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T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
some people from standing firm for God’s Word? (3) Were the Pharisees desirous of knowing th e tru th about Jesus? (4) What, to you, is the best proof th a t th e Bible is tru e? (5) Are men ever guilty of blind ing th eir own sp iritual eyes? ( 6 ) W hat, in th e attitu d e of the blind man, commends him most to you? (7) If Jesus accepted worship from th e blind man, what does it prove? $ m SUGGESTIVE COMMENT By HUGH R. MONRO One outstanding fact— the greatest in the realm of Christian apologetics— challenges attention here. It is the fact of personal experience of the power of Christ. One quickening touch of His life-giving power affords the key to all sp iritu a l mysteries. The g reat contro versial questions are resolved instantly. We may hesitate to state a fact of such serious implication, but it is never theless tru e th a t loose views concerning Christ and the Scriptures are th e invari able indication of lack of vital religious experience. Such was th e case w ith the Pharisees of old and is equally true with the so-called intellectuals or modernists of today-—they are blind to spiritual realities. Note h ere th e successive steps of op posing unbelief: (1) They ignored the facts, refusing to believe a miracle had been w rought (18 ). (2) They rejected the testimony of those having most complete knowledge of the facts (19-22). (3) They refused to accept th e tes timony of the man in whom the m ira culous change had taken place (24-27). (4) Embarrassed by having th eir own theories upset by clear-cut évidence, they became ill-tempered, intolerant,
and resorted to th e fam iliar charge of ignorance (28, 29, 34). Note also the unanswerable logic of this man following his first experience of Christ’s power: (1) He was himself the living proof of a m iraculous change (25 ). (2) Such a m iracle could only be attrib u ted to divine power (30-32). (3) The exercise of such m iraculous power is complete dem onstration of Christ’s divine character (33). Note, finally, Christ’s verdict on the blind: , (1) He seeks those who own their blindness and leads them into perfect light (35-38). (2) Those whose pride i r in their knowledge and enlightenment are aban doned to perpetual blindness and igno rance (39-41). The lessons Of this n arrativ e are found in strik ing summary in th e thanksgiv ing prayer of Jesus (Matt. 1 1 :2 5 )— “ I th ank thee, O F ath er, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou h ast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” m ite THE JUNIORS HEALING A BLIND MAN Jo h n 9:1-7 Who can tell the story of th e healing of th e helpless man? In what chapter did we find the story? (5 th ). How long had he been helpless? (5 :5 .) W hat did Jesus say to him when He saw him? (5 :6 .) W hat did Jesus tell him to do? (5 :8 .) Today we are going to hear a wonder ful story about a man who had never seen a bird, nor a flower, nor a horse, nor even his own fath er and mother. How strange it would be to live and never know anything about the beauti ful colors all about us! Have you ever seen a blind boy or girl? When we see a blind person, how glad we are th a t we have eyes! And when we see a deaf person, then we are
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