congruous and consistent, and are all embraced in the promise. Christ opened the communication between earth and heaven; manifested that fact by the angelic appearances which accompanied his coming, his presence, and his departure; still manifests it, by the spiritual blessings which he constantly confers in answer to the prayers of his people; and will finally manifest it yet more gloriously when he comes to take possession of his established kingdom, with his holy angels with him. The past and present fulfillments of this prophecy are but fragmentary and imperfect. The final and perfect fulfillment awaits us in the future. [Illustration: AN ORIENTAL WEDDING. “_And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee_”] CHAPTER II. Ch. 2:1-11. THE MARRIAGE AT CANA IN GALILEE. CHRISTIANITY NOT ASCETICISM. This miracle is recounted only by the Evangelist John. That fact does not discredit the account: it incidentally confirms the view that he wrote to supply what was lacking in the other Gospels. [Illustration: CANA OF GALILEE.] 1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana[66] of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. [66] ch. 4:46; Joshua 19:28. 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.[67] [67] Heb. 13:4. =1, 2. The third day.= That is, probably, after the interview with Nathanael described at the close of the preceding chapter. Lightfoot says that, according to Jewish custom, the weddings of virgins took place on the fourth day of the week, our Wednesday, and of widows on the fifth day, our Thursday.--=There was a marriage.= For description of wedding ceremonies among the Jews, with illustration of wedding procession, see Matt. 25:1-13, Prel. Note.--=In Cana of Galilee.= The traditional site is Kefr Kenna, four and one-half miles northwest of Nazareth. The more probable site is about nine miles north of Nazareth and six or eight hours from Capernaum. See Map, Vol. I, p. 50. Robinson describes it as a fine situation, and once a considerable village of well-built houses. They are now uninhabited and the whole region is wild and desolate.--=And the mother of Jesus was there.= Her name is never mentioned by John. The fact that Joseph is not mentioned in either of the Gospels, after Christ’s manhood, has led to the universal opinion that he was dead. The presence of Mary, and her apparent authority (ver. 5), indicates that the bride or bridegroom were connections or relatives. Different traditions represent respectively Alphæus, one of his sons, John the Apostle, and Simon the Canaanite as the bridegroom, but they are all equally untrustworthy. The Mormons maintain that this was the marriage of Jesus himself.The student will observe that it is said of Mary that she _was there_, of Jesus that he _was called_, an indication that he came at a later period, and probably after the marriage feast, which usually lasted