The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-08-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON IX-AUGUST FIRST
MIRACLE OF JESUS.

Golden Text: This beginning of Mirn-
clcS Did Jesus in Cana Of Gnliic". and
Manifested Forth His Glory. -John
II:l-II.
Introductory. In our last lesson we
left Jesus on the way to Galilcr. hav-
ing added Philip and Nathanael to the
three or four disciples he had al
ready made. On arriving at Naza7
rcth he seems 20 have found his
mother gone to a wedding in Cana, a
few miles further on, and he and his
disciples went on to Cana, where they
would find entertainment at the house
of Nathaniel, whose home was there.
In the time Of Christ wines were
very different to what they are now.
and strong drink. to which the drink
ing of wines now leads, were unknown
then. 1t is wrong to suppose that
Christ would have used wine in our
dav and under our conditions. The ba-
sis Of total abstinence is the giving mp
Of that which may be lawful in itself.
whenever it becomes dangerous to
ourselves or the means of evil to
| others This is our Christian duty
and privilege.
|. The Miracle Wrought, verses Is.
!. "The third day" Counting from
the time OF Philips call. "A mar
riage. With an accompanying feast,
which, according to the custom of the
country, might last several days.
"Thc mother of Jesus was there. y
Perhaps as the special friend and
assistant Of the family.
"When they wanted wine Whcr
the supply of wine provided by The
bridegroom gave out "rhc mother
Of Jesus saith unto him, They have
no wine" She wished to save the
family the modification of being
unable to show the customary hOspl
tality to their guests, and she doubt
less believed that in some way o.
J other Jesus could relieve the difficulty
4. "Woman, what have to do will
thee?" There is something OF u re
bullo here. Jesus wished his mothc
to know that he could no longer b
under her control. "Minc hour i
not yet come The hour for work
ing miracle,
). ''Whatsocvcr he saith unto YOU
do it." These words, spoken to tn
servants. show that in spite Of thl
seeming refusal, she expected Jesu
to do some notable thing.
6. "Six waterpots of stone" The
D were either in the room itself or /
the vestibulc ad Joining it. after tn
manner of the purifying Of the Jews.
: That is, in conformity with the jew
ish practice of cleansing the hand
. and vessels before and after meals
"Two or three frlins.' From eigl
> teen to twenty seven gallons.
= T. Gill the watcrpots with water
They had probably been nearly EN-
y tied by the guests before the bcgll
:. ming of the feast: now they are file
- to the brim.
= s. ''Draw ont now" From any or
!, of the waterpots, ''The governor
the feast" He was one of the CUES
> elected by the other guests to presto
at the feast. "And they bare it,"
- seems likely that only what WI
~ drawn out became wine.
=, II. The Ruler Of the Feast Su
- prised, verses Oil. 9. "When Il
- ruler of the feast had tasted,
~ called the bridegroom. KNOWN
:. nothing of the source from which &
~ wine had come, and surprised at t
- improved quality of it, he instant
=, spoke to the bridegroom about it.
"a 10. every man at the beginni1
~ doth set forth good wine" 1t is t
general custom to give the most pal;
= able drink first. "When men ha
~ we'll drunk, then that which is worse
~ After the taste was blunted by ]
=, peated indulgence, the guests cot
," not tell the difference between go
>" and bad.
~ II. "This beginning of miracles
~ The very first that he ever performt
either in Cana or elsewhere. "Ma1
tested forth his glory" Which "
the end designed to be accomplish
or bv all his miracles. ellis discipl