The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 234

VII. TnERE IB NOTHING mcoNBIBTENT WITH TIIE CHARACTER OF CmnBT IN HIB m:rr,1r.NJSIIINO TIIE SUPPLY 011' WINE. Those who maintain that the wine crefLted by mirnolo was unformented, an<l, therefore, unintoxicating, onght to know: 1. That there is no such thing as unfermemted wine. 2. That it is no more inconsistent with Ghrist'8 character to create wine than to create the grape; yet the grape wr.a created with a full knowledge of its properties. 3. That while there is WJthing m Scripture tr> jusl-ify the statement that it is a sin w drink wine, the argument from expediency asserted by tho Apostle Paul (1 Cor. viii. 13) ought to have a conclasive weight with Christian people in the way of justifying a total abstinence from strong drink. VIII. THE: OBJECT OF THE MIRACLE AT CANA. "It manifested forth his glory." It proved that, because" the Father lovcth the Son," he hath "given :ill things into his hand" (eh. iii. 35). The apostles manifested the glory:of Jehovah in their miracles; Jesus manifested bis own. IX. TnE RESULT OF THIS MIRACLE, "And his disciples believed on him." They believed as they had never done before; their faith was strengthenml; they s:iw fr~sh evidence of his Divine nature and Divine power; and, no doubt, had "joy and peace in believing," Ver, 12.-The transition between private and public life. Befure our Lord entered on his public life at Jerusalem, he goes back, as it were, for a moment into the retirement of his family. I. THE SCENE OF oun LORD'S VISIT. "After this he went down to Capernaum." 1. It was the Jewish capital of Galilee, down upon the Sea of Tiberias, an important place of commerce. 2.'It became, after Nazareth, the home of Jesus. (Matt. iv. 13.) It is called "his own city" (Matt. ix. 1). On the occasion of the present visit he had come directly from Nazareth, after the Cana miracle. 3. It was a city ho'll,()Ured by the work- ing of many miracles; yet, notwithstanding, distinguished by a most perverse anbelief. "Thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be cast down to hell" (Matt. xi. 23). 4. It is now a ruin, identified as Tell-Hum. II .. 'l'HE OCCASION AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS VISIT. It has a double aspect so far as it relates to Christ's relatives and to his disciples. "His mother and brethren arc still with him, attached merely by nature; his disciples newly attached by faith." 1. Ghrist recognized the tender ties of kinship. He allowed bis mother and bis brothers -though they did not yet believe in him-to enjoy the satisfaction of his society for a time before his entrance upon his public ministry. (1) The ties of nature are not superseded by the ties of grace. (2) The ties of nature may themselves be strengthened by the ties of grace. These brethren of Christ, though now in unbelief, are afterwards found as disciples of Christ (Acts i. 14). We ought to love all our relatives in Christ. 2. Christ definitely called the disciples to the apostleship during this visit. This is evident from Matt. x. 1. The call was followed by the miraculous draught of fishes, The disciples were henceforth to follow Christ for ever, Vera. 13-22.-0hrist in the temple. He went up straightway to the Passover at Jerusalem, for lie honoured every ordinance of the old dispensation so long as it lasted. I. THE AC'l' OF OUR LORD m THE TEMPLE. His ministry must open in the temple, which was the sanctuary of Judaism, and it must open with an act of holiness rather than a display of power. 1. His attitude was the subject of prophecy. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple . . . he shall purify the sons of Levi" (Mai. iii.. 1-3). 2. It was quite in keeping lilcewise with the character of him of whom the Baptist said, " Whose fan is in his hand" (Matt. iii. 12). Christ was about to vindi- cate the sanctity of his Father's house by cleansing out the rabble of money-changers and dealers. II. THE TIME OF THIS ACT--THE p ASBOVER. As one of the great feasts of the Jews, it attracted to Jerusalem the entire people of the country, in their ecclesiasticaI relationships. His l1our was now come. III. 'l'HE ACT ITSELF, As to sellers of oxen and sheep and doves, and money- cho.ngers, "he drove them nil out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables." 1. It was an act of attpi-eme courage. Tho dominant hiernrchy, corrnpt nnu faithless ns it was, Wl!.s sup-  96 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [or1. n. 1-26.