Middletown transcript., 1917-03-31
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSC[lO0L
LESSON
CBy E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
Copyright 1917, Western Newspaper Union }
LESSON FOR APRIL /
JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO BLIND

JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO BLIND.
LESSON TEXT-John Gill. 1888. (Read
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 Tabernacles. There are six
other cases of blindness recorded as
having been cured. Look them up.
|. The Case wv. 1-4). 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 14:12).
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. 2,
34). Poor-he was beggar. He is
also type of the nation of Israel
(Rev. BID. We must not attempt to
explain all sickness ". 81. God fire.
Quently uses it for the Advancement
of his kingdom John 11:4). 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 wv. 2, 4 and g..
Sickness sometimes manifests Gods
sustaining grace (II Cor. 12:S-1O. 1t
is doubtless true that large percent
age of sickness is the direct result Of
sin John 5 IA; Nix. 2:5; Acts 1929,
some, of course, indirectly (Job % Ia
3OO.
II. The Cure wv. 4-1D. 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
| it 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 sQd 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 test Of
the mans faith OI Kings 5:1O-14),
and his part Ia the transaction was q
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 type of Jesus
himself ". 4 John 10 :36; Rom. 8 :3 /;
Gal. 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. 8-12). In
answer to an inquiry the man showed
his manliness by saying, II am the one
that was cured" (He that sat and
begged). His frank testimony about
Jesus was not we'll received.
Ill. The Controversy ". II to end of
chapter). This controversy gave op-
portunity for testimony, as we have
already seen, first Of all upon the part
of the man whose testimony was pro-
gressive. At first he merely spoke of
the fact. He was not acquainted with
Jesus, for he calls him "The man
called Jesus" Later on he is moved
to call him a prophet" He is a
prophet ". ~, and later still he
recognizes him as ''The Son Of God''
wv. 35-38). This controversy estab-
lished beyond question the fact of the
cure. It brought out the deity of
Christ ". 33). The man was excom-
municated, but for that matter he was
already outside because of his physical
infirmity, but, best Of oil, he became
truly Christ's disciple. Those who
heard him testify wanted to see Jesus
". 12). The man did not dodge the
issue when he was brought before the
enemies of Christ. His question, "How
signs?" was an unanswerable one, and
when he saw their hesitancy and con-
sternation he boldly proclaimed of
Jesus-"He is a prophet"
w. Comments. This lesson with its
vivid contrasts Of belief and unbelief
gives us 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 a Savior, our divine Leader
and Brother? Urge them, in the class
and out, to be as outspoken and cour-
ageOus 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. Conditions of healing in this
case are twofold: First, faith, and,
second, obedience. AS we have already
indicated, all sickness is not the result
OF sin, nor are we convinced that all
healing is of faith, Independent of the
use of remedies. We do not question
Gods ability to cure with or without
remedies. "Accordino to vour faith ho