yes 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,
[146] and 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
At the Marriage Feast 113
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.” Exodus 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 [147]
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.
114 The Desire of Ages
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
[148] great temptations to unbelief. To them the prophecies had made it 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
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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. T