Chapter 7—The Marriage at Cana
After this, Jesus returned to Jordan, as has been previously stated,
and was declared by John to be the “Lamb of God that taketh away the
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sin of the world.” At this time, also, he chose John, Andrew, Simon,
Philip, and Nathanael, for his disciples, all of which has been recounted
in connection with the history of John the Baptist. Jesus now entered
upon the great work of his life.
There was to be a marriage in Cana of Galilee. The parties were
relatives of Joseph and Mary. Christ knew of this family gathering,
and that many influential persons would be brought together there,
so, in company with his newly-made disciples, he made his way to
Cana. As soon as it was known that Jesus had come to the place, a
special invitation was sent to him and his friends. This was what he
had purposed, and so he graced the feast with his presence.
He had been separated from his mother for quite a length of time.
During this period he had been baptized by John and had endured the
temptations in the wilderness. Rumors had reached Mary concerning
her son and his sufferings. John, one of the new disciples, had searched
for Christ and had found him in his humiliation, emaciated, and bearing
the marks of great physical and mental distress. Jesus, unwilling that
John should witness his humiliation, had gently yet firmly dismissed
him from his presence. He wished to be alone; no human eye must
behold his agony, no human heart be called out in sympathy with his
distress.
The disciple had sought Mary in her home and related to her the
incidents of this meeting with Jesus, as well as the event of his baptism,
when the voice of God was heard in acknowledgment of his Son, and
the prophet John had pointed to Christ, saying, “Behold the Lamb
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of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” For thirty years this
woman had been treasuring up evidences that Jesus was the Son of
God, the promised Saviour of the world. Joseph was dead, and she had
no one in whom to confide the cherished thoughts of her heart. She
had fluctuated between hope and perplexing doubts, but always feeling
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