The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-03-30
LESSON FOR APRIL /
JESUS GIVES sIeAr TO BLIND

sntire chapterJ >''
GOLDEN TEXT-I am the light Of III,
World.-John 9J
This, another OF the signs which
Jesus performed, is recorded only b,
John. 1t probably occurred in octo
Der, SIX months before the crucifixion
while Jesus was attending the Feas
OF the Tabernacles. There are 81,
other cases Of blindness recorded al
having been cured. Look them up.
.. The Case wv. Ia. It was abso
lutely hopeless. No human skill coult
touch It, but Jesus passed by" ant
that changed everything. What mel
cannot do Jesus can. Jesus is passlni
today, and we may expect things quit
as wonderful to happen John IL 10y
This blind man illustrates the unsavet
sinner Il Cor. 2:14). He never hat
Seen. he was beyond human help "
S2). He had doubtless given up al
hope of seeing. He was without sym
pathy, suspected and desplsed wv. 2
BD. Poor-he was a beggar. He Il
also a type of the nation of Israe
Grew. 3:17). We must not attempt II
explain all sickness ". 81. God fre
quently uses 1t for the advancement
of his kingdom (John 11:4). Jesul
mot only passed by but he saw" TIL
Feeling Of the crowd was that Of curl
losity and contempt. His feeling wal
that Of compassion wv. 2, 4 and 81
Sickness sometimes manIfests Godi
Sustaining grace (II Cor. II $40. d
Iis doubtless true that a large percent
age Of sickness is the direct result q
sin (John 5:14; Nix. 2:5; Acts IL :23)
some, Of course, Indirectly dob % IA
BOY.
u. The Cure wv. Ally. The wort
must" in verse four is strong one
The time for us to do our work II
"now." This word must" carries will
It the idea of divine imperative, and
the reason for that imperatlveness Il
the approaching might" Night Il
coming fast, when no man can work
Notice the works we are to do are no,
our own, but "the works of him that
sent me-" Compare carefully verses
two and four, and see that Jesus con.
sidered delivering the man from evil
far more important than speculatina
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
splttle. 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 n test of
the mans faith I'll Kings 5:1O-14,
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
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 ". A; John 1896; Rom. SO;
Gal. 4:4). If we wish to receive sight
for our blind eyes. we should 20 to
him and battle (John S:12).
III, The Controversy ". IL 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 1.-THE man
called Jesus" Later on he is moved
to call him a prophet" He is a
prophet w. 10. and later still he
recognizes him as "'The Son of God"
wv. $3.50. This controversy estab-
lished beyond question the fact of the
cure. 1t brought out the deity of
Christ ". 39). The man was excom-
municated, but for that matter he was
already outside because Of his physical
infrmlty, hut, best of all, he became
truly Chr,st'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
and out, to be rs outspoken and cour.
ageous for Christ us was this man who
had rever before perhaps seen or
hoard Of Jesus, and whose gratitude at
once called forth this wonderful con.
fesslon.
Being cast out by the rules of the
hynagogue brought this man into closer
and deeper fellowship and commun.
ION with Jesus.
BE had believed far enough to obey
his bidding, and had thus been healed
Now he is brought to a great say
ing. Transforming faith, viz, that Jesus
is the Son OF God.
Do we take advantage Of our priv
lege Of confession2
Before Christ came there were nc
hospitals.
He Is the inspiration of all charitable
institutions, but healing of the body is
OF secondary importance; the healing
-