Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-05

The way Out
The way out of this embarrassing
situation is the way out or every en-
barraSsing situation; it is just the
way of obedience, just to do what
Jesus says, even though it may seem
quite foolish. Did this?
There were six waterpots of stone.
holding two or three firkins apiece,
They were used by the Jews for
ceremonial cleansing. They were
empty now. the water having al
ready been used by the guests that
evening. But empty vessels are what
Jesus needs when He begins to work
so He said to the servants: Fill the
waterpots with water. And the serv-
ants obeyed just as Mary
had told them to do. They might
have argued or objected, or given
good reasons why this would not
help out any; but they didn't do
any of these things; they simply did
what He said
Oh, but did you notice them when
they brought the waterpots in? They
had filled them to the brim; another
ounce would have spilled them over
no chance therefore of His putting
anything in the water.
Then He told them to draw out
and carry it to the governor of the
feast-the official faster. And they
obeyed, did just exactly what He
said. Can't you almost see the look
of surprise on the old fellows face
he knew the wine had given out; he
knew of no more being had, and yet
here come the servants bearing some
more for him to taste before it is
served to the guests. Had it been
nothing but water the servants
would have been severely punished.
But the governors surprise in
creases; he smacks his lips; it is bet
ter than what they had at first, and
he comments on this fact to the
bridegroom.
What had happened? The water
had actually become winei A de-
licous, unfermented, non-intoXicat-
ing drink used by everybody who
could afford it. The dilemma was
removed; the very embarrassing
problem had been solved; with twelve
to eighteen firkins to draw from
there was more than enough now.
The Purpose
"The beginning of signs did Jesus
forth His glory" Then all the
stories of the miracles Jesus did as
a boy are fables; this was the first,
the beginning. And it was some
thing more than a marvellous work,
a wonder not explainable by ordi-
nary laws; miracle. 1t was sign
"a miracle with a purpose, some
thing especially designed to show
| His credentials. When Moses had
gone to Pharaoh he performed GER
tain miracles as signs, credentials,
that God had sent him. Now Jesus
is beginning His public ministry. He
performs this miracle as a sign that
He was from God. John wrote of
Him with a definite purpose. And
many other signs" than the seven
that John recorded) truly did
Jesus in the presence of His disci-
pies, which are not written in this
book; but these are written that We
| might believe that Jesus is the Mes
| siah, the Son of God; and that. be
/ lieving We might have light through
His name" John 20, 30-31)
Truly this miracle was a sign
| How did He do it? The very man
ner of it attests His claim to be the
| Christ, the Son of God. There was
no possibility of chicanery OR delu
sion; it was done in the open before
a great company. The pots were
filled to the brim with water so moth
| ing else could be added to change
! the taste and deceive the governor of
| the feast. Jesus-not1ce this
! spoke no word, nor did He ever
touch it; He simply willed that the
water should be wine, and it was
| done. 1.-THE water saw it's Lord anC
blushed and turned to wine" Truly
| this was the Son of God. This be
ginning of signs did Jesus, and man
ifested His glory.
The Result
1t had its. results. How do you
think these servants felt when they
| realized that by simply obeying
Jesus implicitly they had become
fellow workers in performing one oil
the greatest miracles ever done?
They obeyed; they obeyed without
| questions; they obeyed wholly Gill
ing the pots to the brim); they
obeyed without thought of what
might happen to themselves-they
| bore it the water as they supposed
| to the governor (who was expecting
wlne). They did all the work-ap
! parently. But notice that while
they worked Christ was also work
ing. He really did the thing while
they appeared to be doing it. He die
through them what they were in
capable of doing without Him. AnC
listen quietly here-what II,
couldn't have done without them
since it is His will to have human
instruments. What about that i'm
possible task ahead of you? What
about that task ahead of Him fol
which He needs you?
BY the very nature of Christ, tina
miracle was a necessity. He coulC
not have refrained from giving he'll
where help was needed and wanted
In doing it He manifested His glory
but 1t was not primarily for tina
purpose. He never exercised Hi.
power in His own behalf. Doins
klngly acts is one way a king i
known. Turning water into wine
was not primarily for the purpost
OF showing Himself the Creator, thu
Source; although it did reveal Hin
as such. Until then those disciples
had known Him only as Carpen
ter OF Nazareth and a most win
some man. Three days before, tive
OF them had spent the day with Hin
after hearing John Baptist say III
was the Lamb of Gods providinc
now they see He is a manifestation
of the Creator of the universe. TheiI
faith in Him is growing larger anC
stronger.
While the disciples believed or
Him, no record is given of wha
the other members of that weddin:
party did. Does Johns silence NEAR
that the others were merely star
tied, surprised. awe-inspired? We ar,
not able to answer that question
except in this way: Jesus seemed
to put His mother off a bit wheI
she came to Him. Maybe this wa
the reason. He realized that solvins
this problem was Gods invitation t,