The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-20

would probably nave tHOuSAiI lliS 41SAt' "a
the servants unnecessary.
But, though Mary did not anticipate a
miracle it had already occurred to our
Lord that this was a fitting occasion to
manifest His kInsiy power
Mucll has been said and written of His
rep.y to her request The W11ole sentence
might be better rendered. Mother, you
must let Me act here in Ny own way;
and My time for action has not fully
come
She, herself, was perfectly satisfied
with the reply She recognized that He
meant to do something. and, Accordingly.
lef. the matter in His hands, saying only
to the servants: Whatsoever He saith
unto you. do it,
With compassion He looked upon her,
through whose soal a sword was so soon
to pass. With the deepest tenderness He
REGARDED her as tne unconscious instru-
ment to summon Him to begin that ca
reer. which He knew must end III death.
1t was here at this wedding feast de
felt Himself impeiled to take the steps
which altered the whole character OF HIS
life For, from private person,He became
by His first miracle, a publc-marked in
individual, with a definite career. AS one
has said, "to live henceforth in the vortex
of a whirlwind.' To have no leisure SO
much as to eat; no time to pray save
wren others slept; to be the gazing stock OIL
every eve: the common talk Of every
F,rJc -aj a?no I no ttlT11UC-
cd iostled; to he gazed upon, 10 be hunt
ed up and down by curious, vulgar
crowds; TO be hated and DETAINED and
blasphemed: to be regarded as puphc
enemy: to be watched and spied upon and
trapped, and taken as d notorious crlnl-
inal. Is it possible to suppose that Christ
was indifferent to all this; and that II
was without sinking He stepped across
the line which marked the threshold OF
His public career?
The glory, that mere shed a single ray
into that rustic home. must grow TO thal
dazzling ana perfect morn which Slone
from the cross TO the remotest corner OF
the earth The same capacity ana WHITES
ness to bless mankind, which here III d
small domestic affair brought relief TO his
coI,.zrras SEED friends. must be adopted to
meet all the wants of men. ana must ui-
doubtedIv so forward to the extreme OF
sacrifice. He Who is a true King OF Man,
n,,,st finci, from no responsibility, from
no pain, from no utter seii-apahuoiiieii1
10 which the needs of man may can fllih'
Jesus knew this In those quiet hours
of long untroubled days at Nazareth lie
took the measure Of the worlds SIN ana
wre,chedness. and of what would be re-
oured to lift men from their selfishness
and restore them to God. His glory was
the Glory of absolute self-sacritlce, ana he
knew what that involved. HIS hlngShip
was to render service none oinef coui
render. The manner in which this miracle
was, performed deserves notice. thrlSt
does ali. while the servants seem to 90
all. The servants fill in the water and the
servants draw off the wine, and there is
no apparent exercise of Divine power
no mysterious incarnation over the water
pots: not so much as a, commano llldl 'iie
water should become wine. The means
Seem TO he all human; the result is found
to be Divine.
Jesus says, Fill the water pots WIN
water" and they filled them; not IN mere
form, and as If they would leave room
for Christ to add to their work. NO! IheE
filled them up to the brinl. Again. he
saws. Draw out now and bear to the
governor of the feast-and they bore it.
oil baf they had OnlT
put in water, and they also knew that TO
offer water to the governor OF mar
rage feast would be to insure therefrom
punishment; but they did not hesitate.
There seemed every reason why they
should refuse to do this, or why they
sbould Cat leasO ask some explanation or
security that Jesus would bear the evil
consequences; but, there was on the
other hand some reason which out
weighed them all-they had the command
of Him whom they had been ordered to
obey. And so, when reasoning would
have led them into folly, obedient faith
makes them fellow-workers in miracle.
They took their place and served. IheS
who serve Christ and do His Will must
do great things. for Christ wills nothing
that is useless.
1t is our part in simplicity to obey
God: what is commanded we are to do,
and while we work He Himself will
also work with US. He may do in no
visible way. as Christ here did nothing
yisibly, but He will be with US, effectually
working AS the will of Christ pervaded
the water, so that it was endowed with
new qualities, so His will can pervade
our souls and make them conformable
to His purpose.
whatsoever He saith unto you, do
it." This is the secret of miracle work.
ing.
do it." though you seem to be but
wasting your strength and laying your
self open to the very scorn of the on
lockers; .'do it, though in yourself there
is no ability to effect what you are aim
ing at: do it" wholly, 'up to the brim,"
as if you were the only worker, as if
there were no God to come after You and
supply your deficiencies, but as if any
shortening on your part would be fatal.