John 2:1-11 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:… Christ here at the outset exemplifies one great rule of His self-manifestation, "The Son of man came eating and drinking," regardless if cavillers say, "Behold a man gluttenous and a wine bibber." His very miracle was a multiplication of the materials of feasting, acting Himself on what afterwards became the law of the gospel. "Use hospitality one to another without judging," etc. Christ came not to take a few out of the world, but to transform the world itself; and presented Himself at a marriage feast to redeem things "which should be for our health" from being turned, through godless abuse into "occasions of falling." I. Observe how RELIGION BEFORE AND WITHOUT CHRIST HAS DEALT WITH SOCIETY. Its effort and prayer has been to be "taken out" of it to save itself, But this instinct, right in itself, has been shown in ways suicidal. Selfishness bad in nature, is worse in religion. Christ's Epiphany to society was an original idea among the religious. The dream of every religion but the Christian was celebrate monasticism. Even Christianity has relapsed into it literally, and also morally in the selfishness which marks out certain persons, phrases, recreations as signs of a world lying in wickedness. Far less difficult would Christian duty be if we might quit the world and have done with it, but we cannot and dare not. This parable of our Master's life shows us this. II. How CHRIST DEALS WITH SOCIETY. He finds in the world homes beautiful with natural affection, and tables spread with God's bounties. Into this, with the treacherous ashes above and the latent fires below, Christ comes and says, "Use this world as not abusing it," and by His presence helps us to obey His precept. Realize, then, this sanctifying presence in business, e.g., or pleasure, and we shall realize that which will quicken both with Divine life. We shall then be there to exert the same helpfulness to others through Christ, as Christ exerted at this feast. 1. Jesus was there with His disciples, not a solitary Messiah. 2. Let the disciples now take the Master with them. For some, alas I this would be irksome, and so they either go without Christ, or else stay away. The former is sinful, the latter faithless. (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:WEB: The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. |
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