THE FIRST MIRACLE.
Jesus and the five who had become His constant friends and disciples,
turned their faces toward home, for they were all from Galilee. It was
Spring, and the land was beautiful with the fresh green of the trees
and the breaking forth of wild flowers among the grass. On the Journey
the disciples scarcely saw the beauty around them, or felt weary from
the journey, for they were hearing the gracious words of their new
Friend concerning the coming in of the kingdom.
There was to be a marriage feast near Nazareth in the home of a friend.
Mary and her family were invited, and also the friends who had come
with Jesus. It was at Cana, a village between Nazareth and the lake,
and they walked over the hills early to see the bride, crowned with
flowers and a white veil, married to the man to whom she had given
herself. Then followed a feast at the house of the father of the
bridegroom. There were joyful greetings, and garlands of flowers, and
wine--for Palestine was the land of vineyards, and they knew how to
prepare a harmless wine. Before the feast was over they found that the
wine had given out, and those who served the feast were distressed. It
was thought a disgrace to fail in hospitality at a wedding feast, and
so Mary came to Jesus for advice, saying,
"They have no wine."
[Illustration: The marriage at Cana]
"Woman," He said--and among the Jews this was a respectful manner of
speaking to a woman--"what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not
yet come."
He meant that He must act from the Divine Nature, and not from the
human nature that He had received from His mother.
"Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it," said Mary to the servants.
He told them to fill with water the six large water-pots of stone that
stood near, and they filled them to the brim.
"Draw out now, and bear to the governor of the feast," He said, and it
was served at the table, and the master of the feast called to the
bridegroom,
"Thou hast saved the good wine until now."
This was the beginning of miracles.
These were happy days for Mary, for she had her Son back again. From
the wedding Jesus and His mother, and His brothers, and His disciples
went down to Capernaum by the lake for a few days.
Here Peter lived by the blue, beautiful lake that is walled by high
hills on one side, while on the other lies what once was the "garden of
Gennesaret" watered by streams, and rich with fruits, and grains, and
flowers.