Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.
John 2:1-11
- We learn how honorable in the sight of Christ is marriage.
- We learn that there are times when it is lawful to celebrate and rejoice.
- We learn the almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Society is never in a healthy condition and true Christianity never flourishes in that land where the marriage tie is lightly esteemed. They who lightly esteem it have not the mind of Christ."
"On no point of Christian practice is it so hard to get the balance between that which is lawful and that which is unlawful, between that which is right and that which is wrong."
"It is a comforting thought that the same almighty power of will which our Lord here displayed is still exercised on behalf of His believing people. They have no need of His bodily presence to maintain their cause. They have no reason to be cast down because they cannot see Him with their eyes interceding for them, or touch Him with their hands that they may cling to Him for safety. If He wills their salvation and the daily supply of all their spiritual need, they are as safe and well provided for as if they saw Him standing by them."
Questions:
1. Jesus’ presence at the wedding in Cana, even as one of the first acts in His public ministry, speaks to the importance of marriage. If you are married, did you enter marriage, as Ryle says, “reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God?” Have you seen the gracious effects of that, or do you look back wishing you had done so. If you are not married, and are considering marriage, how does the exhortation to not enter “unadvisedly, lightly, wantonly, … and without due consideration” hit your ears? Do we have a high view of marriage?
2. Ryle takes up a difficult topic in any age: the wisdom of knowing what is lawful and unlawful. He warns that there are places in society in which Christians should not go, and yet the example of Jesus commends to us participating in joyful places such as this wedding. He warns that “high spirits soon degenerate into levity, so that serious things are treated without due respect. Acceptance of many invitations to feasts soon leads to waste of time and makes for leanness of soul. Frequent eating and drinking at other people’s tables soon lowers a Christian’s tone of faith.” Have we found this to be true in our own lives? Do we, as a rule, go to such things that our Master would go to, and in the spirit of our Master? We must also ask ourselves, does such an exhortation provoke us to anger? If so, why?
3. Ryle notes that this miracle is done without any words, or prayer, or anything except the will of Jesus, who is Mighty God. We often want to see evidence of God’s work if we would believe, but does this not comfort us to trust Him who works many things on behalf of those who believe? May we look to the fact that Jesus will those who are in Him to be with Him forever, and that it will take place at His marriage supper!
