Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-30
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON, APRIL 1
DIR. MARION MICH. HULL
April /, 1917.
John s;1-ll, 1888.
Golden Text:-"I am the light Of the
world" John 9;5.
April /, 1917.

time of the Feast OF Tabernacles so an
gered the authorities that they tried TO
stone Him. but lie escaped through an
other gate and went out of the temple.
As He passed along He saw blind beg
gar who was well known i'm the COM
munity because he had been born blind.
( His disciples asked Him what was the
I cause of his blindness. Was it some sin
of his parents or some prenatal sin of
/ his own: The Jews believed that ev-
cry affection was due To some special
sin. and curiously enough. they believed
that A child might sin before il was born
Jesus replied TO their question that
neither OF the surmises was true. but
that IL was a part of the divine plan.
This man had been born blind i'm orde.'
/ that he might illustrate the work Of God.
I We cannot understand such election on
+ Gods part. but We must accept it, as it
I is plainly taught in the scriptures.
THE DIVINE NECESSITY.
But Jesus continued. This is no time
. to waste in idled speculation as to what
had caused the mans condition. The
pra ctical thing 10 do was to cure him of
T il. we must work the works of Him
that sent me while it is day. for the
night cOmeth when no man can work. As
Z long as I am in the world I am the
T light Of the world. Jesus realized that
the opposition to Him was so great that
[ il would not he long before He could not
work any more. What He did He must
do quickly, therefore. If Jesus was I'M
der such a necessity. and must work.
for the time would come when He could
not. how much more true is that OF us
lis IL morning. or nOOn-tide. or afternoon.
or evening i'm your life? The night
cometh. we must work the works OF Him
that sent us while it is day. Is there
some one whom YOU should reach? Do
not delay then. but I'll each day to the
full.
THE DIVINE TENDERNESS
Then Jesus got busy. He spat on the
ground. made a muddy clay with his spit
tie and covered the blind mans eyes. and
told him to 20 wash i'm the Pool of ST.
loan. IT you have ever seen picture
of the Pool of Sloan and its environ
ments YOU can appreciate something Of
this blind mans faith. - had to walk
down a long steep hill and then down
disht OF steps before he came to the pool
! can imagine that he made quite a sight
a. he walked through the streets Of the
city with mud smeared over both of his
eyes. and that many of his friends mock
ed him and told him what a fool he was
10 think that he could ever receive his
sight i'm any such way. But that his
faith increased with every step that he
took
WHY 10 YOU think Jesus put that muddy
"lay on his eyes Certainly there was heal
ing power ia ia. Some has said that IL
was crutch 10 his faith. An. this was not it,
II was hut an evidence OF the divine tenderness
tie gave him the ability 10 at once. but
the light and glory Of il would have been too
much for him all at once. 50 Vie placed the
CLAW upon his eyes 10 protect them from the
sunlight until they could bear it. { can imagine
the strange sensation which came to yyEh no
the strange experience which came to the man
sS the sensation az light grew stronger and
stronger through the protecting clay. until when
he washed II away with the waters Of SLOAN
and opened his eyes he behold the glory Of
the sunlight. Tie looked with interest into the
faces Of tire people about him whose voices he
had heard hut whose faces no had never seen;
he looked into the limpid waters OF that pool:
h. looked at Nj. Olivet. and the glory OF the
, temple: il was wonderful experience to him!
He could not have stood IL IL n had come all
- once without the protection Of the clay.
Jesus VAS Infinitely tender with him.
THE DIVINE ENDUEMENT.
''o,i had elected him TO another service. lie
was to he bold witness for Him. and so now
lie "niueS him ana empowers him for that
sarVi"e. lie gives him Increasing ability TO
teach first his neighbors. and then the Phari-
sees and the rulers what had happened.
When he went home that sabbath evening his
nsighhors did not recognize him. He lokoed
Ike the same man. and ret he not the
same. n must have been = great pleasure to
him to tell how il happened. For some reason
fheg reported me matter 70 the PhariseeS.
imagine N was the next day when they had him
M before them and asked him how ii hap
'enctl which 10 answered in simple hut direct
terms The I'harisees were flahbergastered.
There we're differences among them as 10 the
matter. Finally, thy teurned 10 the man and
asked him what his opinion was. With divine
wisdom he said. He is a Prophet"
Now. according Co the Jewish law. a prophet
could break the Sabbath and he guiltless.
Probably the man knew this This put the
PhariseeS in a quandars. II they admitted
lax onu HhaF He
prophet; II they admitted that He was
prophet He had not roken the sabbath II they
oil not admit the miracle than the sabbath
had not been broken. So they held the matter
M, AMI sent for his. parents. who positively
ideatified him their son. and the fact Of
his having born blind. on account OF fear
however. thew refused To answer the question:
a. To how hr had been healed. Then they
come back To the man IL they had discov-
ersa that ho was fraud. and say TO him.
Well now. give God the praise and admit that
you have put mp story. because know. that
Ufs Man j. sinner"
But Gods wisdom and power stood by him.
With tenacity he chung 10 the simple fact Of
his healing with such force that for want Of
something 20 say. they asked. We'll. how did
il happen" With the ksenest irony and with
increasing wisdom, he added that evidently
they wanted TO be His disciples. This caused
them to lose their temper. and gave him the
supreme advantage With unsnswerable logic
he showed them that this Man must have come
from Cod. Angered beyond measure and los
ing complete control Of themselves Thou was
altogether horn I'm sins and dOgt thou teach us p
Holding the theology that they did, their state
ment admitted his having been born blind and
admitted the fact OF the miracle: and so they
communicated him.
THE DIVINE UNWILLING
But the moment the door Of the temple was
shut 10 him the gate Of heaven was opened
The news soon reached Jesus Of what had han
pened. More than likely John told Him. for he
writes this story IL he had been an eye wit
ness. Then Jesus looked the man IN and when
Tie had found him. said. ''Dost thou believe
On the Son Of God :: Now this was the frat
time that the man had ever seen Jesus so he
said Who is He. Lord. that might believe
on Him. And Jesus said. Thou hast both
seen Him ami IL is He that talketb with
thee Physical sight had been given him he
fore. now spiritual sight is given him. and be
realizes that this Man is more than a prophet
he i the Messiah, his saviour. So he said
Lord. I believe" and worshEped Him
What wonderful change took place in that
man, From blindness TO sight from beauary 10
toidnesS. from dependence TO independence Ex-
eluded from the temple he has the kingdom of
heaven opened to him. and when spiritual sight
is given him, he is changed in a moment from
sinner To- saint.
Jesus could not do for the PhariSees what He
had done for the They we're blind 10.
could not BE- made 10 see. There are wonders
uusneaksble which Jesus il waiting 70 reveal
To thUse who will let Him. He will not give
IL all at once. We could not stand IT, But
successfully aud with infinite tenderness He
viii reveal to MS the beauties Of the heavenlv
kingdOm and Of the spiritual world In which
made live wa will do