50 Je'sus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Je'sus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Ju'de-a into Gal'i-lee. General Statement. The visit of Jesus to the village of Sychar was an incident of his journey, resulting from what seemed a chance meeting with the woman at Jacob's well. After staying two days among the Samaritans, who were eager to receive his teachings, he pursued his journey toward Galilee. This was the home of his boyhood, the region where he had been known only as a carpenter, and not as a teacher. He knew full well that he could not expect to be received as a prophet until he had gained a prophet's fame elsewhere. He had therefore chosen to spend a year in Judea, in and around the capital, where his teachings and his miracles had awakened universal interest. It is true that the number of thosewho fully believed in him was small, and the leaders of Jewish society, both in the Church and the State, Pharisees and Sadducees, had pronounced against him. Yet there was in the heart of the masses a feeling that he was indeed a teacher with divine authority, and throughout Explanatory and Verse 43. After two days. "The two days," as in Rev. Ver., the two days already named in verse 41, not two more days. He departed thence. From Sychar, at the foot of Mount Ebal. Went into Galilee. The northern province of Palestine in the New Testament period, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the two lakes, Merom and the Sea of Galilee. Its people were less bigoted than those of Judea, though as strong in loyalty to their national faith and hope. Josephus says that Galilee contained over two hundred cities, the smallest of which held fifteen thousand inhabitants. This if correct (which is doubtful) would give a popu lation of three or four millions. (1) See the eagerness of our Saviour to enter upon his work. 44. For Jesus himself testifled. This seems to give as a reason for going into Galilee the fact that a prophet is without honor in his own country. But Galilee was his own country; hence the statement is perplexing. Taking into account the statement of the next verse, that the Galileans received him on account of his miracles in Jerusalem, the best explanation seems to be that Jesus, knowing that a prophet has no honor in his own country, did not begin his ministry in Galilee, but in Judea, and only came to his own province when he had gained honor at the capital. A prophet hath no honor. Burns in Ayrshire was only a plow-man, Wordsworth at Rydal Mount was considered a crank, and Robertson of Brighton died almost unknown in his own city. Greatness needs distance to be recognized. (2) Let us be ready to honor those whom God honors. 45. Then, when he was come. When he came to his own country with the fame of a prophet and worker of miracles. The Galileans received him. The report of the miracles wrought at Jerusalem had preceded him to Galilee; but the gospels have made no mention of what those miracles were. At the feast. The annual feast of the Passover, mentioned in John 2. 13. They also went. This is stated for the Gentile readers of the Gospel, who might not be aware of the fact that the Jews of Palestine made annual pilgrimage to the Passover, which could be kept only at Jerusalem. (3) Let us not be behind these Jews in attendance upon God's house. 46. Again into Cana. This place was north of Nazareth, whether at the locality now known as Kefr Kenna or Kana el-Jelil. From this place came at least one of his disciples. Nathanael, and it is probable that Mary his mother had relatives there. A certain nobleman. Literally, "one belonging to the king." The king at that time was Herod Antipas, who had just put in prison John the Baptist. If the mention in Luke 8,3, refers to this nobleman, as some think, his name was Chuza, and his wife's name was Joanna. Whose son was sick. (4) Greatness does not exempt men from the ills of life. There is misery behind lace curtains as well as in hovels. At Capernaum. A city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, probably the place now known as Khan Minyeh. Soon after this miracle it became the home of Christ during the rest of his ministry. Galilee the people were eager for his appearance. He came again to Cana, and at once the news of his arrival was borne throughout the province. It reached a nobleman at Capernaum, who was watching over the couch of his dying boy. A hope arose in the father's heart that this prophet might be able to restore his child. At once he started for Cana. It was a steep ascent among the mountains, but he reached the city, and found the Master, and begged him to come down and save his child's life. In the eyes of Christ a nobleman was as a peasant, and this nobleman had a soul to be saved as well as a son to be healed. He addressed himself to the man's heart, seeming to care but little for the curing of his child. He led him onward from belief to faith, and sent him on his way trusting in the promise of his Saviour alone. The father found his son restored to health, and father, son, and family together rejoiced in the faith of disciples. Practical Notes. 