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 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.” 18
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....
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. 19
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.” 20
As men set forth the best wine first, then afterward that which is worse, so does the world with its
gifts.... 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....
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 for the sins of the world....
At the first feast He attended with His disciples, Jesus gave them the cup that symbolized His work
for their salvation. At the last supper He gave it again, in the institution of that sacred rite by which His
death was to be shown forth “till He come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26. 21
18The Desire of Ages, 145, 146.
19The Desire of Ages, 147.
20The Desire of Ages, 148.
21The Desire of Ages, 148, 149.
11
Chapter 4 —You Can Come Home Any Time
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give
me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days
after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his
substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and
he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and
no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s
have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say
unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called
thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was
yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed
him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on
him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and
let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Luke
15:11-24.
“A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion
of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger
son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country.” This younger son had become weary
of the restraint of his father’s house. 22
Having obtained his patrimony, he goes into “a far country,” away from his father’s home. With
money in plenty, and liberty to do as he likes, he flatters himself that the desire of his heart is reached.
There is no one to say, Do not do this, for it will be an injury to yourself; or, Do this, because it is right.
Evil companions help him to plunge ever deeper into sin, and he wastes his “substance with riotous
living.” ...
The precious years of life, the strength of intellect, the bright visions of youth, the spiritual
aspirations—all are consumed in the fires of lust.
A great famine arises, he begins to be in want, and he joins himself to a citizen of the country,
who sends him into the field to feed swine. To a Jew this was the most menial and degrading of
employments. The youth who has boasted of his liberty, now finds himself a slave. He is in the worst
of bondage—“holden with the cords of his sins.” (Proverbs 5:22.) The glitter and tinsel that enticed
him have disappeared, and he feels the burden of his chain. Sitting upon the ground in that desolate
and famine-stricken land, with no companions but the swine, he is fain to fill himself with the husks on
which the beasts are fed. 23
The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in
operation influences to bring him back to the Father’s house. The prodigal son in his wretchedness
“came to himself.” The deceptive power that Satan had exercised over him was broken. He saw that
his suffering was the result of his own folly, and he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have
bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father.” Miserable as he
was, the prodigal found hope in the conviction of his father’s love. It was that love which was drawing
him toward home....
The son determines to confess his guilt. He will go to his father, saying, “I have sinned against
heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” But he adds, showing how
stinted is his conception of his father’s love, “Make me as one of thy hired
22Christ’s Object Lessons, 198.
23Christ’s Object Lessons, 199, 200.
12
servants.”
The young man turns from the swine herds and the husks, and sets his face toward home. Trembling
with weakness and faint from hunger, he presses eagerly on his way. He has no covering to conceal his
rags; but his misery has conquered pride, and he hurries on to beg a servant’s place where he was once
a child. 24
Little did the gay, thoughtless youth, as he went out from his father’s gate, dream of the ache and
longing left in that father’s heart. When he danced and feasted with his wild companions, little did he
think of the shadow that had fallen on his home. And now as with weary and painful steps he pursues
the homeward way, he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet “a great way
off” the father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can
conceal the son from the father’s eyes. He “had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck” in a long,
clinging, tender embrace.
The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock at his son’s misery and tatters. He takes from
his own shoulders the broad, rich mantle, and wraps it around the son’s wasted form, and the youth
sobs out his repentance, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son.” 25
The father said to his servants, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his
hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry; for
this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe. How different his
conception of him now! So those who are deceived by Satan look upon God as hard and exacting.
They regard Him as watching to denounce and condemn, as unwilling to receive the sinner so long as
there is a legal excuse for not helping him. His law they regard as a restriction upon men’s happiness, a
burdensome yoke from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love
of Christ will behold God as full of compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being,
but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son. 26
Do not listen to the enemy’s suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better;
until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come....
He will bring you into His banqueting house, and His banner over you shall be love. (Song of
Solomon 2:4) “If thou wilt walk in My ways,” He declares, “I will give thee places to walk among these
that stand by”even among the holy angels that surround His throne. (Zechariah 3:7).
“As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:5. “He
will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17. And heaven and earth shall unite in the Father’s song of rejoicing: “For this My son
was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” 27
24Christ’s Object Lessons, 202, 203.
25Christ’s Object Lessons, 203, 204.
26Christ’s Object Lessons, 204.
27Christ’s Object Lessons, 205-207
13
Chapter 5 —When Doing Everything Right Isn’t
Enough
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is,
God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said,
Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young
man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him,
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:
for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:16-22.
The young man who asked this question was a ruler. He had great possessions, and occupied a
position of responsibility. He saw the love that Christ manifested toward the children brought to Him;
he saw how tenderly He received them, and took them up in His arms, and his heart kindled with love
for the Saviour. He felt a desire to be His disciple. He was so deeply moved that as Christ was going on
His way, he ran after Him, and kneeling at His feet, asked with sincerity and earnestness the question
so important to his soul and to the soul of every human being, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life?”
“Why callest thou Me good?” said Christ, “there is none good but One, that is, God.” Jesus desired
to test the ruler’s sincerity, and to draw from him the way in which he regarded Him as good. Did he
realize that the One to whom he was speaking was the Son of God? What was the true sentiment of his
heart?
This ruler had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not really suppose that he was
defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. He felt the want of something that he did not
possess. Could not Jesus bless him as He blessed the little children, and satisfy his soul want?
In reply to this question Jesus told him that obedience to the commandments of God was necessary
if he would obtain eternal life; and He quoted several of the commandments which show man’s duty to
his fellow men. The ruler’s answer was positive: “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what
lack I yet?”
Christ looked into the face of the young man, as if reading his life and searching his character. He
loved him, and He hungered to give him that peace and grace and joy which would materially change
his character. “One thing thou lackest,” He said; “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 28
Jesus saw in this ruler just the help He needed if the young man would become a colaborer with
Him in the work of salvation. If he would place himself under Christ’s guidance, he would be a power
for good. In a marked degree the ruler could have represented Christ; for he possessed qualifications,
which, if he were united with the Saviour, would enable him to become a divine force among men.
Christ, seeing into his character, loved him. Love for Christ was awakening in the ruler’s heart; for love
begets love. Jesus longed to see him a co-worker with Him. He longed to make him like Himself, a
mirror in which the likeness of God would be