| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 7 |
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We do not begin to be aware of the divine glory that is about us all these common days. We say there are no miracles now. In the life of Christ there were countless simple and beautiful deeds wrought continually. During that marriage feast Jesus probably was the life of the company. He was unselfish. If there was a bashful person among the guests, Jesus was especially kind to him. If there was one whom all the others neglected, Jesus sought them out and spoke words of cheer and comfort to them. There is not doubt that his presence was a benediction to all the guests at the wedding. But nobody thought of these common kindnesses as miracles. Then next hour he changed water into wine, and instantly all were amazed, and saw in this evidence that he was divine.
What is glory? It means power, splendour, greatness, honour. What was the glory that this particular miracle manifested? For one thing it showed Christ’s power over nature. There were several of these nature miracles. With a few loaves he fed a multitude of hungry men. Here he provides wine for the company of wedding guests. He showed his power over the elements by quieting the storm and stilling the waves of the sea with a word. He was perfectly at home in all the fields of nature. There ought to be great comfort for us in these truths. Our Master is master of all things. This is his world.
But the miracle meant more than this. Why was this miracle wrought? Not to make a display of the power of Christ. Not merely to show his disciples that he was divine. Every miracle he wrought was wrought as an act of mercy or love. This beginning of signs was simply a beautiful deed of common kindness. Some one calls this the housekeeper’s miracle. It was a most embarrassing situation. In the midst of the feast the wine failed. There were more guests than were expected, and there was not enough wine to serve them all. The host would have been disgraced if there had been no way of adding to the too meagre supply. Jesus, by manifesting his power, relieved the awkwardness of the occasion. He wrought the miracle, primarily for the sake of the host, to save him from mortification.
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