The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-01-21
Sunday School
Lesson In Brief
By REV. B. A. MEEKS

Bible Passage: John 5:2-17.
Golden Text: wilt thou be
made whole"-John SIS.
There was a great multitude of
people crowded around the pool
sof Bethesda waiting to be healed
sof their diseases. Bethesda liter
ally means House of Mercy.
Out of this multitude of impo-
tent folk, of blind, halt, withered,
Jesus directed Himself to one
whose case seemed to be worse
than the others. We know very
little about this man whom Jesus
healed. We know nothing of his
family, nothing of his home, very
little of his past life. Not even
his name has been preserved for
us. The record is, "And GER
tain man was there, which had an
infirmity thirty and eight years.
When Jesus saw him lie, and
knew that he had been now a
long time in that case, he saith
unto him, Wilt thou be made
whole?"
Here are some of the things we
may learn about this impotent
- man from the lesson passage.
CD We see very clearly that he
was friendless. "The impotent
man answered him, Sir, I have
no man, when the water is troub-
/ led, to put me into the pool: but
while I am coming, another step
peth down before me-. A very
sad plight indeed. (2) The same
passage shows him to be in a
helpless state. He is spoken of
as being impotent and dependent
upon others. CD His condition is
brought about by his sins.
"Afterward Jesus findeth him in
the temple, and said unto him,
Behold, thou art made whole:
sin no more, lest a worse thing
come unto thee"-John STA. (4
There is no evidence of any Bit
herness in his heart because OF
his sad estate. In his reply to Je-
sus he simply makes plain
statement of fact. Neither should
we allow ourselves to become
imbittered nor brood over our
state even though it be very sad.
50 This man really desired to be
made whole. He was at the pool
of Bethesda which was the only
place known to him where he
might be healed. And that is
the reason for his healing. He
did all that he knew to do. He
had faith in Jesus and obeyed
his commandment. It was his de-
sire to be healed, his faith in Je-
sus and his spirit of obedience
that made him whole.
Note how clearly sin and Its
consequences are pictured here at
the pool of Bethesda in the null
titude of impotent folk. % In
their utter selfishness. No one
waited for the other, but pushed
them aside where possible. All
of them failed to help this help
less man even after being healed
themselves. (2) The consequence
es of sin is clearly seen in their
snspotency. They were impotent,
blind halt and Withered. The
man whom Jesus healed was
10th friendless and helpless. (3)
Jesus is pictured as the only
source of healing. He is the
Great Physician. He heals both
body and soul. !
And now the application. Let
us place ourselves before Jesus
and hear Him say, "Wllt thou be
made Whole?" Do we really
want to be made whole? Do we
want to be made over again and
brought to that state of develop.
ment for which we were created!
Is our desire so intense that we
will make full use Of all the
available means as did this i'm
potent man whom Jesus made
whole? I am sure if we were
physically sick we would do ev-
erything within our power to re-
gain our health and in addition
thereto seek the help of the best
physician possible. We would do
the same for our friends and low
ed ones. But what about souls
sick with sin? Jesus was con-
cerned about the physical needs
of men. But that which burden
ed His soul was not the needs of
mems bodies, but the needs OF
their SOIL. Jesus did not come
to earth to lay down his life for
peoples bodies. What concerned
Him most and above all things
was the needs of peoples perish
= ing souls.
ATTEND CHURCH SUNDAY