The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-02-11
~'"" IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAy1
OCHOOL lesson
(By REV. P. B. FITzWATER. D. D.. Mem
Der of Faculty. Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.)
&c. 1882. Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for February ID
JESUS AND THE MAN BORN BLIND

LESSON TEXT-John 9:1-41.
GOLDEN TEXT-Then spake Jesus
again unto them, saying, I am the
light of the world: he that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Makes a
Blind Man See.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Gives Sight
to a Blind Beggar.
; INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
;1C-What Jesus Did for Blind Man.
; YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Jesus the Light of the World.
I. Working the Works of God While
1t Is Day wv. 80.
1. The disciples problem wv. 1, p.
In their minds all affection, negative
and positive, was Gods retribution
for sin. Therefore, they argued that
this mans blindness proved his sin.
They recognized also that the effect
Of sin is sometimes hereditary. The
common philosophy of men about us
today is that sickness, disease, and all
sorts of calamities, is Gods judgment
for sin
2. The Lords answer wv. 3-5).
Jesus 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 exc
cute this task while it was day be-
cause the night would come when no
man could work. Since Christ is the
light of the world, the task which chal-
lenged his attention was the opening
of this mans eyes. The purpose Of
Jesus in working miracles was not a
mere exhibition of miraculous power,
but ito illustrate in the physical
sphere his power in the spiritual
sphere" 1t was illustrative of mans
utter helplessness in. his own salvation.
The natural man is blind and dead (II
Cor. IA; Eph. 2:D. God, by his
Spirit, must quicken the soul dead in
trespasses and sin before he can see
to take hold on Christ, the remedy for
sin.
II. The Mans Eyes Opened wv.
6, y.
1. The means used ". g. Jesus
Spat on the ground and made clay Of
the spittle and anointed his eyes. OBJ
serve that the means used in this
miracle were little less than foolish
in themselves. The object must have
been to show the man the utter made
quacy of the means to the accom-
plishment Of the end, that he might
be convinced that the power was Of
God.
2. His obedience ". ~ He imme-
.diately obeyed. He did not stop to
question the reasonableness of the
command. Obedience only to that
which seems reasonable is not obed-
fence at all. He did not inquire as
to what would be the result.
Ill. The Mans Testimony wv. $3.50.
In his testimony we have fine Elk
ample of the development Of faith.
1. He testified to his personal iden-
tity ". 81. This was very easy. His
self consciousness enabled him to
know that he was the same man who
was born blind.
2. He testified as to how it was
done wv. 11-15). So definite was his
experience that he was able to tell just
how it was done.
8. He testified that the one who
opened his eyes was prophet ". ~.
4. He testified that this healer no
doubt was sent Of God wv. 3O-33).
s. He worshiped him as the Son of
God ". 3S).
Nv. The Results of His Confession.
1. AS to the people, they were d.
vided in their sentiment ". 16).
Some believed Jesus was from God
because of his works. Others believed
that he was a sinner 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 ostracism from religious peo-
pie, but there must be faithfulness.
8. AS to Jesus, he found the man
". 35). Being cast out by men, he
found himself in the arms of Jesus.
He was led on to a deeper faith. He
first saw Christ as a miracle worker,
then as a prophet, and finally as the
Son Of God.
This whole lesson may be viewed
from three angles:
1. AS an acted parable of a life that
issues from faith in Christ. 1t is an
illustration of the spiritual sphere in
terms of the physical.
2. The testimony of the deity of our
Lord. This testimony is fourfold:
a. The miracle itself an unheard-of
work, that a man born blind should
receive his sight.
b. The unwilling admission Of the
enemies themselves who made pub
lie and official investigation.
c. The testimony of the man him
SELF
d. That of his parents.
8. An Illuminating example of the
development Of faith.