Points and Problems 1. “And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage" (v. 2). It is a wonderful thing, when young people are entering upon the sacred relationship of marriage, to invite Jesus and His .disciples to be present. At no other time are divine blessing and Christian fellowship needed more. It is interesting to note on the oc casion here discussed that those in charge of the wedding felt at liberty to extend an invitation to Jesus and His disciples. Doubtless they knew what all people ought to know, that Jesus recognizes the institution of marriage as “an honorable estate.” His benediction ought to be upon every marriage. If the world would only heed the safeguards He has erected for the welfare of this holy institution, there would be no such disgraceful record of divorce and broken homelife as that which pre vails in our land today. 2. “Woman, what have 1 to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come" (v. 4). Why did Jesus thus speak to His mother? A comparison with John 19:26 will make it clear that this was not the language of disrespect. How ever, it is quite evident that there was contained in the statement a gentle rebuke to Mary for presuming to enter the region from which all creatures were excluded. Christ was the Creator; she, though His earthly mother, was but a creature of His hand. In His Father’s business, He had dealjngs only with His Father. He was going about" the matter of manifesting His Heavenly glory, but He would do it in His own time and at Heaven’s bidding. Creatures of earth dared not interfere, no matter what their ties to Him, and their love for Him. Evidently Mary did not mis understand her Heaven-sent Son. 3. “Whatsover he saith unto you, do it" (v. 5). No finer definition of true, dedication of life is to be found than this. When there is a willingness al ways to heed God’s word, the prompt ings of His Spirit, the voice of provi dence, and the lesBons of trial, that is the true indication of full yielded- ness to the Lord. 4. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee" (v. 11). The word miracles as used in John’s Gospel means signs. There are eight such signs in this Gospel, each one given for a particular reason. The main purpose of the Gospel of John as a whole is to cause men to believe that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (20:31), so these signs are em ployed to this end. In the sign of this lesson, Christ is revealed as the Creator, in John 1:3 He was so desig nated. Now Jesus gives a graphic demonstration of the fact by creating wine from water. But after all “it
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THE YEAR Of THE TIGER b y John Bechtel.
This exciting story, written b y a m ission ary to China w h o know s C hinese life and portrays It vividly, is of the Tsui fam ily, an d w h at the ill-om ened Year of the Tiger, occurring every tw elfth year, m eant to them. 224 p a g es; cloth cover. $1.50
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EVANGELISM IN SERMON AND SONG
b y E. O. Sellers. Here is a n ew an d different book on evan gelism , written b y a w ell-know n evan gelistic singer w h o took part In som e of the greatest ev a n gelistic cam paigns of his generation. 96 p a g es; cloth cover. $1.25
THE BIBLE IN THE AGE OF SCIENCI b y O. E. Sanden. The author g iv es abundant ev i d en ce that a n intelligent understanding of scientific truth can but lea d to an increasingly vital know l ed g e of God. 141 p ages; cloth cover. $1.50 A ll OUT FOR GOD b y Walter R. A lexander. This is the gripping true story of a you n g pastor and his w ife—typical of t h o u s a n d s o f C h ristia n workers w h o are d eep ly loved b y the sm all group whom th ey serve. 160 p a g es; cloth cover. $1.50
ARCS OF SALVATION b y John J. Van Gorder.
This latest volum e in Dr. Van Gorder's "alphabet series" g iv es tw enty-six more expositions of choice texts. Centered around the them e of salvation , they deal typological] y w ith m any of the subjects used. 160 p a g es; cloth cover. $1.50 A ROOK OF PROTESTANT SAINTS b y Ernest Gordon. This collection of p en portraits, interest in g ly written, contains brief biographies of sain tly m en and w om en of m odem times, most of them unknown to Am erican Christians, w h o gain ed real victory in their liv es. 376 p a g es; cloth cover. $2.50
Moody Press
Dept. K 506
INSTITUTE PLACE • CHICAGO 10
33
DECEMBER, 1946
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