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Hearing this, Nathanael asked, "Whence knowest thou me?" Jesus said, "Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." Probably he had gone into some quiet, retired place, and under the shade of a fig-tree had knelt in prayer, thinking himself alone. But Christ, with omniscient eye, had seen him; and Nathanael, convinced that he was the Messiah, exclaimed, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God! thou art the King of Israel!"

About this time there was a marriage-feast given at Cana, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there. Cana was a few miles north of Nazareth, and the persons who made the feast were perhaps related to Mary. Invitations were also sent to Jesus and his disciples, and they went up to attend it. At this time only Philip and Nathanael appear to have been disciples; and, as the latter was a resident of Cana, he may have been a friend to the bridegroom. The betrothal, among the Jews, took place several months previous to marriage, and was considered as serious and binding as the latter. At the time of marriage no peculiar ceremony was prescribed by the law of Moses; but it was usual to crown the married pair with chaplets or garlands, either of flowers or of gold and silver. This was done by one of the parents. After that, the union was ratified, and witnessed by the fathers and brothers of the parties.

The bridegroom and his friends then formed a procession, and escorted the bride to her new home, where a feast was prepared. At the close of this entertainment, the nuptial blessing was pronounced by the father of the bride. If the parties were wealthy, these festivities sometimes lasted several days. When the feast occurred in the evening, the friends of the bridegroom carried lamps and torches, and

went out to meet him as he left the bride's house, and conducting him to his own, entered with him to the supper. It was by such an occasion that our Lord represented the foolish virgins as too late with their lamps, and too late to enter with the other guests; for, when the company had assembled, the doors were closed, and no one could gain admittance.

While Jesus and his friends were reclining at the table, where the feast was spread, the wine became exhausted before the guests were satisfied.

Mary, knowing the power of her son to create more, and anxious he should display that power here, said to him, "They have no wine." He replied, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come!"

He wished, perhaps, to delay the miracle until the absence of the wine was made known to all present, and to assure his mother that such an act could be done for no mere earthly gratification.

Calling the servants to him, he directed them to fill with water six large stone jars that stood there. These urns were used for the ceremonial purification of vessels and furniture. They could hold several gallons, and the servants filled them to the brim.

When this was done, Jesus bade them draw from them and carry the wine to the master of the feast,- a person appointed to superintend the arrangements on such occasions, in order to relieve the bridegroom from all care. As soon as he had tasted the wine, he called the bridegroom, and expressed his surprise that, contrary to custom, he had reserved the best wine until the last.

They neither of them understood whence it came; but the servants knew, and it was soon made known to the whole

company. Then they saw the glory of God, and his disciples were convinced that he was the Christ.

This was the first miracle of Jesus, the beginning of many gracious and wonderful acts of goodness and mercy to the children of men.

After this, many went with him and his disciples to Capernaum, a village on the western shore of Lake Genessaret, or, as it was generally called, the Sea of Tiberias.

This place became from that time his principal residence, and the scene of many of his miracles. In view of this fact, our Lord reminded the people that their responsibility had been fearfully increased, and their rejection of him would deserve at last a dreadful condemnation.

Here they did not remain many days, but prepared to attend the Passover, at Jerusalem, the first celebration of that feast since Jesus had become a public teacher.

More than six months had passed since his baptism at Bethabara. The winter and cold season were gone, and spring had returned with its festive scenes, inviting their presence at the holy city.

CHAPTER IV.

Scenes at Jerusalem. - Description of the Temple. — Visit of Nicodemus. Jesus remains in Judea. His disciples baptize. John's disciples complain to their master. — The woman of Samaria. — Visits Cana, and heals the nobleman's son. - Returns to Nazareth, and is expelled.

UPON his arrival at Jerusalem, Jesus went up to the Temple to worship; and, as he entered the court of the Gentiles, he was saddened by the scene he encountered there.

A crowd of people, apparently forgetful of the reverence due to the sacredness of the place, with loud voices and eager strife, were engaged in buying and selling sheep, oxen and doves.

These animals had been brought from a distance, to sell to those who came to offer sacrifices; but it is probable that the occasion was improved for the sale of other merchandise, and for extortionate bargains.

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For a while the stranger stood unnoticed, witnessing with pain and displeasure what was passing around him. length, unwilling longer to gaze in silence at the profanation of his Father's house, he seized a scourge of small cords that one of the traders had left upon the pavement, and drove the cattle from the court.

There was something so majestic and awe-inspiring in his manner, that no one offered any resistance; on the contrary, some of the bystanders gladly lent their aid, as they

regarded the Temple a holy place, and were grieved to sec it used for purposes so unworthy.

When this was done, Jesus turned to those who sold doves, and said, "Take these things hence; make not my

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tables of the money-changers, he overthrew them, and poured their contents upon the ground.

It was not in anger, but in just and righteous indignation, that our Lord in this way rebuked the desecration of what had long been held most sacred by every devout Hebrew in the land, the glorious and beautiful Temple, consecrated to the worship of Jehovah.

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The Jewish law required the payment of a half-shekel as a yearly tribute to the Temple service, and for this purpose no other than the national coin could be received. On and after the fifteenth of the month Adar, answering to March, the money-changers placed their tables in the court of the Gentiles, for the purpose of exchanging Greek and Roman coins for their own currency. For this exchange a

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