the desire of ages-第27节

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ent　of　God。　Yet　there　came　to　her　also　doubts　and　disappointments；　and　she　had　longed　for　the　time　when　His　glory　should　be　revealed。　Death　had　separated　her　from　Joseph；　who　had　shared　her　knowledge　of　the　mystery　of　the　birth　of　Jesus。　Now　there　was　no　one　to　whom　she　could　confide　her　hopes　and　fears。　The　past　two　months　had　been　very　sorrowful。　She　had　been　parted　from　Jesus；　in　whose　sympathy　she　found　comfort；　she　pondered　upon　the　words　of　Simeon；　〃A　sword　shall　pierce　through　thy　own　soul　also〃　（Luke　2：35）；　she　recalled　the　three　days　of　agony　when　she　thought　Jesus　lost　to　her　forever；　and　with　an　anxious　heart　she　awaited　His　return。

At　the　marriage　feast　she　meets　Him；　the　same　tender；　dutiful　son。　Yet　He　is　not　the　same。　His　countenance　is　changed。　It　bears　the　traces　of　His　conflict　in　the　wilderness；　and　a　new　expression　of　dignity　and　power　gives　evidence　of　His　heavenly　mission。　With　Him　is　a　group　of　young　men；　whose　eyes　follow　Him　with　reverence；　and　who　call　Him　Master。　These　companions　recount　to　Mary　what　they　have　seen　and　heard　at　the　baptism　and　elsewhere。　They　conclude　by　declaring；　〃We　have　found　Him；　of　whom　Moses　in　the　law；　and　the　prophets；　did　write。〃　John　1：45。

As　the　guests　assemble；　many　seem　to　be　preoccupied　with　some　topic　of　absorbing　interest。　A　suppressed　excitement　pervades　the　company。　Little　groups　converse　together　in　eager　but　quiet　tones；　and　wondering　glances　are　turned　upon　the　Son　of　Mary。　As　Mary　had　heard　the　disciples'　testimony　in　regard　to　Jesus；　she　had　been　gladdened　with　the　assurance　that　her　long…cherished　hopes　were　not　in　vain。　Yet　she　would　have　been　more　than　human　if　there　had　not　mingled　with　this　holy　joy　a　trace　of　the　fond　mother's　natural　pride。　As　she　saw　the　many　glances　bent　upon　Jesus；　she　longed　to　have　Him　prove　to　the　company　that　He　was　really　the　Honored　of　God。　She　hoped　there　might　be　opportunity　for　Him　to　work　a　miracle　before　them。

It　was　the　custom　of　the　times　for　marriage　festivities　to　continue　several　days。　On　this　occasion；　before　the　feast　ended　it　was　found　that　the　supply　of　wine　had　failed。　This　discovery　caused　much　perplexity　and　regret。　It　was　unusual　to　dispense　with　wine　on　festive　occasions；　and

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its　absence　would　seem　to　indicate　a　want　of　hospitality。　As　a　relative　of　the　parties；　Mary　had　assisted　in　the　arrangements　for　the　feast；　and　she　now　spoke　to　Jesus；　saying；　〃They　have　no　wine。〃　These　words　were　a　suggestion　that　He　might　supply　their　need。　But　Jesus　answered；　〃Woman；　what　have　I　to　do　with　thee？　Mine　hour　is　not　yet　come。〃

This　answer；　abrupt　as　it　seems　to　us；　expressed　no　coldness　or　discourtesy。　The　Saviour's　form　of　address　to　His　mother　was　in　accordance　with　Oriental　custom。　It　was　used　toward　persons　to　whom　it　was　desired　to　show　respect。　Every　act　of　Christ's　earthly　life　was　in　harmony　with　the　precept　He　Himself　had　given；　〃Honor　thy　father　and　thy　mother。〃　Ex。　20：12。　On　the　cross；　in　His　last　act　of　tenderness　toward　His　mother；　Jesus　again　addressed　her　in　the　same　way；　as　He　committed　her　to　the　care　of　His　best…loved　disciple。　Both　at　the　marriage　feast　and　upon　the　cross；　the　love　expressed　in　tone　and　look　and　manner　interpreted　His　words。

