The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-10

Nv ~ Wnat d Fl 5
Jesus to Jerusa-
lem at this feast day? Not the feast
Itself, we may be sure. for, no longer
IA feast unto jehovah" 1t had degen-
Grated into mere feast of the Jews"
and He who had come from heaven to
save and bless was outside this empty
Journalism. In contrast with ii Is the
feast that He will spread for hungry
hearts. No. not the feast attracts Him
but wretchedness and misery. "A
great multitude of impotent folk, of
blind, halt, withered, waiting" oh,
what a picture of the whole race.
The Pool.
Bethesda, with its five porches-
number of grace and redemption
with its spring of healing water. and
with Its very name, bears witness that
God, "ln wrath remembers mercy"
and testifies to that mercy which ac-
companied the second giving of the
law. But its story is one of misery.
"A great multitude lying" And there
1t leaves them. Not all are healed, but
only those who have the strength to
get themselves into the water. For
moment there Is healing virtue In the
pool, If one is able to avail himself of
IL. And so the law promises life to
the one who would keep its require
ments, saying: 1.-THE man that doeth
these things shall live by them" Even
so! But what II one Is without
strength" for this. as this impotent
man at the pool, and as you are, and
as / am? All for such, Savior has
come to Bethesda and He shall make
II Bethesda indeed, for mercy Is flow
Ing out of Him without measure for
every one that will receive Him.
And a certain man was there,
which had an infirmity thirty and
eight years. And when Jesus saw him
lie, and knew that he had been now a
long time in that case, he saith unto
him, wilt thou be made whole?"
The Patient.
1.-THE impotent man answered him,
Sir, have no man, when the water Is
troubled, to put me into the pool: but
while I am coming, another steppeth
down before me-" And God writes Il
down as a part of His word, for this
impotent man Is making confession
for all the world and describing the
helplessness of every unregenerate
sinner. For "when we were yet with
out strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly" No strength had he
to plunge into the water. nor money
to hire carriers, and the bystanders
had no mercy or sympathy. Yet, day
by day he came seeking help. "While
am coming" oh, how many are thus
coming! Coming TO anything and to
everything except TO the only Savior.
seeking for something to supplement
their deficiencies. And here is One at
hand "mighty to save" but no mere
helper for those who are trying by
their own efforts to help themselves.
He is the Savior of sinners. the Savior
of the lost, the Savior of those who
look away from all self-help to Him
alone. But still Bethesda Is thronged
and He is despised or dlsregarded. Oh.
soul. He has come to heal and save
you and your sin and impotence are
your only claim upon Him..
The Physician.
Yes, 1.-THE Great Physician now is
ness is confessed He turns the eyes %
the. poor man away from the pool and
from his own impotence to have them
fixed upon Himself It Is enough. To
look away from all things 10 TINT
Blessed One who has already done
everything for you and who by His
word OF power raises up dead souls to
live before Him and to walk forever
more In newness OF life. II still the
impotent man thinks OF the pool ns
the source of healing, as so many now
think OF the church or ordinances or
OF anything and everything save
Christ, he Is TO find. rs every saved
one finds. that II Is the infinite word
OF the Savior that gives life and sal.
walton. "Jesus saith unto him. Rise,
take up thy bed, and walk" And the
work Is donel For this Is the word OF
sovereign God.
One blessed word closes the story
In so far MS II concerns the subject
of the Savior's grace. "And on the
same day was the Sabbath" for His
perfect work leaves the heart In per.
feet rest. or old God wrought In ere.
alton, and rested So now. In the new
| creation. the result Of His work r.
rest for the heart Of the Savior and
rest for the sinner swho hears Hi
word. =. ...a.s...
as he snake 70 the sufferer