43 "And after the two days He went forth from thence into 44 Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. So when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went unto the feast. 46 "He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, 47 whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Him that He would come down, and heal His 48 son; for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in nowise 49 believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere 50 my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, 51 and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his 52 servants met him, saying, that his son lived. So he inquired 53 of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, 54 and his whole house. This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.
1 "After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus 2 went up to Jerusalem. 3 "Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. In 4 these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made 5 whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden. And a certain 6 man was there, which had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wouldst 7 est thou be made whole? The sick man answered Him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the 8 pool; but while I am coming, another steppeth down before 9 me. Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his 10 bed and walked. "Now it was the Sabbath on that day. So the Jews said 11 unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful 12 for thee to take up thy bed. But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and 13 walk. They asked him, Who is the Man that said unto thee, 14 Take up thy bed, and walk? But he that was healed wist not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in the place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the 15 temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee. The man went away, 16 and told the Jews that it was Jesus which had made him whole. And for this cause did the Jews persecute Jesus, because He did these things on the Sabbath."
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
After remaining two days with the people of Sychar, where did Jesus then go? John 4:43.
What reception did He first meet in Galilee? Why? Verse 45. (John 2:14-23.)
Coming to Cana, whom did He meet there from Capernaum? Verse 46.
What request did the nobleman make of Christ? Verse 47. (Ps 139:2.)
After some words between them, what did the Saviour say to the nobleman? Verse 50. (Ps. 107:18-20.) Note 1.
Believing these words of Christ, what did the nobleman hear on his way home? Verse 51.
Upon inquiry as to the time when his son began to amend, of what was the father convinced? Verses 52, 53.
Whom did He find at the pool of Bethesda, with an affliction of many years' standing? Verses 2-5. Note 2.
Seeing this cripple, what did Jesus ask him? Verse 6.
Upon hearing the poor man's sad story, what did Jesus then say to him? Verses 7, 8. (Acts 3:6; 4:10.)
When the Jews saw the man carrying home the pallet on which he had lain, what objection did they raise? Verses 9, 10.
Whose authority did he give for doing as he did? V. 11.
In the meantime, where was Christ? Verse 13.
Finding the man shortly after in the temple, what did Jesus say to him? Verse 14. (John 8:11; Matt. 12:45.)
What did the man then tell the Jews in answer to the question previously asked him? Verses 15, 12.
What did the Jews therefore seek to do to Jesus? Why? Verse 16. (Matt. 12:10-14.)
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," pp. 196-213.
NOTES.
1. Except ye see signs.—In these words Jesus laid bare the heart of the nobleman, showing him that He could and did read his inmost thoughts. The nobleman would make his belief in Christ dependent upon the answer to his prayer; but Christ's searching words convinced the anxious father that he was talking to the Messiah. His real faith in Jesus began at that moment, and is evidenced by his prayer, "Sir, come down ere my child die."
2. The pool of Bethesda.—"At certain seasons the waters of this pool were agitated, and it was commonly believed that this was the result of supernatural power, and that whoever first after the troubling of the pool stepped into the waters would be healed of whatever disease he had. Hundreds of sufferers visited the place; but so great was the crowd when the water was troubled that they rushed forward, trampling underfoot men, women, and children weaker than themselves. Many could not get near the pool. Many who had succeeded in reaching it, died upon its brink. Shelters had been erected about the place, that the sick might be protected from the heat by day and the chilliness of the night. There were some who spent the day in these porches, creeping to the edge of the pool day after day in the vain hope of relief."—Desire of Ages.
