Evening star., 1924-08-09
Sunday School Lesson

is no joy" The firkins standing near
by, partially filled with water for
ablutions, He ordered that the serv-
ants fill them up to the brim. They
had about 120 gallons" of water in
the firkins when Jesus commanded
the servants to draw it out and carry
it to the one who had been appointed
director of the ceremonies Those
who had obeyed Him found out that,
acting under His orders, miracle
had been performed. He had turned
the water into wine, so that they had
an abundance of the very best wine,
The fact of the miracle is beyond
question. Men who doubt it may well
ponder the words of st. Augustine:
I'VE say that all miracles Cor prodi-
gies) are contrary to nature; but that
they are not. For how can they be
contrary to nature which takes place
by the will of God, seeing that the
will Of the great Creator is the true
nature of everything created? So
miracle is not contrary to nature. but
only to what we know of nature"
The Master had put into the water
by His creative power a life that
alcoholic fermentation could never
have surpassed. 1t convinced those
the water into wine, so that His dis
ciples were confirmed in their faith
and His glory was manifested
His Glory Revealed.
While Jesus revealed by His effort
to remove the social embarassm ents
His sympathy with the common joys
of life, the miracle revealed His per-
sonality. His glory was revealed by
an act of timely helpfulness. By
ed Himself to be the Ruler of all
nature" The creative act declared
that in Him God was present. The
Lords helpfulness to the poor and
needy is his pre-eminent glory. He
is still seeking to help. aid and as
sst them. Jesus had demonstrated
by His presence and power among
them that He was the Messiah full
filling the symbolism Of the Old
Testament by being what the Bap-
Another result from the Sign" was
a deepening of the disciples convic-
ton that He was indeed "a teacher
come from God" The few, who had
doubts that existed in their minds
removed by the miracle, which was
not performed for the purpose Of
strengthening their faith, but to meet
human need. No man is asked to
accept divine truth upon the ground
of miracles. That stands on its own
merits and proves itself by it's adap-
ton to the needs of the human soul.
If one accepts the teachings Of Christ
on the ground that Jesus speaks the
racle as a fact, for He Himself has
said, IT cast out demons by the finger
Of Cod
When He met Satan during the
temptations in the wilderness, Jesus
declined to use miracles as q proof
of His being the "Son Of God" He
realized that the power to perform
miracles was not given Him to prove
that He was the Messiah, but to per-
form the tasks of helpfulness con-
nected with His Messianic. mission.
The fact that His first miracle "con-
sisted in turning water into wine in
dicated the character Of His ministry,
and the results of faith in Him. He
came to rescue humanity from its sin
and suffering and to bring to all the
joys Of His salvation In changing
water into wine, He revealed how
He would transform humanity. He
showed how men would be glorified,
by obedience to His commands and
their lives developed until their char
acter and capacities would receive
their highest possible development.
We will prove our faith in Him and
reveal His glory to men il we heed
the. words of Mary, Whatsoever He
saith unto you. do it" The changing
Of the water into wine was done in
silence and so will be the transfor-
nation Of our lives, if We Obs Him.