The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-01-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY ~.
Subject: The First Miracle in Cana, John
H., 1-11-Golden Text, John H., q
Memory Verse, IL - Commentary on

Subject: The First Miracle in Cana, John
H., 1-11-Golden Text, John H., g
Memory Verse, IL Commentary on
the Days Lesson.
1. The marriage in Cana Tvs. !, .. !.
"The third day" From the calling OF
Philip and Nathaniel, or six days from,
the time John the Baptist had answered
the authorities from Jerusalem. 1t is cal
culated that Wednesday was the day. il
being the usual day for weddings for jew
Thursday. "A marriage" Including the
marriage feast, which was frequently cek'
brated for several days. The family was
the first divine institution among men, and
is the basis OF all that has followed.
.. Jesus was called" Invited. This
was natural, especially if His mother was
4 relative 1t was according to custom
that a strange Jewish rabbi visiting there
should be invited. Disciples" The dis
cip.es were those already mentioned-An.
drew, Simon, John, Philip, Nathaniel and
probably James. Jesus sanctities true
earthly joy. We need no. wonder to find
the Lord of life at that festival. COR He
came to sanctify all life-its times OF JOY
and its times OF sorrow, and all experience
tells US that it is times OF gladness which
especially need such sanctifying power.
God wants us to be happy. He has given
a hundred joys to every sorrow.
III. The mother of Jesus Tvs. 3-5). 3.
"When the wine failed" (R. W. To East.
ern hospitality such mishap would be
very mertifying and would seem almost
disgraceful The family no doubt was
poor, extra guests had come and the sup
ply was limited. There has been much dis
cussion as to whether Jesus made wine that
would intoxicate. DR. Whedon says: We
see no reason for supposing that the wine
OF the present occasion WAS OF that kind
upon which Scripture places its strongest
interdict" prov. 20:l; 1881: Isa. 22:l3).
No one can prove that it contained intoXi-
catiEg qualities. and there are many and
strong reasons for believing that it was as
pure and harmless as the juice OF the grape
fresh from the vines. Winebibbers need
not undertake to fall back on this miracle
as an excuse for the qualification Of their
perverted appetites. If Jesus were in
America to-day we know very we'll what
His attitude would be toward the accursed
saloon and toward wine at baEquets. and
in fact toward the banCuets as they are
now carried on. We may be sure that He
never encouraged anything which would
lead, as our Intoxicating liquors do. TO
degradation and ruin. ''Mother-saith." "
ltc She probably spoke to Him privately.
Although Christ had as yet performed no
miracle, yet His mother feels sure that He
is able to hep them in the present emer.
gency.
4. Woman" This at first sounds harsh
to our ears, but it was equivalent to our
saying Lady" and was higEiy respect
full and affectionate mode OF address," He
does not call her mother because it was
necessary now, at once ard forever. to
snow her that He was not Jesus the Son
of Mary, but the Christ, the Son OF God !;
that as regarded His great work and mis-.
sion, His eternal being, the significance OF
the beautiful relationship had passed away.
1t could not have been done in manner
more decisive, yet more entirely tender.
what have l to do with thee." What is
there in common between US: He canpot
longer wor k in her way. She does not un-
derstand the influences directing His pres
ent life. Mine hour" The hour for .he
manifestation of His glory. Jesus rejects
the worldly ambition in Marys request.
She desires a brilliant miracle. as public
sign OF His coming Jesus penetrates this
ambitious thought, and traces 4 boundary
for Mary's desires, which she should no
more attempt to cross. But this does not
this there is something to be done in view
feshly claim to hold control over, or gain
cmo.ument By. His Messianie power was
rejected-as soon as His mother retired to
her proper position-then was the last OBJ
stacle removed; His area OF action imme.
diately opened, and the hour to manifest
forth His glory by miracle had arrived.
5. -Whatsoever-do it, Punctnaily oh.
scrve His orders without asking questions.
Her faith in Him had not weakened The
answer shows what she was expecting Him
70 do. Let us take her answer as the
motto of our lives.
HI The miracle wrought Tvs. 6-lD. G.
six waterpots.' A large quantity OF
water was needed at Jewish banquet De.
cause Of 1'the manner of purifying OF the
Jews"-tbe hands and feet of the guests
r.ast be washed, and ''the washing OF
cups and jugs and bottles went on the
whole day. "Two or three frkins.' A
frhin was about nine gallons. therefore
these waterpots held between l0S and lG2
gallons.
:. To the brirn." We DO not know
that they were entirely empty, but what
ever had been drawn out was replaced. s.
"Draw out" The word for draw may he
useu IN tne SENSE OF Qlp out. Unto the
governor" The president of the BANQUET.
'They bare it. Here faith WAS REQUIRED.
To pat water in the jars required o0e-
dience. bat to draw that water out and
pass it to the chief cuest as wine made Il
strong demand on faith.
s. Knew not" Knew not tine miracr..
lous origin Of the wine. Servants
knew" The independent witness to the
two parts OF the miracle establishes It's re.
ality. The ruler of the feast declares what
the element is, the servants knew what it
was. 10. Every man." Tnis is the com.
mon custom among men. We'll drrhk. "
Men who have had enough are Indifferent
as to the quality of the wine set before
them. The ruler OF the feast is nut alud-
ing to the corrupt customs and fashions
among men. and not TO augh. that was
going on before his eyes, fo- sucIi the Lord
would have As little sanctioned by His
presence as He wcu!d have helped it for
ward by vonder-work of His own. Sin
gives its best-its pleasures and hapors--
first; its worst-its sorrow, poverty. dis.
grace and ruin-follow. First har,ots and
1,u,