The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-03-29
INTERNATIONAL
SUNnAYSC[lOOL
LESSON
(By T.: O.. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1917, Western Newapaptr linton
LESSON FOR APRIL !
JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO BLIND.

LSooCN iEhI-John 9:1-11, 35-38 (Read /
GOLDEN TENT am the light OF tho
world.-John go
Ihis, another Of the signs which
Jesus performed, Is recorded only by |
John. 1t probably occurred in Octo- |
Der, six months before the crucif'xfon. |
while Jesus was attending the Feast
OF the TnbernaclcS. There IRE six |
other cases of blindness recorded MS
having been cured. Look them up.
!. The Case wv. 1.4). 1t was abso.
lutely hopeless. No human skill could
touch IL, but Jesus passed BY" and
that changed everything. What men
cannot do Jesus can. Jesus Is nassing
today, and we may expect things quite
us wonderful to happen (John 14:12).
This blind man illustrates the unsayed
sinner Il Cor. 2:14. lie never had
seen. He was beyond human help ".
~. lie had doubtless given up all
nope or seeing. He was without sym
pathy, suspected and dcSpised wv. 2,
34). Poor-hc was n bcggar. He is
also type Of the nation of Israel
Rev. 3:1O. We must not attempt to
explain all sickness (v. -. God fire.
quently uses it for the advancement
of his kingdom (Jolm 114). Jesus
not only passed by but he "saw." The
feeling Of the crowd was that of curl
"SI'y ani contempt. His feeling was
that of compassion Wv. ., 4 and 81.
Sickness sometimes manifests Gods
sustaining grace UI Cor. II :S-1O). 1t
Is doubtless true that Il large perccnt-
age of sickness is the direct result of
sin John 5:l4; Nix. 30; Acts 12:23),
some, of course, Indirectly (Job 23:14-
3O).
u. The Cure wv. Ally. 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
1t 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 and four, and see that Jesus con.
! sidcred delivering the man from evil
far more important than speculutinl
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 an(
! Spittlc. The miracle was performed IL
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" We're a test of
the mans faith UI Kings 5:1O-14),
and his part in the transaction was Il
testimony that it was Christ who
worked the cure. The use Of the
material means in this ceremony made
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 &c. Rom. S:3 {;
Gal. ~. IF we wish to receive sight
for our blind eyes, we should go to
him and bathe (John 8:12).
III. The Controversy (v. 10 to end OF
chnpter). 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-
grrSSive. 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 q prophet" He is a
prophet (v. 1D, and later still he
recognizes him as "The Son Of God"
wv. 35-3S). This controversy cstnb-
liShed beyond question the fact OF the
II I've al n
Christ (v. 33). The man was excom-
municatcd, but for that matter he was
already outside because Of his physical
infrmity, but, best H all, he became
truly Christ's disciple.
~. Comments. This lesson with It's
vivid contrasts of belief and unbelief
gives us a wonderful opportunity to
urge upon pupils a decision to live the
Christian life. Has Christ opened the
eyes Of our scholars to the love OF
God, to the awfulncss of sin, to the
need Of Savior, our divine Lender
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 g Jesus and whose gratitude at
once called forth this wonderful con-
feSSon.
Being cast out by the rules OF the
synagogue brought This man into closer
ana deeper fellowship and commun-
ion with Jesus.
lie had believed far enough to obey
his bidding. and had thus been healed.
Now he is brought to n great saw
is the Son Of God.
Do we take advantage Of our prlvI-
lcgc of confession?
Before Christ came there were no