530 The Nobleman's Son. [S. JOHN IV. Let us, if we want to see all God's mighty works, attend devoutly He will show us much when 46. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. That first miracle had prepared the way for Jesus and inclined men's hearts to listen to Him. They still spoke of His bounty on that occasion, and He came among them again to confirm their faith and lead them on farther. He does not forget any that believe in Him. He has a message of comfort alike for noblemen's houses or for poor cottages. 47. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Sorrow drives us to Christ. In the presence of sickness and danger we feel how helpless we are, and have to look to One above us for help. Our prayers indeed are very selfish and imperfect, yet Jesus hears them, and either grants us the deliverance for which we ask, or else disposes our hearts to patience and gives us grace to bear the blow. What can we do in times of distress except what this man did, go to the Saviour and beseech Him to help us? 48. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Do not say, "If I see a miracle worked I will believe." Your Saviour wants a different kind of faith from that. He requires love, and trust, and a longing for holiness, and a hatred of self, and a passionate wish to come nearer to God. These are elements of a sound faith, not the mere gazing on marvels. Lord, plant in my heart such a faith as Thou wilt accept. I am content to live in an age when no miracles are wrought, so long as I can feel Thy goodness and prove Thee as a Friend. 49. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. We do not need the bodily presence of Jesus. He is just as mighty to save from His throne in heaven as though He were teaching in our streets. The poor anxious father could not feel safe unless the Lord Jesus was actually within his house. could not carry off his prey while Jesus was by. He can help us in one place as in another, and whether we live or die. He felt that death But we know that will not desert us 50. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. VER. 54.] The Second Miracle in Galilee. 531 The word of Christ worked a double miracle, one on the body of the sick boy at a distance. At once he recovered. And a second on the soul of the distressed father who was there present. He became calm. He believed. He obeyed and trusted that all would be well. This last is the miracle that I need. For my wayward unbelief I desire, Lord, a true faith and entire trust in Thy Divine goodness. Let me believe Thy Word and go on my way with hope. 51. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. This was joyful news. Praise be to God for raising up our dear ones from sickness, and granting them a new life to use for His glory. Praise be to Him also when He takes them to begin a new and better life elsewhere. We are still sure that they live to Him and that it is well with them. 52. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The power of Christ's word to heal at a distance teaches us that He is just as able to keep us now, though His bodily presence is withdrawn. He can still the storms and fevers of our heart. What seems most sad, and grievous, and hard to bear He can relieve. Let me bring before Him the disorders of my soul, sure that He is able and willing to help me. 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. This was henceforth a pattern of a Christian household in which the faith of the father and the mercy shown to the child were shared among all. The father had believed before, but his faith was now deeper and stronger. And he taught all his family about the Lord Jesus, spoke of His power and love, told them of this wonderful and sudden recovery. Lord, renew this grace now where a family is mourning for an ungodly son, bring him back from deadly sin, let the afflicted parents feel that their son is alive to God again. 54. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee. At His first visit to Cana He turned water into wine, at His second He cured the sick boy's fever. Afterwards He performed a great number of mighty works. To-day He visits us by the order of His daily Providence, and by the means which His Church offers. Whether He afflicts or relieves us, we still know that He is near and trust in His mercy. The wonders in old time and the mercies now alike strengthen our faith. 532 The Pool of Bethesda. [S. JOHN V. CHAPTER V. 1. Jesus on the sabbath day cureth him that was diseased eight and thirty years. 10. The Jews therefore cavil, and persecute him for it. 17. He answereth for himself, and reproveth them, shewing by the testimony of his Father, 32. of John, 36. of his works, 39. and of the scriptures, who he is. AFTE FTER this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Our Lord left Galilee, where He had now many disciples and was generally well received, and went up to Jerusalem. He did so to worship at His Father's house, to observe the rules of the law, to bear witness even before those who despised Him. His plan always was, Not what I like, not what makes Me popular and famous, but My heavenly Father's will, as the motive for My doing this or that." When shall I come to put away self as He did? 2. