The Dolores star., 1924-12-05

LESSON TENT-JOnn s'l-Si-
GOLDEN TENT-one thing l know
that whereas / was blind now i see
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Opens =
Blind Mans Eyes.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus Heals Man
who Is Blind.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Loyalty to our savior.
YOLr%G PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
Ic-DIfilcuIties and Rewards of Con-
Tossing Christ
|. Working the Works Of God While
It is Day wv. l-j).
|. The Disciples Problem wv. !. p.
In their minds all ailliction. negative
and positive, was Gods retribution for
sin. Therefore they argued that this
mans blindness proved sin. They rec
ognlZcd too. that the effect of sin is
sometimes hereditary. This they no
doubt Inferred from the second com
mnndment (Ex 20:5). The implication
is that they held the view that men
have n pre-existence, and that suffer-
Ing in this life may be the result OF
sins committed In that pre-exis'ent
state.
=. The Lords Answer wv. 3-5). The
Lord AYERS that in this case there Is
neither sin on the mans part. nor that
of his parents. but that II WAS an oc-
casion for the display Of the works of
God and that He had come to execute
this task while 1t is day, because the
night comes when no man can work.
II. The Mans Eyes Opened wv.
C. -.
Observe that the means used In this
miracle were little less than foolish in
themselves. How lily adapted natural
ly would n plaster Of mud he to apply
to the eye. the most delicate and sensi-
tive of all the organs of the body.
What is more to be avoided than sand
In touch with the eye? The object
must have been TO teach this man the
utter inadequacy Of the means to the
accomplishment of the end that he
might he caused to look from the
means to the one who used them. that
he might be convinced that the power
was of God. Then. too, the washing in
the pool would teach him the absolute
necessity Of immediate and explicit
obedience in order ito enjoy Gods
blessings.
III. The Mans Testimony wv.
| 1899.
In his testimony we have n fine ex-
| ample Of the development of faith. The
| opening of this mans eyes aroused in
qulry among his nelghbors.- When n
mans spiritual eyes are opened there
| will be stir among his friends.
l. He testfies TO his personal Iden-
| tity ". ~. This was very easy. His
seif-consciousness enabled him to
know that he was the same man who
| was born blind.
2. He testities as to how 1t was done
| wv. II, 15). SO definite was his ex-
| perience that he was able to tell lust
how 1t was done.
3. He testlies that the One who
opened his eyes was prophet ". 17).
4. lie testiies that this healer was
no doubt sent of God wv. 3O-35), and
| Is the greatest worker of miracles
| since the world began.
5. Finally, he worships Him as the
| Son Of God.
| ~. The Results Of His Confession.
| !. As to the people, they were d.
| Vided In sentiment. Some believed He
was from God because of His works.
others that He was sinner because
lie did His work on the Sabbath day.
| :. AS to the man, they cast him ont
but being cast out by men he found
| hinsef In the arms Of Jesus. He is
led on to a deeper faith. He first saw
Him as miracle worker, then AS
prophet and finally as the Son of God.
ana when he perceived Him to be the
Son OF God he worshiped Him,
The whole lesson may be viewed
from three angles:
' l. AS an acted parable of the lIfe
'hat issues in faith in Christ, an illus.
'ratl"n "t the spiritual sphere in terms
OF the physical sphere.
:. testimony 10 the Deity of our
i"rd. rms testimony is threefoId.
(a) The miracle itself, an uuheord-
OF work, that a man born blind should
receive his sight: (b) the unwilling nd.
missions of the enemies Themselves
WI" made public and official Inyesti.
s;'ti"n; tc) the testimony of the man
h'ilSelf and that of his parents
3 An Illuminating example of faiths
development.