The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-14
Sunday School Lesson for january is.
Christ'S First Miracle.
JOHN vi. LII.
BY J. E. GILBERT, d. D., IL D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.

INTRODUCTTON.- In last lesson
we learned that as Jesus was about to
depart from the region of the Jordan
and enter Galilee He gained new
disciple, named Nathanael, through the
influence of Phillip. (John ]: 43-45)
This man exhibited excellent qualities.
He was less credrlous than the four
who had previously accepted Christ,
evidently determined to accept moth
ing for truth without the highest cvi-
dence. But his worth was recognized
at sight by Jesus, who openly COM
mended him and in return received "a
noble confession. John l: 40 Enter
ing thus into the fullest confidence
Nathanitl, Cafterward called Bartho-
lomew), had the high honor of giving
some direction to the proposed journey
of his Master. The record is entirely
silent concerning the route taken and
the events by the way. With great
abruptness it locates Jesus with His
followers in Cana, Nathanael's home
town. Gohn Xxxi:2) fully eighty miles
from the scenes of Johns ministry.
GUESTS INVITED.-Soona after the
arrival, SO soon after that nothing is
mentioned before it. marriage oc-
Cured in the village. The history
omits all mention of the contracting
parties but calls special attention to
the invited guests. Tvs 1 and p Mary,
the mother of Jesus, was there. having
come from Nazareth, distance OF
nine miles. Her presence suggests that
she must have been a close friend. if
not relative. And her son. so recently
inHIlptpn nt nj hn hpt In
| office, was also called, and with Him
the five disciples-John, Andrew, Peter
Philip and Nathaniel the latter only
being a fellow tOwnsman. A notable
company was this--the entire Christ
| ian ministry, nearly one-half of the
prospective college of apostles, the
Saviour of the world. the most hon
| ored of woman, all gathered at a we'd
ding. and this at the opening of the
Galileean ministry. What does it al
| mean? What a strange beginning of a
great enterprise! Who could expect
any advantage for this infant cause
| AID SOUGHT.-There is no evidence
| of any special design in the invitation
| of Jesus to this marriage. He appears
| to have assumed the place Of an or
Nilili y SucSl' Dul an Unforeseen CIR
cumstance gave color to the occasion
and brought Him into prominence
The wine gave out. (V. - and Mary
went to Him with a statement of the
| fact. 1t is not probable that she FULLY
| understood His power, for He hat
| never displayed it, and yet it is evil
| dent that she expected His assistance
| to relieve the embarrassment 1t i.
| equally evident that He so understood
her His reply was in two parts ". A.
He first declared that the matter was
| nothing to either of them, that they
| were not expected to meet such de
| fciencies. The form of words in Eng.
| lish does not express this nicely. but
| that was all their meaning, and it was
entirely respectful and decidedly
| oriental. Il Sam. xvii 1O) He also sale
| that His time for ministerial service
mad not yet come, a second objection
| to her request, and an additional rea.
| son for the other statement He diC
| not in other words consider this a duty
to the host or an opportunity for Hi,
ministry.
SERVANTS INSTRUCTED, - The
| mother said no more to her son. Their,
| was no need to multiply words. She
| had gone to urge a service. He had re.
| fused the duty and the opportunity
How many mothers injure a good cause