47. He went unto him. A journey of nearly twenty-five miles over the mountains west of the Sea of Galilee. Besought him that he would come down. Capernaum by the sea is thirteen hundred and fifty feet lower than Cana among the mountains. Heal his son. To the agonized father, the restoration of his son was the all-important work; but to Christ, who saw both worlds, it was a matter of less importance than the faith of the man himself. (5) Teacher, impress the truth that children die, that a child needs to prepare for another world, and that the best preparation for death is a preparation for life. 48. Then said Jesus. Rev. Ver., "Jesus therefore said; " because the man was looking for a healer rather than for a Saviour. Except ye see signs and wonders. These words were spoken, not as a reproof, but to lead the nobleman up from a faith which selfishly sought for miracles to a higher faith which sought for salvation. Ye will not believe. Christ was constantly endeavoring to turn the thoughts of men from his outward works to his inward work of grace, which was the greater, as the soul is of more value than the body. 49. The nobleman saith. By his words he showed an intense affection and desire for his son's restoration, and a belief in Christ's power which was capable of enlightenment into living faith. Sir. In the original, Lord," Come down ere my child die. He had as yet no thought that his son could be restored without the Saviour's presence. 50. Go thy way; thy son liveth. These words were at once a test and strengthening to his faith. By them he was tried and lifted up at once into a higher and nobler trust. Believed the word. Hitherto he had believed in the power of Jesus, now he believes in his word. Went his way. Not hastily, but calmly proceeding on his homeward journey with full faith that the cure had been effected. From the fact that he did not meet the servants until the next day, it is clear that he remained during the night either at Cana or some place on the way. An anxious, doubting spirit would have gone home in haste, or begged Jesus to come in person. (6) True faith rests in the promises without fear. 51. His servants met him. While he was descending the mountains with trust and peace, they were ascending them with glad news. Thy son liveth. Meaning, as Christ meant in the same words, that he was not only alive, but with a prospect of lengthened life and restoration. (7) Christ has power to heal the sickness of souls, no less than of bodies. 52. Then inquired he of them the hour. His faith told him that it was at the very time when Jesus spoke the words which gave him hope. When he began to amend. The father had looked for a gradual improvement, a turn in the tide of disease, but he had not ventured to hope for a sudden restoration to health. So some expect a gradual development of character from -in to righteousness, while Christ does better for us than we dare to dream. Yesterday at the seventh hour. It is somewhat uncertain whether John used 3. A Cure, v. 50-54. Where was the son who was sick? How far away was Jesus? What act of faith is here recorded? id the nobleman think caused his son's recov but in him as the Messiah of Israel; he be ciple of Christ, and thus a nobleman indeed. house. See the influence of a believing par brings an entire household to the Lord. responsibility for the family rests upon its h 54. This is again the second miracle. was in the order his second miracle of all, was come out of Judea. His first mira turning of the water into wine; then foll ber of miracles in Judea; then wrought like the first, when he came fr Cana. What did John the apostle think caused Could it not have been accounted for causes? What other miracle did Jesus perform distant from him? Fractical Teachings. 1. God sometimes seems to refuse us wh testing us. 2. We should take God's promises as s act as though we knew they were fulfilled 3. God often causes circumstances to occ our faith. 4. The nobleman had hardly any foundati faith upon. Yet he believed and obeyed. have infinitely more to found my faith up QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE S How long did Jesus remain at Samaria What treatment did he expect? Of whom had the centurion heard? 2. A Call, v. 47-49. 3. A Cure, v. 50-54. What assuring command did Jesus give Teachings of the Lesson Where in this lesson do we see 1. The plea of anxious love? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SO Who came to Jesus while he was in Car man of the king's court. What did he ask of him? To heal hi Where was his son? In Capernaum ney from Cana. What did Jesus tell him? "Unless derful things, you will not believe on How had the Samaritans believed? W miracles. What was the nobleman's prayer? "S ere my son die." How did Jesus answer it? (Repeat the Did the nobleman believe Jesus' wo and turned to go home. Who met him on the way? His serva What good news did they bring? Th alive and better. When had he begun to get well? T that Jesus promised he should live. Who believed on Jesus? The nobl whole house. How does Jesus want us to believe on h What has he told us? "Blessed are not seen and yet have believed." Words with Little People. Jesus told that dear father, who came to him to cure his little boy, the Golden Text. The father believed, went on his way, and found that the very hour Jesus spoke the word the fever left him. "What a splendid thing for Jesus to do!" " Wish he was here now!" Still he comforts fathers' hearts, Life and strength and joy imparts; Still the children's friend is he, THE LESSON CATECHISM. [For the entire school.] 1. To what place did Jesus go after leaving Samaria? To Cana in Galilee. 2. What did a nobleman ask of Jesus at Cana? To come and heal his son. 3. Where was his son at the time? At Capernaum, fifteen miles away. 4. What did Jesus say to him in the Golden Text? "Jesus saith," etc. 5. How did the father receive the words of Jesus? He believed, and went home. 6. What did he hear before he reached his home? "Thy son liveth." 