Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIVMaclaren, Alexander
Religion
Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIV
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. John -- Commentaries
It is very noteworthy that the miraculous fact is veiled entirely in
the narrative. Not a word is said of the method of operation, it is not
even said that the miracle was wrought; we are only told what preceded
it, and what followed it. Itself is shrouded in deep silence. The
servants fill the water-pots.—'Draw out now,' and they draw, 'and bear
it to the governor of the feast.' Where the miraculous act comes in we
do not know; what was its nature we cannot tell. How far it extended is
left obscure. Was all the large quantity of water in these six great
vessels of stone transformed into wine, or was the change effected in
the moment when the portion that was wanted was drawn from them and on
that portion only? We cannot answer the question. Probably, I think,
the latter; but at all events a veil is dropped over the fact.
Only this, we see that in this miracle, even more conspicuously than in
any other of our Lord's, there are no means at all employed. Sometimes
He used material vehicles, anointing a man's eyes with clay, or
moistening the ear with the spittle; sometimes sending a man to bathe
in the Pool of Siloam; sometimes laying His hand on the sick; sometimes
healing from a distance by the mere utterance of His word. But here
there is not even a word; no means of any kind employed, but the silent
forth-putting of His will, which, without token, without visible
audible indication of any sort, passes with sovereign power into the
midst of material things and there works according to His own purpose.
Is not this the signature of divinity, that without means the mere
forth-putting of the will is all that is wanted to mould matter as
plastic to His command? It is not even, 'He spake and it was done,' but
silently He willed, and 'the conscious water knew its Lord, and
blushed.' This is the glory of the Incarnate Word.
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