The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-15
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 10. RI
LessVo Text: "Christ's First Miraclep
John H., Iii - Golden
Text John H., IL q
Commentary.

After Andrew brought his brother Simoo
TO Jesus we read that Jesus went into Gahleo
and found Philip, and then that Philip
found Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus
Il the work had thus gone on. each one find
ing Jesus, or being found of Him, quickly
brings another, how different the world
would be to-day Why should not every
saved soul bring another to Jesuss
f l. land the third day there was mar.
riage in Cana Of Galilee. This was the town
of Nathaniel xxi, q, and it would not bo
strange il this was his own marriage. It b
most Interesting to observe that marriage
is one Of the first and last events recorded
in Scripture (Gen. H.. 22-24; Rev. xix, 90,
and the first Is a type Of the last, as ths
Spirit testifles through Paul Eph. Vi, 81, aa.
1.-The Third Day" is most significant en-
preston in the Scriptures and its relation
here is most striking, following Immediately
the Savior's statement concerning tho
remark concerning the resurrection Of tho
temple of His body, (verses 10, ~. It was On
the third day that Abraham received Isaac
back from the dead in the figure compare
Gen. xii, 4; Heb. H., 19). And the remark
able words Of Hos. vi, Q, still await cem-
plere fulflllment "After two days BE VIII
revive us; in the third day He will raise us
up, and we shall live in His sight"
Q. "And both Jesus was called and Hts
disciples to the marriage" These disciples
were probably the five referred to In thsi
previous chapter-Andrew, Simon, Philip
Nathaniel and the unnamed one whom w0
supposed to have been the writer OF this
gospel. 1t is always safe for the disciples Of
Jesus to 60 where He goes, but 1t is not safe :.
for Christians to 90 wherever other Chris
tians or even ministers 60, for 1t Is to be
feared that many, even among PASTORS
would lead their focks into forbidden pas
lures. There is no safe guide but Jesus, no
way but His way, no Light but Himself.
8. "And when they wanted wine, tho
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 win
even so still, and always so; his strength is
made perfect in weakness. he only asks
our nothingness. Wine is a symbol Of joy,
and even Of the joys of the kingdom tPs.
civ, Is; Isa. XIV, g. but the bride says In
Can't. j., 2, THY love is better than wine"
And as we drink more fully and more freely
! day by day at the fountain Of His love We
shall find no lack Of Joy in our daily Life:
have 1 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 harshness. II we understood their
customs better we would better understand
their language, but let no Sunday school
scholar even for one moment tolerate tha
thought that 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. BE will do
everything at the right time, not moment
too soon nor too late, and He will do it m
the very best way.
5. "His mother saith unto the servants,
Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it," His
mother evidently understood Him to mean
that He would see to it in due time, and
therefore instructed the servants accord
| ingly: Pharaoh said unto the Egyptians.
go unto Joseph: what he saith to You,
do" Jacobs wives said unto him, What
soever God hath said unto thee, do" lGen.
XII, SO; xxi, 16). II the question Of our.
lives concerning everything was What has
the Lord said?' and our determination
THAT only will we dor how safely we
would walk and how successfully we would
work p
s. "And there were set there six water
pots of stone, after the manner Of the puri-
flying Of the Jews, containing two or three
frkins apiece" 1t 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. When the poor widow
applied to the prophet for aid she was told
to borrow of all her neighbors empty vessels,
anu zoo nileo every Oue "nicu Sue opsalMeus.
nor did the oil stop till the last vessel was
filed. When the three kings applied to the
prophet for help in their difficulty they were
to make tho valley full OF ditc6ez,
and without wind or rain they would be filed
with water III Kings iv., S-6; ill.,. 10, ~. To
be willic.., 70 be elayty, clean and always
ready to the Masters hand Is to be whera We
will be of some use to Him; it is the privilege
OF every believer to be "a vessel unto honor,
sanctifled, and meet for the Masters use, ana
prepared unto every good work" I'll linn. H.
ap. go. y
!. Jesus saith unto them, Fiji the water
pots with water. And they filled them up
to the brin." The servants were ready, the
order was given and promptly obeyed.
Ready and prompt obedience is required Of
us and ought to be our constant habit
8. "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 not? But ask yourself, dear
reader, IAN I a giver%' and if not, "Why
not9' "Have I received nothing% Sec
Jesus, the Lord of Glory, ministering
through these vessels and servants to ths
ruler and guests at this feast, and let Us
learn to do good to all as we have opportu-
nifty Matt. Xxx, 2e).
g. ''When the ruler Of the feast had tasted
the water that was made wine, and knew
not whence it was lbut the servants which
drew the water knew, the ruler Of the feast
called the bridegroom" The water had be-
come wine-"He made the water wine
| (chapter iv., 48l; He who, through the vine,
| had from the days Of Noah made water into
wine now does it instantly, for He is the vine,
-. and we know that He can do everything
John xv. /; job lii., p. "a
10. "Aud saith unto him, Every man at
the beginning doth set forth good wine; and
| 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 hat
nothing to do and Jesus gets not word
| Oh for this Spirit which, conscious CT the
approval of God is so abundantly satisfied
that nothing disturbs. See how far His
blessings excel all ordinary gifts--the best
wine until now. 1t is true of every believer
"that it is always better further on or as
the Spirit has said, The path OF the just Is
and more, unto the perfect day" prov. ",
1Sl.
II. This beginning 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 tae stamp Of untruthful-
ness upon all records of miracles said to be
wrought by Him before this time. The
Spirit also testi6es that here He manifested
forth His glory-the glory OF His power, the
glory of His grace, the glory OF His hunl-
ity, the glory Of serving unseen and un-
thanked.
And His disciples believed on Him" This
was the first mighty work they had seen
done by Him, and they were now convinced
more fully that He was the Christ their long
promised Messiah. In verse % we are told