Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-02-04
Sil11ldayScloe1
Y Lesson '
tBy REV p. - FITzwATER. DID. Dean
slituse Of Chicago1
&C. 1895 Western Newspaper unionl
Lesson for February 7
JESUS HEALS AND SAVES
BLIND MAN

BLIND MAN
! LESSON TExT-John s;I-4l
GOLDEN TEXT-"l am the light of
the world. he that followeth Me shall
4 not walk in darkness. but shall have
the light of life."--John SIP
/ PRIMARY TOPIC-The Blind Man
! Made to See
4 JUNIOR ToPTc-Jesus Helps Blind
Man.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-What Jesus Did for the Blind Man.
IC-Jesus Christ the Light of the
World
|. Working the Works of God
While 1t Is Day wv. 1e5).
/. The Disciples Problem wv. /. p.
In their minds all affliction. negative
and positive, was Gods retribution for
sin. Therefore, they argued that this
mans blindness proved his sin. They
recognized. too, that the effect of sin
! is sometimes hereditary. No doubt
they inferred this from the second
commandment lex. % ~. The impli-
cation is that they held the view that
| men have pre-existence, and that suf-
! fcring in this life may be the result Of
sins committed in that pre-existent
/ state.
| .. The Lords Answer wv. 3-5).
j The Lord affirmed that in this case
there was neither sin on the mans
part, nor that of his parents, but that
it was an occasion for the display Of
the works Of God and that He had
come to execute this task while 1t was
| day, because the night would come
when no man could work. Since Christ
is the light OF the world the task
which challenged His attention was
the opening of this nuns eyes. The
purpose of Jesus in working miracles
was not a mere exhibition of miracu-
lous power but TO Illustrate in the
physical sphere His power in the spir-
itual sphere" This mans absolute
helplessness in lettering his physical
condition is illustrative Of mans utter
helplessness in the salvation Of his
own soul The natural man is blind
and dead I'll Cor. IA; Eph. 2:1). God
by His spirit must quicken the soul
dead in trespasses and sin before it
can see to take hold on Christ, the
remedy for sin.
u. The Mans Eyes Opened wv.
6. ~.
/. The Means.
Jesus spat on the ground and made
clay of the spittle and anointed his
eyes, Observe that the means used in
this miracle were little less than fool
ish in themselves. The object must
have been to teach this man the utter
inadequacy of the means to the ac-
complishment of the end. that he might
be caused to look from the means to
the One who used them, that he might
he convinced that the power WAS of
Cod
2. His Obedience w. u
lie immediately obeyed He did not
stop TO question the reasonableness of
the command
III. The Mans Testimony wv. S.
3G).
In his testimony we have a fine ex-
ample of the development of faith. The
opening Of this mans eyes aroused in
quiry among his neighbors. When
mans spiritual eyes are opened, there
will be a stir among his friends.
|. He Testified to His, Personal Iden-
THY ". 81. This was very easy. His
self-consciousness enabled him to know
that he was the same man who was
born blind.
,. He Testified as to How 1t Was
Done (vv. 11-15) so definite was his
experience that he was able to tell
just how it was done. When he re
peated it there was no conflict.
3. He Testified That the One who
Opened His Eyes Was Prophet ". IT).
4. He Testified That This Healer No
Doubt Was Sent of God (vv 30-33) He
declared that He was the greatest
worker Of miracles who had appeared
since the world began.
5. He warshiped Him as the Son OF
God ". 3S).
w. The Results Of His Confession.
l. AS 10 the People, They We're, Di-
vided in Sentiment " 1G) Some be-
ieved He was from God because Of
His works, others that He was ii sim
ner because He did His work on the
Sabbath day.
2. As to the Man. They Cast Him
Out ". 34). Faithful testimony will
often result in ostracisn from even re-
ligious people.
g. As to Jesus. He Found the Man
". 35). Being cast out by men he
found himself in the arms of Jesus.
II is quite often true that separation
from human fellowship results in more
vital fellowship with Jesus. He was
led on 70 deeper faith. He first saw
Him as a miracle worker, then as
prophet and finally as the Son Of God
and when he perceived Him to be the
Son OF God he worshiped Him.