THE KING’S BUSINESS
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enters into no argument, but says, “ Come and see,” he came, and lie saw. When you say to the average skeptic, “ Come and let me make you acquainted with Jesus,” they won’t go. Why? Nathaniel’s skepticism ended in hearty faith. All honest skepti cism ends that wayv But we see in the case o f Nathaniel how a man may be thoroughly honest and yet skeptical; for the Lord Himself pronounced Nathaniel to be a genuine Israelite in whom is no deceit. From utter doubt Nathaniel steps into tri umphant faith. He says, “ Rabbi, Thou art the Son o f Gód, Thou art King of Israel.” What had Nathaniel been doing under the fig tree? Doubtless he had been praying for light. Jesus had seen him there. Ah, He sees what is going on every where, and in the secret place o f prayer He sees ps. Tuesday, April n . John 271 - 3 . A marriage in Jesus’ day and land was an occasion o f great festivity. It throws much light on the character o f our Lord that He was bidden to such occasionss and went and ministered to the festivities of the hour, He was no ascetic or recluse. He evidently looked with approval on mirth and gladness in proper places. Indeed, His enemies tried to make capital out o f this sociability and called Him “a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber” (Matt. 11:19). He was not that, but He was of a social and genial disposition. It is no mark of pre-eminent piety to frown upon all light heartedness and festivity. Thè presence of Jesus did not at all detract from the over flowing joyfulness o f the occasion, indeed, it was His presence that saved the occasion from any mortification and disappointment. I f we would invite Jesus to all our .social gatherings He would be glad to come, and He would bring with Him a deeper joy than we could possibly know in any other way. Jesus went to that marriage because He was invited. He is absent from many o f ours because He is not invited ( Jas. 4:2 ). Any one who is getting up a party of any kind should be sure to send an invita
tion tou Jesus. I f you think it would be out o f place to invite Him to such a party you would better not have it. Jesus went also because He knew He would be needed. He delights to go where He is, needed. It is well to note in what spirit our Lord attended the marriage: He went to be o f use and as a witness to the trtith (cf. 1 C or 10:31; Col. 3:17). The need o f the presence o f Jesus was felt “when the wine failed.” In «11 earthly experiences the wine fails sooner or later, and it is then we feel our need o f Him. What He had done up to that time we are not told, but now He steps forward as the needed One. It was good for them that the wine failed, though for the moment they looked upon it as a calamity. But they soon found it was no calamity, but good fortune, for they got better in its place. So it is a good thing for us when the earthly wine fails, for then we feel our need of, and seek, and get the wine o f the Kingdom. Wednesday, April 12 . John 2 : 4 , 5 *- It was Jesus’ mother who thought o f going to Jesus in the emergency that had arisen. She knew Him better than any one else, and it is those who know Him best who are quickest to go to.Him. Mary had never seen Him perform a miracle (v. 11), but she knew that He could help out o f any difficulty, and even if performing a miracle were necessary He could do It. Any way, how could she- possibly go to anyone else when He was at hand. Mary was a woman o f great faith. All that Mary did was simply to make her need knpwn. All she said was, “ They have no wine.” She did not ask that He supply wine, simply stated the need o f it. She took it for granted that if Jesus knew anyone was in trouble He would help them out—indeed she knew Him well. But would those who know us best be so sure if anyone was in trouble all they would have to do would be to tell us o f the need? Mary seemed to get but little present satisfaction in reply to her words, indeed at first it looked as if she received a rebuff. But our Lord
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