Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-01-21
JESUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

LESSON TEXT-John SPIT
GOLDEN TEXT-Wilt thou be made
whole2-John Sc.
Hope Of the hopeless, help Of the
helpless-who would that be, but
Jesus? Coming to Jerusalem for the
feast He did not seek out the homes
of the mighty, the places Of learn
ing and culture. but betook Himself
to the Pool of Bethesda, where there
LAY a multitude Of them that were
sick. blind, halt, withered." Why did
He go to such place? Because He
always had compassion upon those
in need.
In this multitude He saw at once
the neediest man Of alone without
friends or loved ones to care for
him, respondent and disheartened.
What happened that day may well
encourage the heart of every sad,
lonely. and discouraged one.
We see three things here.
I. Hopeless Infirmity wv. IN.
How weak and helpless is HUMANE
ty. Oh, yes, we seem to be strong,
capable, fearless, but only until we
meet some great elemental prob
lem. Then we see that we are in
deed a great multitude Of impotent
folk. The gently falling snow
stopped the indicated Napoleon.
The silent fog can paralyze a ma
ton. Sickness, death-who can stay
their hand? We need the steady and
powerful grip of God upon our lives
If we are to 60 through such ex-
periences. Not only was this man
i'll and weak, but his long years Of
suffering had made him so accus-
toned to weakness that he had
reached a state Of despair
Such an attitude invites defeat. It
may be the only recourse Of the
man of the world. but with Jesus
standing by to help, there Is good
reason for assurance of faith in the
darkest hour.
In the face of his need-yes, even
in the light of Jesus provision for
that need-the leaders Of the Jews
could only criticize.
ii. Heartless Religion wv. 1913.
1910.
Jesus had done for the man what
the Jews had not been able to do; in
fact, one wonders whether they had
so much as lifted a finger to help
this poor sufferer. But now that he
was able to walk, they were greatly
concerned about the violation Of
their Sabbath day restriction against
any work.
Instead of shouting for Joy that
this man was able to carry not only
himself but his bed, they became
jealous about maintaining the let
ter of their law.
Are there not those in our day
who would be greatly disturbed If
the deathlike quiet and dignity Of
their church services were to be
broken by the cry Of new born
babe in Christ? Would a revival be
welcomed in the great churches Of
America which have lost the SAVIOR
of Christ and the power Of the gos-
pei? We think not.
The man who had been healed an
swered well ". ID. He did not
know who Jesus was, but he knew
that If He had authority to heal, He
also had the right to tell him to
carry his bed. When we meet Jesus
we will be healed Of our infirmities
and, like this man, be delivered
from the fear of cold ecclesiasti-
cism.
But let us turn to the neart of
our lesson. which is the act Of Jesus
In giving him
III. Healing Of Body and Soul wv.
8, o, lD.
The body Of this man was miracu-
lousy healed There was no par
tial improvement, no long drawn
out convalescence and regaining of
strength. In fact, he was told to Go.
something which called for the full
vigor Of healthy body. to show
that he was healed.
Even so when we are healed from
sin it is not to half-dead existence.
but TO the full vigor Of spiritual life.
We are to arise and walk in the
power and grace which Christ has
brought into our lives.
Note that the miracle performed
mere was for the glory Of God. The
miracles Of God are not mere mar
vels or wonders. They are not for
the advancement Of the cause of any
man or for personal glory. They
are the mighty signs Of an omnipo-
tent God wrought for the good of
men, for their spiritual enlighten-
ment, and as a testimony to the
one true God.
So in this case Jesus found the
man In the temple to admonish him
to continue steadfast in the spiritual
liberty which had come to him lest
a worse thing befall' him.
Evidently this mans inhrmity had
been caused by sin, and even though
he had suffered those 80 long years
the tendency toward sin was still
alive in his heart Sin dies hard.
How often have we not seen those