January 30

John ii.—1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there.

2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3. And, when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.

5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water; and they filled them up to the brim.

8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast; and they bare it.

9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.

10. And saith unto him, 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.

11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

The village of Cana lay about three hours distant in a north-easterly direction from Nazareth, which, up to this time, had been the home of our Lord. Probably this marriage was at the house of a relative, where the mother of Jesus was sufficiently at home to give directions to the servants, and to feel some responsibility for the entertainment. The expectations which she had so long hidden in her heart were now ready to burst into fruition. Possibly Jesus had given her some intimation that he would open his ministry by miracle; or she had divined in him the latent power of God. But the revelation of his divinity must proceed from himself in his own time and way, and could not be hurried to meet the desire of his mother for the honor of her son, or her concern for the reputation of the host. His answer was a reproof to her eagerness for his action upon such grounds: in the depths of his consciousness, he would await an intimation from his Father. God alone must here direct him, and even his mother may not interfere. The term "woman," however, was not one

of disrespect. Jesus thus addressed his mother from the cross, when with the tenderest love he commended her to John.

This miracle was most striking in its nature and its proofs. The servants of the family filled to the brim with water the great water jars that stood in the dining-hall. Jesus did not touch them. Then the servants drew from these same vessels; and, lo! the water had become wine, which was pronounced excellent by persons at the table, who knew nothing of what had passed. "In order for wine to be produced, we have the growth and ripening of the grape, the crushing of it in proper vessels, the fermentation; but here all these are in a moment brought about in their results by the same Power which made the laws of Nature."

There could be no physical connection between the word spoken by Jesus and the change produced in the nature of the water; no cause and effect within the range of material laws. It was the direct power of his will acting upon a physical substance, — the power of spirit over matter.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 115, 192.

O eternal, everlasting God, fountain of all happiness, God of all grace! we acknowledge with grateful hearts thine undeserved mercies. Thou hast made our cup to overflow with blessings. From the first moment of our being, thou hast been our Guardian; thou hast visited our home with daily benefits; thou hast given us the comforts of thy providence and grace; thou hast shielded us from unknown dangers; thou hast warded off unseen calamities: no earthly friend could have loved us and cared for us like thee.

O blessed Saviour, who hast sanctified the home of love with thy presence and benediction! may thy presence ever abide with us, thy benediction ever rest upon us! May we know the happiness of true holiness, and experience the joy of angels, in doing thy holy will on earth as they do it in heaven! Fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

O Thou who art the Lord of all! help us to discern thy hand in the supply of our daily wants, and to remember that the power which created all things at the first, the power which hath wrought

mighty wonders in times past, is the same which provides for us through the regular and silent course of nature, and by the ministry of human love.

Bless our family and friends. May ours be a household where the God of salvation dwells! May every member of it be zealous in the promotion of thy glory!

This day, and every day, may we do something for thee. Let us die daily to sin, and live daily to God, that, when the hour of our earthly departure arrives, it may be to all of us the birthday of a new life in glory everlasting.

We pray for all the families of the earth, that they may be blessed in thee. We pray for the homeless and the desolate; and beseech thee to be the God of the widow, and the Father of the fatherless.

We ask all these manifold blessings, for ourselves and for others, in the name and for the sake of our adorable Lord and Saviour, who is now within the veil; where with thee, O eternal Father! and thee, O ever-blessed Comforter! three in one, he ever liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.