 3d..
t first the man believed in Jesus
over; hen he believed in Jesus
ord, and believed in Jesus, himself;
en- he reaches the highest point in
lat he does not believe alone, for his
hole house believed with him.
~ Faith is the source of all
hristian gifts and graces. We have
/ advantage over these Galileans Of
Early nineteen centuries of what
hrist has wrought among the peoples
the earth among those who have
,lieved on him. He has been tried
i'd proved, and the gifts of Gods
ace, eternal life, the gifts Of the
oirit are all conditioned upon our
18th in him and in the Lord Jesus.
Our salvation from sin, our effective
- -zf1z --I 1~o- |