The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-08-09

tOLDEN Whatsoever He
saith unto you. do it."-John rs.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus at a We'd
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Miracle at
Cana.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
Ic-How Jesus Adds to JOY.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Jesus Enriching Social Life.
l.. The Marriage Feast wv. 1, 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
rage ceremony. 1t is not only honor
able in all (Heb. 13 AZ but when based
on true affection II Is the highest and
best of human relationships next to
union with the Lord. It promotes the
physical, moral and spiritual well-being
of both husband and wife and makes
ture of children. Marriage is not only
an honorable relation but a wedding Il
Il most beautiful occasion for all nor
NAL human beings.
1. Attended by Jesus Mother and
His Disciples wv. 1, p. 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 u sanctifies them.
2. Attended by Jesus ". p. God
attended the first marriage on earth
Gen. 2:22) and Jesus, who was ABOUT
His Fathers business duke PAD, set
a mark of honor upon every spring Of
human life Ivy 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
hasely degraded 1t.
II. The Anxiety Of Jesus Mother
wv. 3-5).
1. The Wine Failed ". 81. Al
though this was a trying social ext
gency 1t 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
we're hidden after they had reached
Cana.
2. Mary Presents tie Need to Jesus
". 81. The clear implication Is that
she requested Him to embrace this op-
portunity to present His Messianic
claims by working a miracle to supply
the lack of wine. We may learn two
lessons from Mary:
"a In our great needs, when u
resources are exhausted, we Ike Mary
sh8Eid-eameiAJesusfn far help
(2) Let us not prescribe to Je3us
the manner in which His help Is to be
given. While 1t 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 viii was
supreme.
4. Mary's Confidence ". %. 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.
M r.. AH,A.~ A1AA AfaA +. nto
play Of Jesus Creative Power wv. go.
A miracle is the display Of the SUI
pernatural. 1t is not against the laws
Of nature but the execution of issues
beyond nature.
1. The Measure of This Miracle
". 81. The six vessels had perhaps
a capacity of 100 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, 10 for the gaze OF
men. While not for display, 1t was so
real that the disciples and Guests knew
that it wa wrought by divine power.
8. It's 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.
f.. It's Reality (s. 81. This vas not
i sham, a make-believe. To prove its
reality II was brought to the governor
of he feast. presumably the bride
groom.
Nv. The Surprised Table Master
wv. 10. III.
The excellence of the wine was
praised by the ruler of the feast
Christ gives. not only quantity. but
quality.