At　His　visit　to　the　temple　in　His　boyhood；　as　the　mystery　of　His　lifework　opened　before　Him；　Christ　had　said　to　Mary；　〃Wist　ye　not　that　I　must　be　about　My　Father's　business？〃　Luke　2：49。　These　words

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struck　the　keynote　of　His　whole　life　and　ministry。　Everything　was　held　in　abeyance　to　His　work；　the　great　work　of　redemption　which　He　had　come　into　the　world　to　accomplish。　Now　He　repeated　the　lesson。　There　was　danger　that　Mary　would　regard　her　relationship　to　Jesus　as　giving　her　a　special　claim　upon　Him；　and　the　right；　in　some　degree；　to　direct　Him　in　His　mission。　For　thirty　years　He　had　been　to　her　a　loving　and　obedient　son；　and　His　love　was　unchanged；　but　He　must　now　go　about　His　Father's　work。　As　Son　of　the　Most　High；　and　Saviour　of　the　world；　no　earthly　ties　must　hold　Him　from　His　mission；　or　influence　His　conduct。　He　must　stand　free　to　do　the　will　of　God。　This　lesson　is　also　for　us。　The　claims　of　God　are　paramount　even　to　the　ties　of　human　relationship。　No　earthly　attraction　should　turn　our　feet　from　the　path　in　which　He　bids　us　walk。

The　only　hope　of　redemption　for　our　fallen　race　is　in　Christ；　Mary　could　find　salvation　only　through　the　Lamb　of　God。　In　herself　she　possessed　no　merit。　Her　connection　with　Jesus　placed　her　in　no　different　spiritual　relation　to　Him　from　that　of　any　other　human　soul。　This　is　indicated　in　the　Saviour's　words。　He　makes　clear　the　distinction　between　His　relation　to　her　as　the　Son　of　man　and　as　the　Son　of　God。　The　tie　of　kinship　between　them　in　no　way　placed　her　on　an　equality　with　Him。

The　words；　〃Mine　hour　is　not　yet　come；〃　point　to　the　fact　that　every　act　of　Christ's　life　on　earth　was　in　fulfillment　of　the　plan　that　had　existed　from　the　days　of　eternity。　Before　He　came　to　earth；　the　plan　lay　out　before　Him；　perfect　in　all　its　details。　But　as　He　walked　among　men；　He　was　guided；　step　by　step；　by　the　Father's　will。　He　did　not　hesitate　to　act　at　the　appointed　time。　With　the　same　submission　He　waited　until　the　time　had　come。

In　saying　to　Mary　that　His　hour　had　not　yet　come；　Jesus　was　replying　to　her　unspoken　thought；to　the　expectation　she　cherished　in　common　with　her　people。　She　hoped　that　He　would　reveal　Himself　as　the　Messiah；　and　take　the　throne　of　Israel。　But　the　time　had　not　come。　Not　as　a　King；　but　as　〃a　Man　of　Sorrows；　and　acquainted　with　grief；〃　had　Jesus　accepted　the　lot　of　humanity。

But　though　Mary　had　not　a　right　conception　of　Christ's　mission；　she　trusted　Him　implicitly。　To　this　faith　Jesus　responded。　It　was　to　honor　Mary's　trust；　and　to　strengthen　the　faith　of　His　disciples；　that　the　first　miracle　was　performed。　The　disciples　were　to　encounter　many　and　great　temptations　to　unbelief。　To　them　the　prophecies　had　made　it

