Woman, diseased with issue of blood, healed] Capernaum Two blind men restored to sight Dumb spirit cast out Five thousand fed ........ Jesus walks on the sea................. Many healed .......... Woman of Canaan's daughter restored Capernaum Capernaum Decapolis xiv. 13-21 vi. 31-44 ix. 10-17 vi. 5-14 Sea of Galilee .... xiv. 22-31 vi. 45-51 Woman, of eighteen years' infirmity, cured..Galilee Dropsical man healed. Ten lepers cleansed........... .... Borders of Samaria vi. 54-56 xv. 21-28 vii. 24-30 xvii.24-27 vi. 15-21 RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. xxvi. 51-54 xiv. 46-50 xxii. 47-51 xviii. 1-10 Bethany ........ Two blind beggars restored to sight. ... Jericho ........ XX. 29-34 Jerusalem ...... xxi. 12, 13 Jerusalem xxi. 14 xxvii.51-53 xv. 38 xxiii. 44, 45 xxi. 1-14 133 Water turned into wine at Cana of Galilee-Eastern weddings -The mother of Jesus-Well of Cana-Governor of the feast-The miracle-Its reality-Cheerful benevolence of the Saviour's character-True religion is cheerful-Profanation of the temple-Buyers and sellers cast out-Many miraclesA nobleman's son cured-All are liable to affliction-Sickness overruled for good. WATER TURNED INTO WINE AT CANA. OUR Lord, when he entered on his public ministry, collected a few disciples around him. Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael, were those who first became his followers. only three days, when Jesus, with his disciples, was invited to a wedding feast in the village of Cana. They had been with him This humble village is in that division of the Holy Land which was the portion of the sons of Zebulun. It was called Cana of Galilee, to distinguish it from another Cana, which belonged to the tribe of Asher, Josh. xix. 28. It is built on the side of a hill, overlooking a pleasant valley, and now contains only a few houses. Near the entrance of the village, by the roadside, is a flowing spring, which yields to the native and the traveller a bountiful supply of pure water: it gushes over the sides of a broken wall which encloses it, and forms a little streamlet to make fruitful the valley beneath. A few trees shelter the "well of Cana, as is common in eastern lands, that the weary traveller may recline under their shade while he partakes of the water of the well. Our Saviour did not refuse the friendly invitation; his disciples were not to suppose that to be a follower of him would make them unhappy, and deprive them of the pleasant intercourse of life. On all occasions we find he joined in the customs of the country that were not sinful. Among others, who were invited, was 'the mother of Jesus:" she is mentioned not by the name of Mary; but, according to the domestic custom of the east, her own name is dropped, and she is called by the name of her first-born son. 66 An eastern wedding is always public, and is an occasion of great joy: many are invited; not only the friends and neighbours, but sometimes even the travellers who may be lodging in the neighbourhood. The more numerous the company, the greater honour is thought to be conferred on the parties. If the young couple are rich, they spend large sums of money in honour of their marriage; if poor, they will exert themselves to the utmost to provide supplies for the occasion. The wealthy prepare costly dresses, which the bridegroom sends as a present to the bride; and they change their robes several times in the day, in compliment to each other, the last robe being always more beautiful than the preceding. The psalmist refers to the splendour of these dresses, when he compares the sun to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, sparkling and shining with jewels and gold, Psa. xix. 5. The wedding at Cana, however, we may suppose was not of this splendid kind: the parties were in more humble life. Yet even people in a middling condition invited a large number of guests. During the cheerful festivities of the occasion, it was discovered that the wine was nearly exhausted. There may have been more friends present than were expected, and as the feast commonly continued for seven days, it was not an unlikely circumstance that the provisions should fail: especially as the presence of Jesus may have drawn many to the house. Mary appears to have taken an active part in the feast; and to prevent the deficiency being exposed to the company, and even before the governor of the feast was aware of it, it was made known to her. She addressed her son with confidence; for though this was the first of his public miracles, she may have seen such displays of his power in private life, as convinced her he could do what he pleased; and |