The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-02-27
THE MARRIAGE AT CANA.
Christ's Miracle of Turning Water
Into Wine.
Sermon by Rev. T. Dewitt TaImaee De-
hvered Upon the Historic Spot
The Lessons of the MAJ
riage Feast.

visited by Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage il
the Holy Land, and the following dis
course was on his programme for de
livery there, founded on the text:
Thou hast kept the good wine until now
John l., 10.
Standing not far off from the demol
ished town of what was once called Cana
OF Galilee, | bethink myself of our Lords
hrst manhood miracle, which has beer
the establishment of the ages. Ny visit
last week to that place makes vivid in
my mind that beautiful occurrence in
Chrlsts ministry. Ny text brings US to
wedding in that village. 1t is a wed.
ding in common life, two plain people
having pledged each other, hand and
heart, and their friends having come in
Tor congratulation. The joy is not the
less because there is no pretension. In
each other they find all the future they
want. The daisy in the cup on the
table may mean as much as a score of
artistic garland, fresh from the hot
house. When daughter goes off from
home with nothing but plain fathers
blessing and plain mothers love, she
is missed as much as though she were a
Princess. 1t seems hard, after the par
ents have sheltered her for eighteen
years, that in few short months her
directions should have been carried off
by another; but mother remembers how
it was in her own case when she was
young, and so she braces up until the
wedding has passed, and the banqueters
are gone, and she has a good cry all
alone.
Well, we are to-day at the wedding in
Cana of Galilee. Jesus and His mother
have been invited. 1t is evident that
there are more people there than were
expected. Either some people have
come who were not invited, or more in
vitations have been sent out than it was
supposed would be accepted. Of course
there is not enough supply of wine. You
know that there is nothing more embar-
RAISING to housekeeper than a scant
supply. Jesus sees the embarrassment
and He comes up Immediately to relieve
it. He sees standing six water pots
he orders the servants to fill them with
water, then waves His hand over the
water, and Immediately it is wine-real
wine. Taste of it, and see for yourself;
no logwood in it, no strychnine in it,
but first-rate wine.
will not now be diverted to the ques-
ton so often discussed in nv own coun-
try-whether it is right to drink wine.
l am describing the scene as it was.
When God makes wine He makes the
very best wine, and one hundred and
thirty gallons of it standing around in
these water pots-wine so good that the
ruler of the feast tastes it and saws:
Why, this is really better than any
thing we have had! Thou has kept the
good wine until now" Beautiful mira
Gle! A prize was offered to the person
who should write the best essay about
the miracle in Cana. Long manuscripts
were presented in the competition, but
a poet won the prize by just this one
line descriptive of the miracle.
me uneons cious water saw its God and
blushed.
We learn from this miracle. in the
first place, that Christ has sympathy
with housekeepers. You might have
thought that Jesus would have said: 81
can not be bothered with this household
detticiency of wine. Itisnot for me. Lord
OF Heaven, of earth, to become caterer
to this feast. have vaster things than
this to attend to-" Not SO said Jesus
The wine gave out, and Jesus, by uirac-
ulous power, came to the rescue. Does
tnere ever come scant supply in your
household? Have you to make very
close calculation? Is it hard work for
you to carry on things decentIy and re-
specially? IT so, don't sit down and
cry. Don't go out and fret; but 90 TO
him who stood in the house in Cana of |
Galilee. Pray in the parlor! PRAY in |
the kitchen! Let there be no room in |
all your house unconsecrated bv the |
voice OF prayer. If you have a micro
scope, put under it one drop of water
and see the insects floating about. and
Wnen you see that God makes them
ana cares for them, and feeds them
come to the conclusion that He will take
faith! -''-0
A boy asked if he might sween the
snow from the steps of a house. The
lady of the household said: eyes. Won
seem very poor"
He says: 81 am very poor"
She says: ''Don't you sometimes oet
discouraged, and feel that God is going
to let you starve?"
The lad looked up in the woman's face
Ind said: do you think God will let
ne starve, when trust Him, and then
TO the best / camp Enough THEOLOGY
or older people. Trust in God and do
he best you can. Amidst all the worri-
nents OF housekeeping go to Him; He
VII help you to control your temper.
md supervise your domestics. and en-
'ertain your guests, and manage your
lome economies. There are hundreds
7 women, weak, and nervous. and ex-
lausted with the cares of housekeeping.
commend you to the Lord Jesus Christ
8 the best adviser and the most eff
lent aid-the Lord Jesus who nor
ormed His first miracle to relieve a
Iousekeeper.
Learn also from this miracle that
hrist does things in abundance. 7 /,
hink small supply of wine would have
Jade up for the deficiency. think
they must have had enough
y half of the guests One gallon of
- ~ I