Middletown transcript., 1917-02-24
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
JESUS AT POOL OF BETHESDA.

Following the events Of last Sun
Jays lesson, Jesus went to Jerusalem
to attend the feast ". y. He went up
according to the requirements OF the
Jewish law (Ex. "a %; see Gal. 4:4),
but he was not satisfied with the con-
ventional fulfilling of the duties for
that occasion, nor was he occupied
with social and commercial functions,
but in "going about doing good" The
feast was an occasion Of joy and mirth
on every hand, but in the midst of 1t
is this great need so graphically pic
tured in this lesson. How true this is
to our daily experience. Teachers
should appeal to the imagination OF
their scholars and describe as vividly
as possible this pool. Let them depict
q room, on the floor of which is pool;
in one corner of the room stairway
leading up to the ceiling; surrounding
the room, at the top of the wall
broad walk; on the wall, looking down
toward the floor and the pool is "a
multitude of them that were blind, halt
and withered.' These were the
wretched ones who sought the pool,
and evidently Jesus sought the most
wretched of this company.
!. Jesus went where there was need
(v. g.. In the midst of this company
Jesus "saw" this man lie. He had been
there often ". y, and his case seemed
to be beyond all hope, but there is
nothing too hard for God (Gen. Is IA;
Jer. I'D.
II. Jesus throws the responsibility
upon the man ". g.. Jesus had eyes
not only to see need, but he also saw
Gods and his own personal power to
relieve the need. The question is, what
do we see as we journey through life?
Are our eyes open to the great needs
of men, spiritually and morally, and
are we aware of the resources which
God has placed at our disposal to meet
these fundamental needs of men?
III. Jesus was moved with compass
sion (NIatt. IA :14). He always has that
feeling when he looks upon suffering
and the misfortunes of men (Heb.
13 IS; 4:15-16; lisa. 63 :9). Jesus does
not do for the man what the man can
do for himself; so he makes his first
appeal to the mans desire and, through
his desire, to the mans will, "Wilt thou
be made whole?" The fact that he has
been long time in his predicament, or
the fact that sinner has been long
time in an evil state is no reason for
supposing that Jesus will not take in
terest in him or that he cannot save
and help and heal him (Matt. 9:21;
Luke SAB; Acts 3:2). His question
throws the whole matter upon the will
of the man. Jesus is willing and able;
the only question is, are we willing?
(Rev. 22-17). The only thing that keeps
men from enjoying eternal life Is their
personal attitude toward God John
:40). Jesus did not ask the man if
he would be made better, but If he
would be made whole. He does not
wish to make the sinner better, but to
make him whole.
w. Jesus commands the impossible.
The man thought the only way he
could be made whole was through the
efficiency Of the waters in this pool,
but Jesus, by speaking a word, had
the power that would heal him Cps.
107 :20); so today it is the power Of
the word of Christ that can save all
.ho hnl; Il
we have to do to live is to hear and
believe John 5:24). With the COM
mand of Christ, "Rise, take up thy
bed" was enabling power. The cure
was not only complete, but it was in
Simultaneous (Acts 3:7,S).
v. He worked complete cure. He
was made whole even according to the
question which Jesus had asked at the
outset. The man at once began to use
this Christ-given strength by taking up
his bed, and doing exactly as he was
commanded (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus
likes these hard cases, those Of "long
". 81. He also likes those
that are the results of sin, for that was
his work in the world ". IA; Matt.
1 Ply.
vi. Opposition and danger wv. TO-
15). The objection raised was that Je-
sus had transgressed the Jewish law.
The mans answer to this was. "He
hath made me whole" The word Of
God is our law (Matt. 17:5). The
that Jesus gives us Is to be
used in obedience to him in clarifying
his name. The man did not tell the
Jews who it was that made him whole,
because he did not know, himself; but
as soon as he found out who it was he
told them without fear or hesitancy.
He did not even wait for them to ask
him, but sought an opportunity for
". 15). Any man who is
truly saved will at once give his wit
ness to others. The admonition which
Jesus gave to this man ". 14) still
holds good. How many men we have
seen who have been saved from the
drink habit or some other evil in life,
and who have grown Indifferent or
careless and returned to their sin only |
10 have "a worse thing come unto |
hem" 1t is interesting to notice that |
Jesus performed this miracle in the |
lace Of great opposition and danger. |
The Jews ". ICY sought to slay him
'or having thus violated their law. |
They gave more thought to his disre-
gard of their traditions than they did |
@ his deed of goodness on behalf Of |
80 occupied with the violations of con-
or the disregard some !
rood man has for the traditions of po- |
ite society as to overlook the benefi- |
cent work God may do through him.
There are many today who are |