7. At what hour had the fever left the son? At the hour when Jesus spoke. perity does not lead them to him. This man would never have sought the Saviour if sorrow had not come to his house. v. 47. 3. How much more earnest are parents in seeking the physical and temporal welfare of their children than in seeking their spiritual welfare! Yet the soul is more important than the body. v. 47. 4. True faith takes Christ at his word of promise, and asks no outward sign. v. 50. 5. The same power by which Christ could heal the nobleman's son while far away he can employ in answering our prayers for friends at a distance. v. 50-53. 6. The mercies of the Lord, and his abundant answers to prayer, should lead us to a faith that bringeth salvation. v. 53. English Teacher's Notes. WE have seen the Lord Jesus in these first chapters of St. John's gospel, as the Light and the Word, as the Lamb of God, as the Dispenser of blessing, as the wonderful Teacher, as the Seeker of souls, as the Sower. In the passage for to-day he is brought before us for the first time as the Healer, and the Hearer of supplication. I use the word supplication because we never read of prayer being offered to the Lord Jesus while he was on earth. After his resurrection we read twice that "they worshiped him." Matt. 28. 9, 17. But there was no prayer. Prayer is the way of communication given to man with the unseen God, and after the Lord was taken from his disciples, then "they prayed" (Acts 1. 24) to him. But what he was to those who made request to him on earth, that he is to those who offer prayer to him now. So that the story of his first recorded suppliant was surely given as a lesson for all suppliants who should come after. The writer of the gospel specially notes this miracle as the second "that Jesus did when he was come out of Judea into Galilee." The first time he turned water into wine. The second time he healed a sick boy. And these were types, not only of the gracious works he came to do, but of the manner in which he would do them. The water was not turned into wine before the moment of need had actually arrived, and yet no one, save Mary, seems to have noticed the need, and no one else had thought of turning to him to supply it. He provided for the wants of that company, unasked by them. In like manner when human nature had been fully tried and found wanting, when it had been proved that both "Jew and Greek" had come utterly" short of the glory of God," when the need was the sorest, when night was the darkest, then the Son of God had come into the world to save sinners-come, unasked by them. But the second miracle recorded in this passage was performed in answer to the entreaty of an anxious father. Having come into the world, having given himself up for the good of sinners, the Lord Jesus now showed that he was ready to receive any needy one who might come, and to hear any request that might be brought to him. Having come as the Saviour he manifests himself as the prayer-hearer. As the prayer-hearer we learn from this passage four things about him: see some 1. A report of all that he had done at Jerusalem had gone before him into Galilee, and the Galileans were ready to welcome the new Prophet and Teacher, desiring, probably, to Little did signs and wonders wrought by him. they understand the nature of his mission. At Cana, where his first miracle of loving provision had been quietly and uuostentatiously performed, a courtier from Capernaum, some twenty miles farther, in the plain of Gennesaret, seeks him, eagerly beseeching him to come down and heal his son-in fact, to perform a miracle. But Jesus does not immediately consent, not that he did not know the state of the case, but as a lesson, probably, to those who stood by. Was the suppliant in earnest as to his cry for help, or was he simply desiring to have a wonder performed? This, our Lord would prove. And by his first answer to this first request, he showed that he demands sincerity. 2. The nobleman stands this test. He has but one desire at this moment. His mind is absorbed in the thought of his sick boy. It is not "signs and wonders" he is looking for, but actual succor. His one hope is that this great Prophet of whom he has heard so much will come home with him and heal his son. And Jesus still further tests him: "Go thy way; thy son liveth." What! Go back alone, when he had come on purpose to fetch the Healerreturn where all seemed dark and dreary and hopeless-turn his back on the one quarter whence he looked for help? Yes, the command is distinct, and the word with it, "thy son liveth." trust that bare word? Can he believe that at that moment, at that distance, the power has gone forth? This is what the Lord will prove. And by thus doing he shows that he demands faith. Can he "He 3. This test, too, the nobleman stands. went his way." He has gone back to the son he left sick unto death, gone back without the Healer, gone back because he "believed the word that Jesus had spoken" and trusted him. And he goes back to meet messengers of peace, to hear joyful news, to clasp in his arms his restored child, and to make proof that the word he believed had been indeed, the moment it was spoken, all powerful. But he learned something else. He has got the object of his desire, the healing of his son, but not in the way he had expected, not in the way he had asked. His supplication has indeed been granted. But the Lord had shown that he answers in his own way, not in ours. The story 4. And there was one thing more. and blesses those that trust in him. He gives, not according to their ex but according to the greatness of his rich love. It should be marked that in this matte demands no more than men demand of a Who would care to grant a request mad cerity? Which of us would like to hel could not trust us? Whoever comes to with unmeaning words, putting up pe things he really does not wish for, or th not expect to get, need not be surprised swer is given. But where the Lord fir ity and trust, his ways are indeed highe ways, and his thoughts than our thought Isa. 55. 