Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-07-17
THE FIRST MIRACLE.
LESSON Ill, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 10.

permission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Phil
adclphia.l
After Andrew brought his brother Simon
20 Jesus we read that Jesus went into Gal
lice and found Philip, and then that Philip
found Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus.
If the work had thus gone on. each one
finding Jesus, or being found of Him,
quickly bringing another, how different
the world would be today Why should
not every saved soul bring another to Je-
sus'
1. "And the third day there was a mar
riage in Cana of Galilee."
This was the town of Nathaniel Xxi, q,
and it would not be strange if this was his
own marriage.
"And the mother of Jesus was there"
blessed among women" Elizabeth said,
and blessed is she that believed" luke
!, 42-45). But when another on a certain
occasion spoke of Mary's blessedness Jesus
replied, yea, rather blessed are they that
hear the Word of God and keep it," No
where are we taught to worship or even to
think much of Mary except as a highly
honored woman. See Jesus only! Wor
ship God!
,. "And both Jesus was called and His
disciples to the marriage"
These disciples were probably the five
referred to in the previous chapter-An-
drew, Simon, Philip. Nathaniel and the
unnamed one whom we suppose to have
been the writer of this gospel 1t is al
ways safe for the disciples of Jesus to 90
where He goes.
.. "And when they wanted wine, the
mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They
have no wine"
The revised version says, "When the
wine failed" Their need is going to draw
forth his fullness; their emptiness will give
an opportunity to glorify Him. 1t is even
so still, and always so; His strength is
made perfect in weakness. He only asks
our nothingness.
Thou art Simon, the son of iona; thou
shalt be called Cephas, which is, by inter-
probation, a stone"
Thus said Jesus as He looked upon him.
If you have been born from above, you,
TOO, are living stone in the temple the
church, the body of Christ, the new Jerusa-
dem now being builded.
4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what
have to do with thee? Mine hour is not
yet come"
There is no unkindness here, for He could
not speak unkindly; neither is there any
barshness If we understood their customs
Better we would better understand their
language, but let no Sunday school scholar
even for one moment tolerate the thought
chat Jesus could speak harshly or unkindly
TO His mother. The last clause of the verse
reminds us that He has an hour and time
for everything.
5. His mother saith unto the servants,
Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
His mother evidently understood Him tc
mean that He would see to it in due time,
and therefore instructed the servants ac-
Cordingly. Pharaoh said unto the Egyp-
Sjans, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to
You, do" Jacobs wives said unto him,
Whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do"
Gen xii, 50; XXI, l6). If the question of
our lives concerning everything was
"What has the Lord sad?" and our deter
slination THAT only will we dor' how
safely we would walk and how successful
ly we would work.
O. And there We're set there six water
pots Of stone, after the manner of the puri-
lying of the Jews, containing two or three
Grkins apiece"
10 is evident from the next verse that
these vessels were empty, and thus we are
reminded of the kind of vessels which Jesus
can use. To be willing to be empty clean
aud always ready to the Masters hand is
TO be where we will be of some use to
Him; it Is the privilege of every believer
70 he "a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and
meet for the Masters use, and prepared
unto every good work" Gil Tim ii, 2D.
Z. Jesus saith unto them Fill the water
pots with water. And they filled them up
70 the brim."
The servants were ready, the order was
given and promptly obeyed. Ready and
prompt obedience is required of us and
Ma haI 10
must receive before they can give: the use
of vessels is to receive and give, not to re-
ceive only, but to receive in order to give.
s. And He saith unto them, Draw out
now, and bear unto the governor of the
feast And they bare it,"
How very soon the vessels, so recently
receivers, become givers-and why nots
but ask yourself, dear reader, "Am a
givery" and if not, "Why not?" Have
resolved nothing?"
,. "When the ruler of the feast had
tasted the water that was made wine and
anew not whence it was (but the servants
which drew the water knew the ruler of
.he feast called the bridegroom"
The water had become wine-"He made
ne water wine (chapte riv, 40; He who,
Chrough the vine, had from the days of
Noah made water into wine now does it
t---SolOAgi ioi ilt - lllC vine, anu we Know
that He can do everything
10. and saith unto him, Every man at
The beginning doth set forth good wine;
aud when men have we'll drunk, then that
which is worse; but thou hast kept the
good wine until now"
Hear this bridegroom getting all the
credit for that with which he had nothing
TO do and Jesus gets not word. Oh for
This spirit which, conscious of the approval
of God, is so abundantly satisfied that
nothing disturbs.
IL. This beginningo of miracles did Jesus
IN Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth
His glory"
Here is the Spirits testimony that this
was the first of all miracles wrought by
Him, thus putting the stamp of untruth-
sulness upon all records of miracles said
10 be wrought by Him before this time
The Spirit also testifies that here He mani
Tested forth His glory-the glory of His
power, the glory of His grace the glory Of
His humility, the glory of serving unseen
and unthanked And yet it was manifest
TO SOme-tho servants saw in tha diSci