Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-06


numerous In Palestine in our Lord 8
day. The prevalence Of eye troubles
in the Holy Land induced an eminent
Jewish eye specialist of Baltimore to
leave his extensive practice Il few
years ago and to visit Palestine at his
own expense for the purpose of teach
ing tho Zionists, tho Christians and
tho Mohammedans how they might by
the adoption of sanitary measures
eradicate much of the blindness that
has always existed in that land. He
was moved by tho spirit Of the Master,
who cured six of their blindness dur
ing His ministry. There probable
were other cures, but the only one who
was born blind whom Jesus healed
and saved is recorded in our lesson.
There is some question, as to when
the events Of this remarkable and
dramatic passage In the history of our
Lord took place. While attending the
feast of tabernacles the Master had
politically proclaimed that He was
the Living Water. The hostile reac-
ton Of the crowd to His claim was so
bitter that they sought to stone Him.
He probably returned in a few months
to attend the feast of dedication, which
had been established by julius Mac
cabaeus. l65 Il. c., to commemorate
the reconsecration OF the temple that
had been desecrated by pagan Sacri-
fees three years previously. 1t was
probably in connection with this feast
and upon q. Sabbath day, after He
and His disciples had been engaged in
the worship OF the temple. that Jesus
observed the man blind from his
birth"
Although 1t was not prudent for the
Master TO tarry SO close to the place
where the people had within a short
time sought to take His life. the
syInpathizing Physician was attracted
by the mans condition. The disciples
were attracted to the poor beggar by
the Lords earnest gaze. Instead of
being moved with compassion at the
condition Of tho afflicted Jewish mendi-
Iditton an illustration of q much dis
dition an illustration much discussed
cussed metaphysical problem. It was a
common view that there WAS close re
latfonship between physical tnfirmities
and sin. 1t Is the basis OF the question
that they requested Jesus 10 answer,
as to who did sim His reply over
threw tho pharistic dogma that led
them TO infer that specific guilt re-
suited in a definite affection. he did
not deny that the man and his par
ents were sinners or that there was "a
cor neCtiCn between sin and physiCii!
illness. He insisted that tho beggar :
ment for sin.
Healing the Blind Bcggar.
Christ's answer touches the phi.
Iosophy Of evil. IL is the nearest ap-
proach to a revelation of the mystcr"
of suffering that can be FOUND IN the
Scriptures. His declaration teaches
that the origin OF evil is Of less I'm.
portauce than its removal. Our Lord
saw I'm the mans lifelong darkness
an opportunity for the grace ana
power Of God to manifest themselves.
Although IIe recognized His persona
peril. He could not leave the snhtten
one without giving immediate ald
II WAS tho Sabbath day, yer he Ola
not hesitate to disregard the law
which forbade healing upon that day
The beggar had been sufferer SO
long that Jesus could have waited
until another day If He had desired
Ia do so. This would have been con
trary to the lesson the Master wished
70 impress upon His followers. He
warned them against the danger OF al
lowing the opportunity 10 DO gooo &c
PASS by until il would be too late &c
manifest Gods favor ana power. IHe
aoDearance of suffering is d call for
the Christian, observing the same, &c
attempt to relieve the afflicted one sc
that they can have q practical demon
strat!on of Gods care for them. even
when they were sinners. The noun
rapidly draws near when we can uo
| the Masters service. we must always
hold IN Jesus. who is the Light of the
World because His religion opposes
and conquers the darkness of sin
which is so dark because 1t includes
ignorance and prejudice and woe and
more than all, death.
our Lord healed the blind beggaI os
amounting his eyes with saliva ano
CLAY. Both Of these possessed some
medicinal qualities, but their use pt
~ Chrtst was due to the spiritua
| naads of the man born blind. Theil