Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-08-07
The Marriage Feast lyy. /. 2l.

!. The Marriage Feast (vv. l, p.
Marriage was ordained by God and
| the first wedding was sanctioned by
His presence tGen. 2 :22-24). Indeed,
He must have performed the first mar
riage ceremony. 1t is not only honor
able In ali (Heb. 1874 but when based
on true affection 1t is the highest and
best of human relationships next to
union with the Lord 1t promotes the
physical, moral and spiritual well-being
possible an atmosphere for the nur-
ture of children. Marriage is not only
an honorable relation but wedding is
ii most beautiful occasion for all nor
NAL human beings.
/. Attended by Jesus Mother and
His Disciples (yv. J. 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 sanctities them.
2. Attended by Jesus (v. y. God
attended the first marriage on earth
(Gen. :22) and Jesus, who WIS ABOUT
His Fathers business duke 2:49), set
marx of honor upon every spring Of
human life ly giacing 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
Iasely degraded it.
II. The Anxiety of Jesus Mother
wv. $50.
/. The Wine Failed (v. 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 a drain upon the re-
sources of the host, for these guests
were hidden after they had reached
Cana.
2. Mary Presents the Need to Jesus
". 81. The clear implication is that
she requested Him to embrace this OPP
portunity to present His Messianic
claims by working miracle to supply
the lack of wine. We may learn two
lessons from Mary:
ID 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.
3. Jesus Assertion of Authority ".
81. He respectfully reminded His
mother that He had passed from her
authority-that His Fathers will was
supreme.
A. Mary's 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.
Ill. The Water Made Wine, a Dis
play of Jesus Creative Power (vv 6-9). |
A miracle is the display of the SUI
pernatural. 1t is not against the laws
of nature but the execution of issues
beyond nature.
l. The Measure of This Miracle |
w. g.. The six vessels had perhaps
a capacity of 12o gallons. Jesus is I'M
stinted in His gifts. Twelve baskets
were left over from feeding the Five |
Thousand.
?. It's 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, it was SO
real that the disciples and guests knew
that it was wrought by divine 4ower.
3. Its Design. Its primary aim was
to show the divine glory. Though Jesus
would not use His divine power to re- |
Iieve His own hunger, He responded to
the plea to supply the wants Of others |
4. Its Reality (v 81. This was not |
a sham, a make-believe. To prove its |
reality it was brought to the governor
of the feast, presumably the bride
groom.
". The Surprised Table Master
wv. 10, ID.
The excellence Of the wine was
praised by the ru'er of the feast.
Christ gives, rot only quantity, but /
quality +