Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-02-10
TILE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY IL.
Subject: The Second Miracle In Cans,
John w.. 43-54-Golden Text, John W.
36-Memory Verses, 49.5i-Cominen'
tow IN the DAYS Lesson.

John w., 43-54-Golden Text, John W,
36-Memory Verses, 49.5l-Cominen.
tary on the Days Lesson.
I. Jesus received as a prophet Tvs. 49,
45) 43. "After two days" The two,
days mentioned In verse AZ. Gallee.
The centre of life and activity IN Palestine
AZ that time. 1t contained 100000 OF peo'
ME. 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 Ju-
(iea, in a very important sense, as Ills
country" not simply His birthplace, but
the Mace of His Fathers house and king
dom. It being the metropolis OF the Jews.
They had already manifested hostile feel,
ings toward Him, and therefore lie turned
His footsteps northward John o:2ol; Inis
proverb which Jesus here uttered lie re,
peated at Nazareth and was there reJecteai
by His own kinsmen. His own country
then. meant Nazareth, where He had
grown nd. Read Luke 4:24; Mark 81;
Matt. 1857. 45. Unto Galilee." The
country of Galilee. He had accomplished
His tourney from Judea. His stop in ga,
maria was for two days only: Received
Him." This does not mean that none re-
iected 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 HIN, at
the Passover, and there witnessed other
miracles and display of His authority IN
cleansing the temple:
III. The nobleman's request Tvs 40, 4D.
46. "Again into Cana" Where HIS discl-
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
thanael. "a certain nobleman;p 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, Herods
steward or chamberlain, whose wife, joan
ma, minstered to Jesus luke 8:3). The
miraculous healing of the nobleman's son
resembles the healing of the centurions
servant Matt. 8:5 and Luke I'D, but
must not be COMPOUNDED with it. "Son was
sick" Very sick with a fever ". 52).
Disease and death come alike to high and
low. There is misery in palaces as well as
in novels. "Capernaum." A city on the
northwest coast of the sea Of Galilee.
Soon after this Jesus made Capernaum
His home.
AZ. "When He heard" Probably
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 Galilee
'Went unto-besought." Here we see his
tender affec, ION for his son; he spared no
pains to get help for him. We also see his
great respect for our Lord: he came him
| self, 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
est 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. 1880
| As. Except We see." Not only did they
| demand miracles, but miracles performed
in a striking manner. How totally unlike
| the Samaritans, from whom our Lord had
so lately come, who embraced the divinity
of His teachings without demanding Won
ders. This nobleman came purely alb
| sorbed in his dying son, anxious for the
bodily miracle, but thoughtless of the di-
vine claims of the Saviour of sinners. 1t
|
rebukes. The words of this verse are, as 1T
we're. an ejaculation, thinking aloud OF
Jesus. He sees that to awaken this man
He must more than heal his son; He must
to that sign add an additional wonder.
| He must so heal him as to arouse the man
to 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 earnestness shows be-
lief in Christ's power which will soon
cause him to acknowledge his child's Sa'
viour as divine.
so. eco thy way" This would be a
ready for it. 'Thy SON hveth." 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 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 Jesu:
to convince the mind; to soothe doubts
to confirm faith, and to meet our desires
Had our Lord gone with him, as hi
wished, his unbelief could not have beer
fully removed. God always bestows His
gifts in that way in which His glory is bes,
promoted and our eternal interest secured
1.-THE word-spoken." Before, this he haat
believed in Christ's power to heal, now NJ
believes in His word and acts accordingly;
". Faith rewarded Tvs. 5l-54). 81
Gons aSma him. FROM W vile the 10 fstSe
was descending the hillsides with trust anc
peace, they were ascending them with gllaat
news '1Thy SON liveth." Meaning tn
same that Jesus meant when He used tn
same words--that he would recover from
this sickness, with the prospect of length
ened life. 81. "Then enQuired he" Hi
faith was rewarded. He had believed tn
word and received its fulfllment. 1t wa
his delight to consider the works of God
and to note the beauty and harmony be
tween His word and His work. AT tn
seventh hour" Definite time. dehnlt
work. This was either l o'clock p. m, &C
cording to the Jewish reckoning, or
o'clock d. M, according to one Roman
reckoning. The latter explains best VIII
the nobleman did not 60 home the sam
81. "The father knew" Everythin
was clear to his understanding. 1t wa
while he was beseeching the Saviour tina
his PRAYER was answered, though at tn
time he knew it not. Mortals can tie
more of what they have experienced tina
they can claim by faith. The diligent con
pairing of the works Of Christ with hi
words will be of great use to confirm GU
faith. AS the word Of God, well studied
will help US to understand His providence
so the providence of God, we'll observed
will help us to understand His wore
"Himself-whole house." Believed in th
divine claims of Jesus. This is the earlies
mention of household faith" 81 "Se,
ond miracle" Not the second mirac
Jesus had wrought (chap. 3:2; v. 49,, bl
the second in Gahlee.