The Glenwood post., 1924-12-04

LESSON TEXT-John s1-41.
GOLDEN TEXT-One thing / know
that whereas 1 was blind now / see
John 9;25.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Jesus opens =
Blind Mans Eyes.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Heals Man
Who Is Blind.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Loyalty to Our Savior.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Dif1iculties and Rewards of Con-
Tossing Christ.
l. Working the Works Of God While
1t Is Day wv. 10y.
1. The Disciples Problem (vv /, p.
In their minds all atfliction, negative
and positive, was Gods retribution for
sin. Therefore they argued that this
mans blindness proved sin. They rec
ognized, too, that the effect of sin is
sometimes hereditary. This they no
doubt inferred from the second COM
mandment (Ex. 20 10y. The implication
is that they held the view that men
have 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. 80. The
Lord AYERS that in this case there is
neither sin on the mans part, nor that
of his parents, but that it 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.
6, y.
Observe that the means used in this
miracle were little less than foolish in
themselves. How lily adapted natural
ly would plaster of mud be 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 nadequacy of the means to the
accomplishment of the end that he
might be 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. Tho Mans Testimony wv.
1899.
In his testimony we have fine ex-
ample of the development of faith. The
opening of this mans eyes aroused in
qulry among his neighbors. When a
mans spiritual eyes are opened there
will be stir among his friends.
l. He testifies to his personal iden-
tity ". 9). This was very easy. His
selfconsciousness enabled him to
know that he was the same man who
was born blind.
2. He testifies as TO how it was done
wv. II, 15). So definite was his ex-
perience that he was able to tell Just
how 1t was done.
3. He testities that the One who
opened his eyes was prophet ". 10.
4. He testifes that this healer was
no doubt sent of God (vv. 3O-35), and
is the greatest worker of miracles
since the world began.
5. Finally, he worships Him as the
Son of God.
w. 'ue hcSuitS OF tbs SOnrcS6Ion.
!. 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
He did His work on the Sabbath day.
2. AS to the man, they cast him out.
But being cast out by men he found
himself in the arms of Jesus. He is
led on to deeper faith. He first saw
Him as miracle worker. then as a
prophet, and finally as the Son of God,
and when he perceived Him TO be the
Son of God he worshped Him.
The whole lesson may be viewed
from three angles:
]. As an acted parable of the life
that issues in faith in Christ, an Illus
tration of the spiritual sphere in terms
of the physical sphere.
2. Testimony TO the Deity of our
Lord. This testimony is threefold:
(a) The miracle itself, an unheard-
of work, that man born blind should
receive his sight; (b) the unwilling ad-
missions of the enemies themselves
who made public and official investi-
CATION; (c) the testimony OF the man
himself and that of his parents.
3. An Illuminating example Of faiths
development.