North Park union., 1905-01-13
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LESSON W., JANUARY q.

Being water-pots, and not wine skins.
there could be no thought of any rem
nant or sediment of wine 30 that de-
ceit or collusion was rendered impos-
sible. ITO the brim." Implying an
abundant supply, and no room for add
ing anything to the water.
Why Such an Amount. /. I'm Pal
estine, wine-growing and wine-con-
suming country. 1t is not merely a
beverage. but the beverage of the
common people" (AbbotD as wine in
France and beer In Germany.
2. This large quantity OF wine
would provide but little for each
guest. considering the habits of the
people, who crowd into the house to
partake of the feast as long as the
provisions last, being pressed to do SO
by their hospitable host or master of
the feast. who also urges even the
passers.by to come and drink to the
health of the bridegroom and BRIDE"
DIR. H. ]. Van Lennep, Bible Lands,
pp. 1872, SOB, 604.
s. Unto them (the servants who
had filled the jars with water), Draw
out now" into pitchers or wine cups.
Governor (R. ", ''ruler'D of the
feast" Either the head waiter
(Weiss. Holtzmann) or. more proba-
bly,. the chairman elected by the com
pany from among the guests, who, in
general. regulated the course of the
feast and the conduct OF the guests.
Q. But the servants knew
AI,D
source of the wine.
10. EVERY man." etc. This is the
universal custom. Have well
drunk" r. and Am. ". Have drunk
freely" THE word. at least, must in.
dicate a condition In which men are
unfit to distinguish good wine and
bad. The company then present was
not in that condition. because they
were able to appreciate good wine."-
EXP. Greek Test. Thou hast kept
the good wine until now" The sig.
nificance of this remark consists In
the certificate thus given to the quail.
ity of the wine."-Exp. Greek Test.
Relation to the Temperance Ques.
ton. There are two opinions as to
While no one can prove that the wine
Christ made was wholly unfermented,
1t is equally certain that no one can
prove that 1t had any intoxicating
qualities. 1t may well have been the
ideal wine, the delicious and health.
full juice OF the grape fresh from the
vines, just as God is making it now
every autumn. Those who believe
that the wine spoken of In this lesson
was unintoxicating. will teach IN &C.
cordance with that belief. Those who
believe that 1t was ordinary wine. will
teach that the making Of such wine
by our Lord no more endorses intoxi.
cation than the creation of the poppy,
from which laudanum is made. en-.
dorses suicide."-A. F. Schaufler.
There Is a right and proper use oi
the fruit Of the vine. There are few
things more delicious and healthful
than the juice of the grape fresh from
the vines.
Christ's example shows that drink
ing some kind of wine is not sin
per Sc.
1t is perfectly right to wholly alb
stain from wine and all intoxicating
drinks. There is no law. human OF
divine, that requires us to use what
is so dangerous to ourselves and
others.
The basis Of total abstinence is the
giving up of that which may be lawful
in itself. whenever 1t becomes danger.
Gus to ourselves or the means of evil
to others. This is our Christian duty
and privilege.
~. This Miracle Witness and
Sign of the Grace and Glory Of Jesus.
". IL. This beginning of miracles" +"
The first one he wrought in his min.
istry. And manifested forth his
glory" His true nature and work
hidden under the form of a man. He
manifested 1t not for himself. but In
Savior, worth trusting and obeying.
The result was that Ibis disciples be.
lieved on him" with new increase OF
faith.
John says In 1: IA. And we beheld
his Glory. the Glory as of the only Be.
gotten Of the Father, full of Grace and
Truth.
This miracle was a revelation of his
real nature, of his divine power, OF
his spiritual nature hidden by the
flesh. He did deed worthy OF the
expected Messiah. This was the spir.
itual side of what was more clearly
revealed before their eyes at the
TRANSPORTATION more than two years
later, when the glory seen by Paul
(Acts 9: 81 and by John CRev. /: 49,
16) shone through his flesh and his
garments. as by light from within.
as the sunlight shining through dull
stained glass windows reveals the
true nature Of the picture. Jesus was
prince in disguise, and he threw on
his outward guise and appeared in his
own royal glory.
The change OF water into the lus-
cious juice Of the grape (far more
than into fermented wine) "is the
sign and symbol Of all which Christ
Is evermore doing in the world, emo
bling all that he touches. making
saints out of sinners. angels out OF
men. and. in the end, heaven out OF
earth-a new paradise Of God out OF
the old wilderness of the world. For
the prophecy of the worlds regenera-