The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-01-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
January rs, 1S09-Christ's First
Miracle-JOhn 2sl.l1.

GOLDEN TExT.-And His disciples be-
iieved on Him.-John 2:11.
Is THE SECTION Includes only the lesson.
with q glance at all we can learn about
the home life of Jesus.
TIME.-The latter part Of February Tor
early in March,. A. D. "a. Four days after
the last lesson.
PLACE.-Cana, OF Galilee, eight or nine
miles northeast Of Nazareth. perhaps the
modern Kanet-el-Jelil (Dods). about 60
was the home of Nathaniel bartholomew.
LESSON NOTES.
l. Jesus at the Marriage Feast.-vs.
1.2. /. "The third days" from the call
ing of Philip and Nathaniel (1:43).
"There was marriage:" Including
the marriage feast. which was frequent
ly celebrated for several days.
2. "Jesus was called: Invited with
His disciples. His mother was already
there from Nazareth. so that probably
1t was the wedding Of relative or dear
friend of the family.
II. Jesus Supplying Common Wants
In the Home.-Vs. $40. 8. "When they
wanted" not desired. but lacked. were
wanting in, "wine:" The family were
poor. the supply was limited, and extra
guests had come. "The mother of
Jesus saith unto Him:" Probably by
himself aside from the others. "They
have no wines" None but those who
know how sacred in the east is the du,!
of lavish hospitality and how passion
ately the obligation to exercise 1t to
the utmost is felt, can realize the gloom
which this incident would have thrown
over the occasion, or the misery and
modification which it would have
caused to the welded pair.
4. "Jesus saith unto her. woman:"
This address at first thought conveys
to US a hint Of disrespect. But 1t was
not SO according to Greek custom.
what have to do with thee?" Lit.
What to me and thee?" What is there
in common between us now?" He cannot
work longer in her way. She does not
understand the Influences directing
His present life, for He is beginning
new life and mode of work as He enters
upon His ministry. 1t is not a refusal.
but another plan, as the words follow
ing show-"mine hour is not yet Gomez"
]. e., the time when He can best begin to
exert His miraculous power. and thus
declare who He is.
s. "His mother saith" This shows
how Mary understood Jesus.
z. "Fill the water pots with water:"
They were not necessarily empty, but
whatever had been drawn out was re-
placed.
8. "Draw out now:" The word for
draw does not mean to draw as from
a faucet, but rather to bale out. dip
out, draw as from q well. "The govern
or Of the feast:" The president of
banquet. according to sophocles
9. "The ruler knew not
whence it was, (but the servants
- = knew):" The independent wit
nesses to the two parts of the miracle
establishes its reality. The ruler of
the feast declares what the element is
the servants knew what it was. Scaled
the bridegroom:" at whose house the
furnish the wine.
10. "At the beginning good
wine:" While the sense Of taste is
acute. when men have we'll drunk:"
r. ", have drunk freely. "That which
is worse:" Worse and weaker. Kept
the good wine until now:" This was
SO much better than what had been
used before that the ruler of the feast
was astonished.
III. Signs, Glory. Faith.-V. II.
'This beginning of Miracles" This
was the first miracle Jesus wrought
Miracles, signs. There are several
names used for miracles. according to
the point Of view. as wonders. powers.
works, signs. sand manifested forth
His glory:" 1t was the shining forth
Of what was in Him, it revealed His true
nature. power and character. as the
flame reveals the glory Of the candle.
as the inner light reveals the marvellous
beauty Of the pictured window. I II
was the glory Of His divine power over
nature. 2. OF His goodness and desire
to help and bless. 3. OF his mission to
transform common things. 4. OF His
likeness to God, His Sonship. S. IT re-
vealed Gods presence in all nature.
Every miracle Jesus wrought was
worthy of God and of His mission to
redeem men. "His disciples believed OH
Him:" Their faith was renewed. con-
firmed. They had hoped that Jesus
was the Messiah; now they were sure
for they saw what He was and what
He could do. He did the miracles be-
cause there was a need, but the result
was to convince men who He was.
The fact that Jesus necessarily, as the
Son Of God, remained unmarried has
led many to imagine that celibacy was
the highest and purest mode of life.
But Jesus gave His highest sanction to
marriage. the family and the home. It
In well IN nOfA .JNAuas ovvp noudun< In