The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-09-06
Lesson for September 7
JESUS HEALS A NoBLEMAN's SON
,ssoN TExT-John 4;4s-54

LESSON TEXT-John 4:46-54.
GOLDEN TEXT am the way, the
truth, and the life."-John 14:6.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Heals a
Sick Boy.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Heals a No.
bleman's Son.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Belief in Jesus-What 1t Has Done
and VIII Do.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What Should We Expect From Faith?
The glorious revival among the
Samaritans being over, Jesus, with
heart yearning for His countrymen,
goes back into Galllee. When He be-
gan His work there it was not appreci-
ated as 1t should have been. His own
testimony is that a prophet hath no
honor In his own country. Having
made a reputation elsewhere He now
came back to them.
/. The Nobieman's Earnest Plea wv.
46, Az. This fathers heart was In
deep anguish because of the critical
Illness of his son, but he had the good
sense to go to Jesus In his distress.
dltntS chOuld Cd6ChAt DAl1S tACI
children to the Great Physician. This
affliction was used to bring him to Je-
sus. Many do not think of Jesus until
overwhelmed with grief and distress.
It Is need that always brings men to
Jesus. Even when human physicians
fail the case is not hopeless, for there
is no case too hard for Christ and
there is no disease too difficult nor sor-
row too great but relief can be found
in Him. This Is true of our physical
ills, but 1t is pre-eminently true of our
souls. We see here that a rich and in
fuential man Is in distress, showing
that the rich and exalted are no more
exempt from Affections and anxiety
than are the poor. Cares and trouble
come to all alike. The young are lia-
BILE to disease and death as are the old.
This nobleman learned of Jesus
through the testimony of another ".
47). Had not some one told him about
Him. Before lost men can call upon
the Lord some n must tell them
about Him (Ron- 1914. 15).
II. The Testing Of the NobIeman's
Faith wv. 48, 49).
In his experience we find an illustra-
ton of the development Of belief. He
had faith, but not an intelligent faith.
Before help could be given his attitude
of mind must be changed. Jesus de-
clared, Except We see signs and won
ders, We will not believe" showing that
the nobleman's faith was such as was
based upon signs mad wonders. The
man needed something more than the
healing of his son. He must needs
know Christ as Savior as well as
Healer. He did not allow himself to
be put off, but insistently demanded,
"Sir, come down ere my child die
This shows that he was now willing to
make any experiment to save his boy.
His very impotency forced him to lay
hold upon the Lord. Jesus desired this
man to possess a faith which was
based upon His naked word, not mere
signs and wonders. The way of Jesus
Is to first reveal Himself as a Savior
and then as a Healer.
III. The Nobleman's Faith Victorious
wv. 50-54).
Through his testing he passed with
good advantage. He Is now ready to
receive the Lords own word. Go thy
way; thy son liveth." These words
created true faith and the man stepped
out upon them. Because he believed
the words that Jesus spoke unto him
he went his way. Faith increases In
brightness the longer II is exercised.
The foundation upon which he reposed
his faith was the words of Jesus. On
his return his faith met with confirma-
ton. His servant met him and told
him that his son was alive. Upon In
quiry he found that the recovery of his
son was from the very hour in which
Jesus spake the words. This was
such an u~nmistakable evidence of the
deity of Jesus that not only the noble
man, but his household, was won for
Christ. This affords us an example of
the beauty of household religion. May
we all learn that the words of Jesus
are reliable. That which He promises
Is Just as sure as though 1t had already
come to pass. The salvation of the one
who believes in Jesus is just as ure
as though he had been in heaven and
seer his name in the Book OF Life.
Anxiety for the son brought salvation
to the whole house.
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