9, 11, and see the wonderful fru He will ne his word. He will not fail. point. "He satisfieth the longing soul, Psa. 1 the hungry soul with goodness." Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and Recall the first miracle at Cana from t Draw the line on the map representing 1 from Sychar to Cana....Show Capernaum and tell about the nobleman in trouble....I journey from Capernaum to Cana, relate and show the nobleman returning.... Notic teaching in the Analytical and Biblical Out would form a good working outline.. this event how trouble leads men to Chri References. hour, 806. Verse 52: Songs from the Epworth Hymn 99. Father. I stretch my hands to 103. The gospel bell is ringing. 112. Come to Jesus and be saved. 115. Weary child by sin oppressed. 119. Pass me not. O gentle Saviour 122. There's a gentle voice within. 126. Even me. 128. Jesus, my Lord, to thee I cry. 137. In this thy time of trouble. 143. I've found a joy in sorrow. 188. Lead, kindly Light. Primary and Intermediate. LESSON THOUGHT. Jesus and the Body. REVIEW. Recall the teaching about Jes Sower, who puts the seeds of life into the b that the same Jesus is the one who give body, and who keeps it there. This lesson may be used to teach the sacr body, which is God's temple. The story is on and if told by class teachers should be called children by a few questions to make sure tha stand it. Then the more practical teaching may be made My hands, my feet, my face, my heart, He guards its gates by night, by day, ("Guards," illustrated by a soldier; "night," by moon and stars: "day," by a rising sun.) The children will be greatly interested in reading the black board, the more if it is a little difficult to read. Begin with the temple. What is a temple? The children will tell you that it is a place in which to worship God. Read from the Bible 1 Cor. 6. 19, and 2 Cor. 6, second clause of verse 16. Then talk of different parts of the temple, hands, feet, etc., teaching that God owns them all if they are parts of his temple, and that he wants us to take care of them for him. Teach that he sets a guard to watch his temple, the Holy Spirit, who tells us when danger is near. If we listen and obey, we shall be safe. Ask if the nobleman's boy was one of his temples? Yes, and so is each child. God was guarding the gates of his temple. The danger that was near was disease. The father believed that Jesus could do any thing he pleased with his own temple, even send sickness away. Can he? Yes, if it is best. Teach that if we have given ourselves to Jesus, and are minding him, we need not fear any thing, for Jesus will take care of us. Lesson Word-Pictures. Sorrow, black sorrow in the house of the nobleman; his child must die. The nursing of the mother, the skill of the physician, avail not. Life and strength are ebbing away like a tide forsaking the shore, and nothing can be done to stay this ebbing tide. But-there is the wonder-worker Jesus who has just come into Galilee! Perhaps, he can save the boy, for he made the water wine at Cana of Galilee. Yes, the nobleman says he will go to Jesus. And there he is, hastening off to find Jesus. The Saviour may have spied him coming; coming not with any look of interest in the country he is passing through, or interest in the people he meets, for he is thinking about the boy sick and dying at home. A. D. 28.] MERCY He is anxious to find the great miracle-worker, and there he is with that majestic yet kindly look he always wears! How pitifully the man pleads with Jesus! You can see the agony in his face. You can hear the agony in his voice. He will not believe, though Jesus is telling him, without some great sign. And the only cry of the soul in its agony, thus proving its faith, is, "Sir, come down, ere my child die." What did the pleading father hear? "Go thy way; thy son liveth." He has gone now, resting in quiet assurance on the word of Jesus. But are these his servants coming to meet him? Yes, he can make out their forms and their faces. O what news do they bring about that dying son? Is he -but they are speaking! "Thy son liveth." What a radiance of joy lights up the face that has been clouded with anxiety! And when did the son begin to mend, he asks! Lo, at the very hour when Jesus had given to the father the assurance that the child should live! Blackboard. LESSON VIII. JESUS AT BETHESDA. [Commit to memory verses 6-9.] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Je'sus 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? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man. when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Je'sus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. H [May 23. 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Je'sus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Je'sus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Je'sus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Je'sus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answereth them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. |