THE KING’S BUSINESS
698
I am sure of His power because He has given sight to me. It is possible, as you say, that the story about the blind man in Jerusalem .is not true. You have asked me many questions which I can not answer. I can not explain why he should have been sent to the Pool of Siloam. I acknowledge that the evidence which '■ I have for the miracle is not decisive. As Jesus has restored my sight, I think that the story is probably true; but whether the story is true or not Can not disturb my faith in Him, for if He did not heal the other man, He has healed me.” And so the faith in the living Christ of those who have had the great experiences of His power and grace which I have described is not shaken by any assaults on the historical trustworthiness of the story of His earthly ministry.' Much less can it be shaken by discussions concerning the nature and origin of the ancient Scrip tures of the Jewish people. Their confidence in the books, both of the Old Testament and the New, may perhaps have to be sus pended until the controversies of scholars are closer, or until, on historical and crit ical grounds, they can see their own way to firm and definite conclusions about the main questions at issue; but not their con fidence in Christ. They may be uncertain about the books; they are sure about Him. Both Christian scholars and the common alty of Christian people approach the con troversies on these ancient records with a settled faith in the power and grace and glory of Christ. Their faith in Him rests on foundations which lie far beyond the reach of scientific and historical criticism. They know for themselves that Christ is the Saviour of men: for they have received through Him the remission of their own sins; He has translated them into the divine kingdom; He has given them strength for righteousness, and. through Him they have found God.
whether the story of the Jerusalem miracle was true or not, Bartimeus had no trust worthy evidence of its truth. A tale told by an unknown stranger! This was no sufficient reason for believing that Jesus had given sight to a man born blind. Did the stranger who told the tale know the beggar who -was said to have been cured ? Was it certain that the man was blind? Had the stranger examined his eyes the very morning of the day on which he received sight? Was it certain that the vision was not gradually returning? Was the stranger present when Jesus made the clay, and put ,it on the blind man’s eyes; close enough to see that no delicate opera tion was performed during the process? The sending of the blind man to wash at the Pool of Siloam Was suspicious: what could the washing have to do with the miracle? Did the stranger go with the man to the pool, and keep his eye upon him while he was there? Was it quite certain that the blind beggar who was Sent to Siloam was the man who came back to the city and declared that Jesus had healed him? Might not one man have been sent to the pool, and another man have come back to Jerusalem? It looked very much as if there were some previous understanding between the blind man and the Nazarene Prophet. The Prophet had rich friends; they.could have made it worth the man’s while to come into the plot. Had Bartimeus considered all these difficulties? Was it hot more probable that the stran ger’s story should be, false than that the miracle should be true? Would it not be well for Bartimeus to suspend his faith in Jesus until he had made further inquiries about the miracle? We can imagine the answer of Barti meus. I think that he would have said: “At first I believed in the power of Jesus of Nazareth, because I was told that He had given sight to another blind man; now
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