Further Thought: “Jesus had given him [the disabled man] no assurance of divine help. The man might have stopped to doubt, and lost his one

chance of healing. But he believed Christ’s word, and in acting upon it he

received strength.

“Through the same faith we may receive spiritual healing. By sin

we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of

ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the

impotent man capable of walking. . . . Let these desponding, struggling

ones look up. The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood,

saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity, ‘Wilt thou be made

whole?’ He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to feel that

you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put

your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon

His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice,

the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and

body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul

that is ‘dead in trespasses.’ Eph. 2:1. He will set free the captive that

is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.”—Ellen G.

White, The Desire of Ages, p. 203.

“Jesus repelled the charge of blasphemy. My authority, He said, for

doing the work of which you accuse Me, is that I am the Son of God,

one with Him in nature, in will, and in purpose.”—The Desire of Ages,

p. 208.

Discussion Questions:

Ê Reflect upon this week’s lesson. Faith was the key that made

these healings possible. The leaders, in contrast, revealed the dangers

of doubt and unbelief. Why must we not confuse having questions

(which we all do) with having doubt? Why are they not the same

thing, and why is it important to know the difference between them?

Ë Look at Thursday’s final question. Why, as Seventh-day

Adventists, must we be especially careful about this danger?

However important, for instance, knowing and even keeping the

right Sabbath day, or knowing about the state of the dead—why do

these truths not save us? What does save us, and how?

Ì Look carefully at John 5:47. How are those today who, for

instance, deny the universality of the Flood, or the literal six-day

Creation, doing exactly what Jesus warned against here?