The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-02-15
INTERNATIONAL.
.SUNlAYSQIO0L
LESSON
(By ID. 0. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
lnstitute)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 18
JESUS HEALS NoBLEMAN's SON.

ed. SO be it done unto thce-Matt. S:l3.
ThiS event occurred 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
Galilr". Teachers should bring Il
vivid picture Of Gnlilce to their
classes, as that was one of the i'm
portnnt fields TO which our Master de-
voted much of his time. N'or dcscrip-
tfon see some good Bible dctionary.)
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 Judca. JOScphuS says they were
fond of innovations, and disposed to
changes"
J.. Supplication (Testine) Wv. 43-49.
Jesus left the revival M Snnluria Wv.
Bold and returned To .;nlilce. His
own people of Nazareth refused to ac-
ccpt him "for prophet hath no honor
in his own country" II was in Gulilcc
that he had his great victories. Here
he was welcome (v. 45) 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
(Ch. 2:1D one came to him who was
Il kings officer, ON" who WAS used to
command. and whose great personal
need nEcrcnmc any prejudice (Mntt.
9:1S: Luke 1922. God uses Affections
0fttmeS 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 "nt thr point
of death" hence The fathers journey
Of twenty miles from Cnpcrnnum 10
Cana. seeking help We have here the
weakness of faith indicated in verse
fortScight, in that the man would not
believe except he should SOC signs and
wonders. We have also the earnest
ness of the man i'm verse 40.
"Sir come down ere my child die"
Mans extremity is ever Gods oppor-
tunity. Not only cxtrcmc cases of
sickness can be brought to him, but
| extreme cases Of sin rs we'll CT Tim.
, I rs: Heb 7:25). He can heal not
only those who are "at the point Of
death" but those who are already
dead (Eph. 2:D The child was dy-
ing, the father had not strength to
wait to see wonders. hut he could and
did trust Jesus to heal his SON
II. Surrender (Trustng) w. 5O-51.
! When the soldier took Jesus at his
word he surrendered his previous con
! ceptfOn. and accepted the word of God !;
I literally acting upon his belief He
! went his way because he believed, He
did not ask Jesus again to 90 to Cnpnr-
naum. We must not confuse this kind
Of faith, however, with his having ac-
ceptcd Jesus as Savior He accepted
Jesus only rs healer. We have men
today who will accept Jesus Christ in
the perfection Of his character ana the
purity Of his teachings hut who will
not accept him to be their personal
Savior. Such men want to receive the
benefits of Christianity, fniling TO rec
ogniZc It's spiritual power and author
ity.
III. Satisfaction (Triumph) wv 30
54). The fathers faith rose to the
need for she believed the word that
Jesus spakc" That word did not seem
Mt all probable but it was enough. The
word Of Jesus who is, himself, the
! truth, Is q sure and more reasonable
ground Of faith than any amount Of
speculation. This fathers walk from
! Cana to Capcrnaum was a walk Of
f, faith. He had nothing but bare prom
iSe to support him, vet on his return
he found his son living w. 52). On
| this word Of Jesus he, himself, be-
licvcd, and his whole house. 1t seems
improbable that this could be otherwise
If he were IN honest man.
! w. Suggestions G) The living, per-
sona presence of Christ Is not need
| full. II was wise provision Of Gods
economy that Christ should have re-
turned to heaven.
(2) Acts arc the true Indications of
our faith. Gods written revelation
ing Word. and the witness Of the cx-
pcriencc of Gods saints are sufficient
facts upon which to base faith.
(3) Faith is progressive. Notice the
growth from verses 4S to SO and 53..
At first the man believed In Jesus
power; then he believed in Jesus
word and believed in Jesus, himself:
then he reaches the highest point in
| that he does not believe alone. for his
whole house believed with him.
(D Faith is the source of all
Christian gifts and graces We have
IN advantage over these Gaiileans of
nearly nineteen centuries of what
Christ has wrought among the peoples
Of the earth among those who have
! helinXnl on him In hnc Lnnn trIod