The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-02-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY II.
Subject: The Second Miracle IN Cana,
John w.. 43-54-Golden Text, John We
38-Memory Verses, 49.61-Commen-
farY OH tho Days Lesson.

tary on the Days Lesson.
I. Jesus received as 4 prophet Tvs. 43-
45). 43. "After two days" The two
days mentioned in verse 40. "Gahlee.'
The centre of life and activity in Palestine
at that time. 1t contained 5000, 900 of peo-
pie. There was large foreign population,
and the Jews were more ready to receive
the gospel than in the south. A. His
own country" 1t would seem that at this
time Jesus regarded Jerusalem and .lu-
dea, in very important sense, as His
country" not simply His birthplace, but
the place of His Fathers house and king
They had already manifested hostile feel
ings toward Him, and therefore He turned
His footsteps northward John 3:25). This
proverb which Jesus here uttered He re-
peated at Nazareth and was there rejected
BY His own kinsmen. His ''own country"
then, meant Nazareth, where He had
grown up. Read Luke 4:24; Mark 6:2;
Matt. 1857. As. Unto Galilee." The
country of Galilee He had accomplished
His journey from Judea. His stop in Sa-
maria was for two days only. Received
Him." This does not mean that none re-
jected Him, but where He went He was
welcomed. His first miracle there. nearly
a year before. was still in their memory,
and it was only few weeks after that
when those same countrymen met Him at
the Passover. and there witnessed other
miracles and display OF His authority in
cleansing the temple
II. The nobleman's request Tvs. 46, Az.
46. again into Cana" Where His disc-
pies witnessed the first display of His pow
er. and where their faith in Him as the
Messiah was confirmed. Very likely He
was again entertained in the home of Ma
thsnael "a certain nobleman." Literally
zone belonging to the king" Herod Anti
pas was king at this time and this man
was probably some high officer of Herod's
court. Some think he was Chuza. Herod's
steward or chamberlain, whose wife. joan
ma, ministered to Jesus luke $50. The
miraculous healing of the nob.eman's son
resembles the healing of the centurion's
servant Matt. S:5 and Luke I'D, but
must not be confounded with it. "Son was
sick" Very sick with fever ". 52).
Disease and death come alike to high and
low. There is misery in palaces as well as
in hoveis. "Capernaum." A city on the
northwest coast OF the sea of Galilee.
Soon after this Jesus made Capernaum
His home
through the reports of those who had been
at the Passover. if he had not himself wit
messed the miracles there. Capernaum
was not more than twenty miles from
Cana, and the news would quickly spread
that Jesus was again come to Gaiilee.
tender affection for his son: he spared no
pains to get help for him. We also see his
great respect for our Lord; he came HIM
sc.f. when he might have sent servant,
and he besought Him, when. as a man in
authority, some would think he might
have ordered His attendance. The great
es: men. when they come to God, must be.
come beggars. Point of DEATH" Times
OF sorrow and deepest need lead us to
Christ. When no earthly power can aid
Us we turn to the One who has all power
and love.
III. Jesus demands faith Tvs 4s5o).
IS. Except We see." Not only did thev
demand miracles, but miracles performed
in a striking manner. How totally unlike
the Samaritans, from whom our Lord bad
80 iately come, who embraced the divinity
Of His teachings without demanding Won
6ers. This nobieman came purely alb
sorbed in his diving son, anxious for the
bodily miracle. but thoughtless of the di-
vine claims of the Saviour of sinners. 1t
is this selfshness of spirit that Jesus now
rehukes The words of this verse are. as it
were. an ejaculation, a thinking aloud OF
Jesus. He sees that to awaken this man
He must more than heal his son: He must
70 that sign add an additional wonder.
He must so heal him as to arouse the man
r. reflection. 40. Come down" etc.
This discussion of faith was as loss of time
to him. He cannot stop to answer the re-
buke. to argue the case or to defend his
character. 1t is his son alone that fills his
thoughts. But his earnestress shows be-
lief in Christ's power which will soon
cause him to acknowledge his child's Sa-
viour as divine.
so. Go thy way This would be a
great test to the mans faith, but he was
ready for it. "Thy son live.h." The heal
ing is granted. but without Jesus leaving
Cana. Until now the father had believed
on the testimony of others. Now his faith
is to rest on a better superior the per.
sonal contact which he had just had with
the Lord Himself. 'The man believed"
This is an instance of the power OF Jesus
to confirm faith, and to meet our desires.
Had our Lord gone with him, as he
wished. his unbelief could not have been
fully removed. God always bestows His
gifts in that way in which His CORY is best
promoted and our eternal interest secured.
''The word-spoken." Before this he had
believed in Chrst's power to heal, now he
believes in His word and acts accordingly.
". Faith rewarded Tvs. 5l-54): 81.
"Going down From Cana to Caper-
naum. "Niet him." while the father
was descending the hil,sides with trust and
peace. they were ascending them with glad
news" THY son liveth:" Meaning the
same that Jesus meant when He used the
same words-that he would recover from
this sickness: with the prospect of length
ened life. SO. "Then enouired he" His
faith was re varded. He had believed the
word and received its fulfllment., 1t was
his delight to consider the works Of God,
and to note the beauty and harmony be-
fv-c2. His word and His work. "At the
sc7enth> loar." Definite tire, definite
work. This ,::.as either o'clock p. m, ac-
cording to the Jewish reckoning; or 7
o'cloc, p. M. according to one Roman
reckoning. The latter explains best why
the nob.eman did not 60 home the same
night.
s.. "The father knew" Everything
was clear to his understanding. 1t was
,,.l.'o Io ,ros hasaaohinp tho Saviour that