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clear　beyond　all　controversy　that　Jesus　was　the　Messiah。　They　looked　for　the　religious　leaders　to　receive　Him　with　confidence　even　greater　than　their　own。　They　declared　among　the　people　the　wonderful　works　of　Christ　and　their　own　confidence　in　His　mission；　but　they　were　amazed　and　bitterly　disappointed　by　the　unbelief；　the　deep…seated　prejudice；　and　the　enmity　to　Jesus；　displayed　by　the　priests　and　rabbis。　The　Saviour's　early　miracles　strengthened　the　disciples　to　stand　against　this　opposition。

In　nowise　disconcerted　by　the　words　of　Jesus；　Mary　said　to　those　serving　at　table；　〃Whatsoever　He　saith　unto　you；　do　it。〃　Thus　she　did　what　she　could　to　prepare　the　way　for　the　work　of　Christ。

Beside　the　doorway　stood　six　large　stone　water　jars；　and　Jesus　bade　the　servants　fill　these　with　water。　It　was　done。　Then　as　the　wine　was　wanted　for　immediate　use；　He　said；　〃Draw　out　now；　and　bear　unto　the　governor　of　the　feast。〃　Instead　of　the　water　with　which　the　vessels　had　been　filled；　there　flowed　forth　wine。　Neither　the　ruler　of　the　feast　nor　the　guests　generally　were　aware　that　the　supply　of　wine　had　failed。　Upon　tasting　that　which　the　servants　brought；　the　ruler　found　it　superior　to　any　he　had　ever　before　drunk；　and　very　different　from　that　served　at　the　beginning　of　the　feast。　Turning　to　the　bridegroom；　he　said；　〃Every　man　at　the　beginning　doth　set　forth　good　wine；　and　when　men　have　well　drunk；　then　that　which　is　worse：　but　thou　hast　kept　the　good　wine　until　now。〃

As　men　set　forth　the　best　wine　first；　then　afterward　that　which　is　worse；　so　does　the　world　with　its　gifts。　That　which　it　offers　may　please　the　eye　and　fascinate　the　senses；　but　it　proves　to　be　unsatisfying。　The　wine　turns　to　bitterness；　the　gaiety　to　gloom。　That　which　was　begun　with　songs　and　mirth　ends　in　weariness　and　disgust。　But　the　gifts　of　Jesus　are　ever　fresh　and　new。　The　feast　that　He　provides　for　the　soul　never　fails　to　give　satisfaction　and　joy。　Each　new　gift　increases　the　capacity　of　the　receiver　to　appreciate　and　enjoy　the　blessings　of　the　Lord。　He　gives　grace　for　grace。　There　can　be　no　failure　of　supply。　If　you　abide　in　Him；　the　fact　that　you　receive　a　rich　gift　today　insures　the　reception　of　a　richer　gift　tomorrow。　The　words　of　Jesus　to　Nathanael　express　the　law　of　God's　dealing　with　the　children　of　faith。　With　every　fresh　revelation　of　His　love；　He　declares　to　the　receptive　heart；　〃Believest　thou？　thou　shalt　see　greater　things　than　these。〃　John　1：50。

The　gift　of　Christ　to　the　marriage　feast　was　a　symbol。　The　water　represented　baptism　into　His　death；　the　wine；　the　shedding　of　His　blood

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for　the　sins　of　the　world。　The　water　to　fill　the　jars　was　brought　by　human　hands；　but　the　word　of　Christ　alone　could　impart　to　it　life…giving　virtue。　So　with　the　rites　which　point　to　the　Saviour's　death。　It　is　only　by　the　power　of　Christ；　working　through　faith；　that　they　have　efficacy　to　nourish　the　soul。

The　word　of　Christ　supplied　ample　provision　for　the　feast。　So　abundant　is　the　provision　of　His　grace　to　blot　out　the　iniquities　of　men；　and　to　renew　and　sustain　the　soul。

At　the　first　feast　He　attended　with　His　disciples；　Jesus　gave　them　the　cup　that　symbolized