Arizona sun., 1947-01-31


direction. and the life; he that bel1evetn
in me, though he were dead. yet snaA ne
live.-John 11:25.
The miracles of God, through his
servants and the Lord Jesus Christ,
are not mere marvels 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 omnipotent God
wrought for the good of men, for
their spiritual enlightenment and as
testimony to the one true God.
Jesus is the giver Of life; first and
most important, Of spiritual LIE,
but also of physical life and health.
Leaving Samaria after his blessed
work there, our Lord went up into
Galilee, where he met many simple
hearted folk who were ready to
believe. Here he was able to work
miracles of healing and Of grace.
1. A Sick Boy Made Well (John
4:46-5D.
A nobleman's son was sick. An,
yes, af1iction and sorrow come to
the home of the rich as well as the
poor. Death comes to the young
as well as the old. In fact, the first
grave dug in this world was for a
young man.
But it is also true that affiictlon
may be, in Gods hand, q means OF
blessing. This sons sickness sent
his father to Jesus, and resulted
ultimately in the salvation OF the
entire household ". So.
There is another helpful lesson
here-our Lords Word is as good
as his presence. The man asked
Jesus to come, but he sent his
word instead. 1t was accepted, be-
lieved, and completely effective.
How blessed for us who may not
have the physical presence Of the
Lord to recall the potency of his
Word. When he says it, believe it!
III. A Lame Man Made Whole
(John 5:2-9).
Back in Jerusalem at the Feast
of Purim, a time of JOY and gift
giving, our Lord found his way to
the pool of Bethesda where there
were misery and disease. His COM
passionate heart sent him there to
help and to bless.
''Impotent folk"-the words well
describe not only those who lay
helpless about the pool of BetheS-
da, but they fit us as well. Oh, yes,
we are strong, capable, fearless,
but only until we meet some great
elemental problem. Then we see
that we are indeed "a great multi
tude of impotent folk" The silent
fog can paralyze nation. Death,
sickness-who can stay their hand?
Long familiarity with his weak
ness had bred in the man with the
infirmity a sense of despair. Such
an attitude invites defeat. It is un-
to a Christian. Let us not
forget in the darkest hour to keep
looking up"
Jesus told the man to ''rise and
walk" - the very thing he could
not do for his 38 years of life.
But when the Son of God speaks to
us he gives the power to respond to
his command.
iii. A Dead Friend Made Alive
(John 11:11-13).
The fact that Jesus is our Friend
and our Saviour does not exempt
us from human sorrow, but it does
assure us of the needed grace to
bear the trial and to trust him even
in life's darkest hour.
Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, was
sick. The home in which Jesus had
found rest and fellowship was in
deep trouble Jesus was no longer
in Judea. In haste, word is sent
to him of his friends illness. But
he did not come.
Why does he delay? Such is the
heart cry Of thousands today who
call on him in their hour of trouble.
The purposes of God are beyond
our ability fully to understand. We
need only to trust him and abide
his time. o.'
Notice that his failure to respond
at once to the message of Lazarus
sisters did not mean that he had
deserted them 11:4-6). Nor did it
mean that he had denied them his
help ". D.. Lazarus may have
been dead before the word reached
him. He may also have delayed in
order that there might be no ques-
ton about the resurrection miracle.
And he may have tarried in order
that their faith might be strength
ened
Above all, do not fail TO notice
that he came. He always does.
Jesus has never failed any child
of his. The time and the manner of
his answer to our prayers may not
conform to our opinion of what
should have been done, but let US
remember that we know only in
part. He knows all Let US trust
him. In mis- darkest hour Job said:
Though he slay me, yet will
trust in him" (Job 1879.
He called Lazarus forth from the