Page images
PDF
EPUB

66

tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants who drew the water knew,) he called to the bridegroom, and said to him, Every man sets forth his best wine first, and worse wine afterwards, when the guests have well drunk, but thou hast kept the best wine until now." This first miracle Jesus wrought in Cana of Galilee, thus manifesting his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

CHRIST'S CONVERSATION WITH THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

(John ii. 13, 23, iii.; Luke iii. 19, 20; Matt. iv. 12; Mark i. 14, John iv. 1-42.)

15;

SOON after the marriage-feast at Cana in Galilee, our Lord went up to Jerusalem, to attend the feast of the passover. There many believed on him, when they saw the miracles which he wrought; and Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who

came to him by night, said unto him,

66

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles which thou doest, unless God be with him."

After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judæa, and there he tarried with them, and baptized. But soon after this, John was cast into prison by Herod, the tetrarch or governor of that part of the country, who had been reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and of all the wickedness which he had committed. When, therefore, Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, he left Judæa, and went into Galilee.

In order that he might go into Galilee, it was necessary that he should pass through Samaria. Then came he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the plot of ground which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being

wearied with his journey, sat down on the side of the well: and it was about the sixth hour, that is, about twelve o'clock at noon.

. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water; Jesus saith unto her, “ Give me to drink," for his disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria?" (for the Jews have no friendly intercourse with the Samaritans). Jesus answered and said unto her, "If thou knewest the bounty of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, 'Give me to drink,' thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

The woman saith unto him, "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the

well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?"

Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life."

[This was as if Christ had said, "If we seek after the comforts and the pleasures of this world as the chief things to be desired, we shall find that they do not afford us any real and lasting satisfaction. We may enjoy them for a time, but we shall soon be tired of them. But the pleasures of religion are of a different nature: after tasting them, we thirst no more for earthly and sinful delights: they are a perpetual fountain of comfort and of happiness; and if we sincerely seek them, we shall enjoy them, both in this world, and in that which is to come.] The woman saith unto him,

"Sir,

give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw." Jesus saith unto her, "Go call thy husband, and come hither." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said unto her, "Thou hast well said 'I have no husband,' for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thine husband; in that saidst thou truly."

The woman saith unto him, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship what ye know not; we worship what we know, for salvation is of the Jews: but the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seek

« EelmineJätka »