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. This sad company represents the state of fallen laden with sin, bowed down by misery. help? None but the Son of God. He enlighten, and strengthen, and give peace. however grievous be our condition. Glory be to Thee, O Lord, for Thy saving power. What should I be if Thou hadst not come down to save me? I pray Thee to complete the gracious cure Thou hast begun in me. man, full of weakness, Who can bring them alone has power to He can raise us up, 4. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. What trouble should we not take to obtain bodily healing from such a spring as this? How we should watch for it to bubble up! Yet Jesus offers us a more healing spring for our souls, one which is flowing at all seasons and never loses its power. Our diseases are so manifold that we need earnestly to wait on His healing mercy and entreat for pure hearts and uprightness again. The Lord of angels can take away all our infirmities and fit us to dwell with Him for ever. 5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. VER. 10.] Jesus cures the Impotent Man. 533 What a long hopeless illness, and yet the sufferer still continued to expect a cure! He had not lost faith in God's power to heal him. His sad case touched the compassionate heart of Jesus, and so he was healed. We must not despair of any soul, however long standing be its disorders. Grace is able to reach them. only present them to our Master in prayer. Let us 6. 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? Give me, O Lord, a resolute will. Let me desire earnestly to overcome my sins and serve Thee as I ought. Let this be the deepest purpose of my life. I cannot be made whole until I have this will. I am sick of my own folly. Let me no longer waste my time and thoughts as I have done, but set my heart on leading a new life. This shall be all my desire henceforth that I may live to God. 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. We need not speak thus. We have a Friend Who is God as well as Man, Who can lead us to the healing spring and apply it to our souls. Let us be zealous to draw our brethren's attention to Him. He is always ready. He can remove all their sins and cares. His heart has room for all. No fear of His mercy wearing out. 8. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Christ's word gives power. He can give strength to work for Him, a heart to love, feet to walk in His way. Oh that our weak faith could take in this truth, and that we could come ourselves and direct others to this healing Lord! How many there are who still grovel in deadly sin and see no way out of it! They need to hear this message. It is still sounding and still gives life. 9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. What, at once, after thirty-eight years of helplessness! This is indeed a power beyond the reach of man. Lord, in these days of unbelief stretch out Thine hand upon us and make us whole. Help us, whatever outward business weighs upon us, yet in our hearts to keep a Sabbath with Thee. There are some souls who are busy and full of care, and yet have a Sabbath day of peace within. 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. Look deeper. Do not be so ready to blame other men's actions till you have considered their motive. This man was carrying the mattress on which he had lain not in any spirit of profane 534 The Jews' Enmity. [S. JOHN V. disobedience, but as the great Healer had told him to do, and with a mind full of thanks, and praise, and wonder. Now his pain was gone, it was indeed a Sabbath day of rest and joy to him. 11. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. This was the best answer, My Lord has told me to do this. He has converted my heart, has given me pardon, and a new life, and a hope of heaven. Must I not obey His words? Not only He died to save me, but He has given me instructions how to live. I must follow those. 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 Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Jesus had retired after working the miracle. He did not seek for praise or wish to make any stir. He passed unnoticed through the crowd. Let our work be after His pattern. We should feel for others' troubles, and help them according to our power, but be glad for our good deeds to escape notice. It is a great and undeserved honour if we are able to do anything for God's glory and man's good. Let us be content with that and not spoil it by vanity. 14. 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. That was the right place for him to be found, in God's temple. No doubt He had gone there to offer his thanks for the great mercy he had received. Here his merciful Friend found him again and gave him a piece of weighty advice. Let us lay it up in our hearts. God's judgments are awful, let us beware lest we fall under them by despising His mercies. 15. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. He did not do this in malice, but as wishing to glorify the Saviour. Still he had better have said nothing to them. It did them no good, and only provoked them against Jesus. It requires much care to speak with any profit of what God has done for our souls. Often it is best to keep such things between Himself and us. 16. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. They forgot the power and mercy of Christ's work, and only noticed that it contradicted their tradition of the way to keep the Sabbath day. The Sabbath was meant in mercy to man and to give him time to look up to God. The Lord's healing work was in full |