Evening star., 1924-12-06
Sunday School Lesson

blind man was rapidly growing in
spiritual Vision. and boIdness. He did
not know, when first asked about his
cure. anything except that man.
called Jesus, had made clay. anointed
his eyes, ordered him to wash in the
Pool Of Sloan and that, as result
Of following His directions, he came
to possess vision.
Pondering upon the antagonlsm of
the Pharisees to his benefactor helped
the formerly blind beggan to see more
and more Of the character of the
Master. He came to clearly see that
the Lord was more than bodily bene-
factor, and, when they asked him to
settle the controversy over the char
acter of Christ, he claimed that Jesus
was y prophet. He supported his view
with arguments that were in harmony
with his cure. They had been ap-
preaching Jesus with preconceived
prejudice and theory, while he spoke
out of his personal experience. Beaten
in their argument when he cited his
cure, as proving that "f this Man
were not from God he could do moth
ing" they turned to force. They ex-
communicated him for championing
Jesus and started a new organization.
A New Organization.
Accommodation meant much for
the former blind man. 1t placed him
beyond the pale of society. 1t sepa-
rated him from his friends, family.
and the Fellowship of his faith II
classed him with the lepers. He was
the first follower of Christ to be cast
out from the theocratic community.
| 1t started a new society, composed
of those who would publicly testify to
their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son
! of God. AS such Jesus revealed Him
self TO the healed man, and he pub
| licly proclaimed his faith and wor-
SHIPPED Christ. Against the dark
| background of the Pharisees and re-
! ligious pretenders. John gives us the
| picture of the Lord imparting a spir-
! it of independence to the one who be-
/ lieved in Him. He shows US how
! the Founder Of the Christian society
made the confession of His Person
ality as the sole means of access into
the new order that marked the com
( lneucemcnt Of the separation ol
Christianity from Judaism.
/ The expulsion of the man born blind
gave Jesus an opportunity to outline c
/ the character of that new society
which He did by giving to His fol-
lowers the parable of the shepherd
| that illustrated by the shepherds re
| lation to the fold and the sheep the
Lords relation to His church and His
personal interest in the life of every
! believer While every Christian is
! called upon to face the perils and
persecution of the world If he loyal
| ly stands up for Jesus, like the man
! born blind did in the temple, We know
! that the Master will not forget US ii
we confess Him We may count upon
! His meeting US in our hour of need
+ defending US when We know not that
we are being watched and kept b.
messengers from above, sent by the
Lord to defend US. If We confess
Him in a life Of loving service, lie
+ will honor us. We must not be dis
+ couraged by the power Of sin. Goo
4 is greater than sin ana HIS unlimited
! power has been intrusted to US &c
] carry out Christ's program. OUi
! time for service is now. Let us fol
/ low the example Of the Lord in deal
/ ing with men and not be discouraged
| by appearances or opposition. Lei
US take Christ's word in earnest He
and His teachings contain the
worlds only hope at this hour. Tc
! the church that He established we
owe our allegiance and loyalty to dt
| His will and work