Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
Ube first Miracle.

CHANGING WATER INTO WINE"
TEXT-ST. JOHN, I:1-2.

TER INTO WINE"
JOHN, II:12.
sions, and for spiritual purposes. But this
was a small occasion on which to work
miracle. Wine was wanting at mar
riage feast. The supply had failed. Inc
feelings Of those who entertained the
guests would be hurt. the joy of the bride
and bridegroom would be marred, sense
of. shame would be felt by the exposure of
the poverty of the bridal parties. And so,
by an exercise Of His divine power Jesus
averted the exposure and discontinue they
dreaded.
1t shows how He could enter into the lit
tie household trouble, the little fear of rid
icule that vexed His hosts. This teaches
us precious lesson, and one, alas! we all
Christ in the day of our great calamity,
when waves go over our heads, and deep
calleth unto deep, and losses follow fast
upon the heels of losses, but how slow to
go to Him in our small trials. When death
spreads his black wings over our dwell
| ings we go and tell 1t to Jesus" When
| ruin stares US in the face. and we see only
bankruptcy and want before us, we go and
| tell Jesus. But when little troubles arise
and household annoyances and family
| vexations, and personal worries disturb
u.s. how prone we are to forget that there
| is a loving helper near, one who knows
| our frame, and remembers we are dust"
! He understands, as no one else can under
stand, our trivial troubles, our secret fret
| tings, our nervous and oft needless ankle
| ties
We are also taught the character Of the
religion Jesus desired to establish among
His people. 1t was not to be religion of
| outward separation from the world. Christ
did not desire His people to draw away
from their fellow men. He does not wish
| them to turn their backs upon society,
with it's duties and occupations, its poll
ties, it's commerce, trade and busy spheres
of merchandising. He wishes them to be
| unworldly, a separate and peculiar people,
but not to withdraw intercourse with
those around them. Monasticism murders
manhood. Christ would have all life
sanctiied. He would raise the common
duties, and the common occupations, and
shake from them the earthliness that is so
apt to gather round them. He would have
a holy, Christian spirit pervading all, pure
and holy motives underlying our simplest
acts. He wants His disciples to mingle
| freely with all their fellows but testifying
to the power Of the truth, and manifesting
the life of God that is in them. No per-
son can read this story of Jesus at the
marriage feast at Cana without seeing how
consistent it is with the highest conception
of the Christian life, that we mingle in all
the innocent pleasures, social festivities
and joyous occasions to which we are in
vited. By His own presence at the we'd
ding He proclaimed there was nothing
wrong in festal banquet, nothing wrong
| ing Of congenial spirits, and that man of
God could go to such places and might
serve God acceptably in so doing.
Then we are able to find out also when
our conduct Is unsuitable to our Christian
profession Sometimes young Christians
are greatly perplexed as to the course they
should follow in regard to mixing in so.
ciety, and allowing themselves in certain
classes of amusements. The difficulty is
sometimes solved by drawing line and
saying this is decidedly worldly, and must
not be INDUCED; and this is strictly re-
ligious, and there is no danger; but that is
not the wisest way Of ruling The better
way is the broad line of questioning: Is
the place where 1 am going tonight place
guest? Is this amusement likely to lower
the standard Of Christianity IL I attend
it? Is the company where I am goins
such that the presence Of Jesus would b,
an intrusion? If SO, then there is some
thing wrong in that feast, or banquet, O,
play. or game. If it be a social circle O,
an amusement in which we cannot hon
estly ask, or reasonably expect Christ:
presence with us, then we may feel certain
it is safest to stay away
This miracle stamps the divine bless
Ing and approval on family life
Happy is the family life where, from
the very beginning of 1t Christ.
presence Is sought, and realized, an,
priced. Greatly blessed is that mar
riage where Christ is an honored and wei
come guest. Trials may come. Sickness
and death may turn rejoicing into tears
and laughter into mourning. But evel
then, where Christ has been, and wher
His blessing rests, there will remain tina
peace of God which passeth all under
standing"
and prayer. The lesson was by Georg
Lauterbach and Lieut.. Nellie Haslam san