Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-01-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY ~.
Subject: The First Miracle in Cana, John
H., 1-11-GoIden Text, John H., 81
Memory Verse, IL - Commentary Oh
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memory Ferae, IL - commentary Old
the Days Lesson.
/. The marriage in Cana Tvs. ], q. l.
"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. it
being the usual day for weddings for Jew.
ish maidens. Widows were married on
Thursday. "a marriage" Including the
marriage feast, which was frequently cele.
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
a relative. 1t was according to custom
| that strange Jewish rabbi visiting there
should be invited. Disciples" The dis.
ciples were those already mentioned-An.
drew, Simon, John, Philip, Nathaniel and
probably James. Jesus sanctifes true
earthly JOY. We need not wonder TO find
the Lord OF life at that festival, for He
came to sanctify all life-its times CT JOY
and it's 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.
H. The mother OF Jesus Tvs. $50. 8
"When the wine failed" Or. W To East.
ern hospitality such a mishap would be
very Notifying 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: eve
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; lisa. 22:l3)
No one can prove that it contained int0xi.
eating 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 appetitcs. If Jesus were in
America to-day we know very well what
His attitude would be toward the accursed
saloon and toward wine at banquets, and
in fact toward the banquets 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,"
etc. She probably spoke to Him privately.
Although Christ had as yet performed no
miracle, yet His mother feels sure that He
is able to help 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 a highly respect.
full and affectionate mode of address," He
does not call her mother" because it was
necessary now, at once and forever. to
show 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 a manner
more decisive, yet more entirely tender.
What have l to do with thee?" What is
there in common between us? He cannot
longer work in her way. She does not un
derstand the influences directing His pres
ent life. mine hour" The hour for the
manifestation Of His glory. Jesus rejects
the worldly ambition in Marys request.
She desires brilliant miracle, as a public
sign of His coming. Jesus penetrates this
ambitious thought, and traces boundary
for Mary's desires, which she should no
more attempt to cross. But this does not
prevent His understanding that along with
this there is something to be done in view
of the present difficulty. AS soon as all
f1eshly claim to hold control over, or gain
emolument by, His Messianic power was
rejected-as soon as His mother retired to
her proper position-then was the last oh.
stacle removed; His area of action imme.
diately opened, and the hour to manifest
forth His glory by miracle had arrived
S. "Whatsoever-do it," Punctually OBJ.
serve His orders without asking questions.
Her faith in Him had not weakened. The
answer shows what she was expecting Him
to do. Let us take her answer as the
motto of our lives.
III. The miracle wrought Tvs. GID. @.
six waterpots." A large quantity of
water was needed at Jewish banquet be.
cause Of "the manner of purifying of the
Jews"-the hands and feet of the guests
must be. washed, and ''the washing of
whole day" 1.-TWO or three firkins" A
frkin was about nine gallons. therefore
these waterpots held between 1913 and l62
gallons
7. ITO the brim." We do not know
that they were entirely empty, but what
ever had been drawn out was replaced. 8.
Draw out" The word for draw may be
used in the sense of dip out. Unto the
governor" The president of the banquet.
''They bare it," Here faith was required.
TO put water in the jars required ODE.
dience, but to draw that water out and
pass it to the chief guest as wine made
strong demand on faith
9. knew not" Knew not the miracu.
lous origin of the wine. Servants
knew" The independent witness to the
two parts of the miracle establishes its re-
atty. The ruler of the feast declares what
the element is, the servants knew what it
was. 10. Every man." This is the com.
all IL
Men who have had enough are Indifferent
them. The ruler OF the feast is but allud-
ing to the corrupt customs and fashions
among men, and not to aught that was
going on before his eyes. for such the Lord
would have as little sanctioned by His
presence as He would have helped it for
ward by wonder-work of His own. Sin
gives Its best-its pleasures and honors--
first; its worst-its sorrow, poverty, dis.
grace and ru1--follow. First harlots and
riotous living, then swine. Christ gives
first the cross, the race, the battle; then
the crown, rest and glory.
II. Manifested forth His glory" A
prophet would manifest the glory of God,
but He His own glory. for He was God.
The miracles and wonders of Jesus were
all signs ID of Christ's divine nature; ~
of His mission as from God; 90 of His
good will toward men; "a of the truths
that He taught: (5) OF the nature and
character of God. Disciples believed on
Him." Their faith was now confirmed.
They were now sure they had found the
Messiah. 1t was 400 years since the Jews
had seen a prophet who could perform
miracles. The guests partook of the wine;
the disciples bad something far better--an
increase of faith. Others simply ate and
drank These men saw God in Christ
msailesting His CORY.