The Dolores star., 1924-08-08
Lesson for August 10
FIRST MIRACLE OF JESUS

LESSON TEXT-John 2:1-11.
| GOLDEN TEXT-"Whatsoever He
saith unto you. do it.''-John 2:5.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus at a We'd
| ding.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Miracle at
Cana.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IfC-How Jesus Adds to Joy.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Jesus Enriching Social Life.
I. The Marriage Feast wv. l, p.
Marriage was ordained by God and
| the first wedding was sanctioned by
His presence (Gen. 2:22-24). Indeed.
He must have performed the first mar
| riage ceremony. 1t is not only honor
able in all (Heb. 13:4) but when based
| on true affection it is the highest and
best of human relationships next to
| union with the Lord. 1t promotes the
physical, moral and spiritual well-being
Of both husband and wife and makes
| possible an atmosphere for the nur-
ture of children. Marriage is not only
| an honorable relation but a wedding Is
| II most beautiful occasion for all nor
NAL human beings.
l. Attended by Jesus Mother and
His Disciples wv. l, y. The friends
at this marriage feast were related to
Jesus by blood and grace. To be
united to Jesus Christ by the bonds of
grace does not interfere with normal
human relations but sanctlfies them.
2. Attended by Jesus ". %. God
attended the first marriage on earth
| (Gen. . :22) and Jesus, who was abJu.
His Fathers business duke . :49), set
a mark of honor upon every spring ot
| human life ly glacing this marriage
| feast with His presence. The Re
deemer of man as He entered upon
His exalted career thus lifted the holy
ordinance of marriage to its proper dig
nifty and beauty. Man by polygamy,
| adultery divorce and fornication has
lascly degraded it.
H.. The Anxiety of Jesus Mother
| wv. $50.
l. The Wine Failed ". 81. AL
| though this was a trying social ext
gency it seems to have been quite nat
| ural. The arrival of Jesus and His
disciples put drain upon the re-
sources of the host, for these guests
We're hidden after they had reached
Cana.
.. Mary Presents the Need to Jesus
! ". 81. The clear implication is that
| she requested Him to embrace this op-
| portunity to present His Messianic
daims by working a miracle to supply
the lack of wine. We may learn two
lessons from Mary:
% In our great needs, when our
resources are exhausted, we like Mary
| should come to Jesus for help.
(2) Let us not prescribe to Jesus
| the manner in which His help is to be
given. While it was right for Mary
| to come to Him in her need, 1t was not
her province to dictate how help
should be given.
8. Jesus Assertion of Authority ".
81. He respectfully reminded His
mother that He had passed from her
authority-that His Fathers will was
supreme
4. Marys Confidence ". 81. AL
though with calm dignity He asserted
His authority, there must have been
some sign by which He gave her to
understand that He would not fail her
in this embarrassing emergency. She
directed the servants to be ready to
carry out whatever instructions He
should issue.
III. The Water Made Wine, a Dis
play of Jesus Creative Power wv. 6-9).
A miracle is the display of the su-
pernatural 1t Is not against the laws
of nature but the execution of issues
beyond nature.
l. The Measure of This Miracle
". c.. The six vessels had perhaps
capacity of 120 gallons. Jesus is un-
stinted in His gifts. Twelve baskets
were left over from feeding the Five
Thousand.
2. Its Freedom From Display wv.
Z, 81. The mighty works of the Lord
| are not for display, not for the gaze of
men. While not for display, 1t was so
real that the disciples and guests knew
that 1t was wrought by divine power.
3. Its Design. Its primary aim was
to show the divine glory. Though Jesus
| would not use His divine power to re-
lieve His own hunger, He responded to
the plea to supply the wants of others.
4. Its Reality ". 81. This was not
a sham, make-believe. To prove Its
reality 1t was brought to the governor
of the feast, presumably the bride
groom.
~. Tho Surprised Table Master
wv. 10, 1D.
|. The excellence Of the wine was
praised by the ruler of the feast.
Christ gives. not only quantity. but
oualify