The Servants Knew
John 2:6-9
And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews…


The guests took no part in the preparation for these miracles, did not contribute their own shares of faith and labour, and consequently were not aware that the heavens had been opened, and the ladder of communication between heaven and earth set up in the midst of them. Their hands were idle, and therefore their eyes were veiled. Only the servants knew, and they knew because they had helped Christ to perform the miracle by drawing the water, by doing what they had to do. The revelation came to them through their work, and was the reward of it. The secret of the Lord was with them because they had done the will of God. And is not this true of all work which is a revelation? It is not in idle speculation, in mere theorizing and musing, in standing looking on with folded hands, that we understand the plans and purposes of God, but when we enter into the field and work along with Him. It is in doing the will of God that we know the doctrine that it is of God. Doing God's will puts a spiritual telescope into our hand, whereby we can see the things that are unseen and eternal, which the mere eye of speculation could never see; or a spiritual microscope, which enables us to see wonderful things in God's law, which the mere eye of curiosity could never discern. The teacher who instructs others becomes wiser himself by so doing. Engaging in the work of converting souls; we can sympathize with the Divine Son, who left the Father's house and came to seek and save that which was lost.

Parallel Verses
KJV: And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

WEB: Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews' way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.




The Secret Nature of Our Lord's Work
Top of Page
Top of Page