With Illustrative Anecdotes and References.

January 15th.—Christ's First Miracle.

To read—St. John ii. 1-11. Golden Text—Ver. 2.

I. The Need (1-5). Third day after call of Nathanael. Cana, his home, near Nazareth, sixty miles from Bethabara (i. 28). A wedding party. Mary, mother of Jesus, evidently a family friend. Christ and His five new disciples among the guests. Supplies ran short, perhaps from poverty or from larger number of guests than expected. Painful position of bridegroom, giver of feast. Mary notices, tells Christ, receives answer, "What is that to Me and thee?" He is best judge of right time for help. She knows His loving heart, is sure He will do something; therefore bids servants obey Christ's orders.

II. The Supply (6-11). Waterpots ready, but empty. Been used for washing before meals (St. Mark vii. 3). Christ orders them to be filled—twenty gallons each. Governor of feast tastes first. Finds it excellent wine—such as usually put on table at beginning of feast—commends bridegroom for it. What was the result?

Satisfaction to Mary, who knew her Divine Son.

Faith strengthened in the new disciples of Christ.

Glory to Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.

III. Lessons. 1. About wine. God's gift (Ps. civ. 15), to be used sparingly—a little (1 Tim. v. 23).

2. About Christ. How was His glory manifested? By sympathy—sharing home-life—its joys and sorrows. Believing wants of His people.

3. About ourselves. The benefit of such a Friend (Ps. cxliv. 15). Difference between this world's blessings and those of Christ. This world's come first—health, riches, fame, etc. Christ's come last—glory, honour, immortality. Which are best? Then seek those things which are above (Col. iii. 1).

God's Bounty.

On a cold winter's day a poor woman stood at the window of a King's greenhouse looking at a cluster of grapes which she longed to have for her sick child. She went home to her spinning-wheel, earned half a crown, and offered it to the gardener for the grapes. He ordered her away. She returned home, took the blanket from her bed, sold it for five shillings, and offered this sum to the gardener. He repelled her with anger. The Princess, overhearing the conversation and seeing the woman's tears, said to her, "You have made a mistake, my good woman. My father is a king; he does not sell, but gives." So saying she plucked a bunch of the best grapes and placed them in the happy woman's hands.

January 22nd.—Christ and Nicodemus.

To read—St. John iii, 1-17. Golden Text—Ver. 16.

Christ now in Jerusalem. Probably in retirement because Jews hostile. Picture Him with His new disciples in house in a back street on a windy night (ver. 8). A knock at the door. A Rabbi, member of the Sanhedrim (vii. 50), enters cautiously; he seeks to know more of this new teaching.

I. Regeneration of Man (1-8). The inquiry. Nicodemus, a searcher after truth, comes to Christ the new Teacher, whom he acknowledges as sent from God, as testified by His miracles. What must he do?

The answer. He must have a new birth, i.e. be changed into a spiritual state—be concerned with inner things of God. This change only wrought by work of Holy Spirit on soul, of which washing by water, as in baptism, is outward sign. How does the Spirit work? Invisibly—seen in effects, as wind on water. Irresistibly, its power being divine—as at Pentecost 3,000 converted (Acts ii. 41). But man's will must co-operate.

II. Lifting up of Christ (9-15). Effects of new birth. The regenerate see the truth revealed desired long (St. Luke x. 24), and bear witness to others—as new converts after Stephen's death (Acts viii. 4).

Subject of the new teaching. Christ Himself, His Person, Son of Man—the Perfect Man. His dwelling-place, heaven; not by ascending there, but as being His own eternal home.

Christ's lifting up. On a cross—a sacrifice for sin, giving eternal life to those who believe, of which brazen serpent was a type (Num. xxi. 9).

III. Love of the Father (16, 17). How shown? He gave, sent, spared not His Son (Rom. viii. 32). Why shown? That man may not die, but live eternally.

Lesson. 1. The new birth. Am I changed?

2. Christ lifted up for me. Am I saved?

3. God's love. What am I giving in return?

A Great Change.

Queen Victoria once paid a visit to a paper-mill. Among other things she saw men picking out rags from the refuse of the city, and was told that these rags would make the finest white paper. After a few days her Majesty received a packet of the most delicate white paper, having the Queen's likeness for the water-mark, with the intimation that it was made from the dirty rags she had noticed. So our lives, renewed by God's Spirit, can be transformed and bear His likeness.

January 29th.—Christ at Jacob's Well.

To read—St. John iv. 5-15. Golden Text—Ver. 14.

Christ leaves Jerusalem, travels north with His disciples, passes through Samaria, reaches Sychar, near Shechem. Rests at Jacob's well while disciples buy food in neighbouring town.

I. The Story (5-9). Time. Noon by Hebrew reckoning, or 6 p.m. by Roman time.

Place. Jacob's well. Bought by him (Gen. xxxiii. 19), burial-place of Joseph (Josh. xxiv. 32).

Persons. Jesus and the woman. He wearied, but, ever ready to do His Father's work, opens conversation. Uses the water, thirst, spring, as illustrations of spiritual truths. He asks her for water. She is surprised, because of national hostility.

II. The Water of Life (10-15). Christ tells of His power to give living water. She thinks He means deep spring water, and asks how it is to be obtained. He then explains His meaning: water—commonest and simplest of all liquids—emblem of gifts and graces of Holy Spirit.

Its source. Gift of God alone. Offered freely to all (Isa. lv. 1).

Its necessity. If any have not God's Spirit, they are not His (Rom. viii. 9).

Its nature. Pure—from God's throne (Rev. xxii. 1). Refreshing—joy of salvation (Ps. li. 12). Healing (Rev. xxii. 2). Satisfying (Isa. lxi. 1). Unfailing—wells of salvation (Isa. xii. 3).

Its results. Everlasting life.

III. Lesson. Drink of this living water which Christ offers to-day.

Living Water.

The fountain of living waters is God Himself. It is not a mere cistern to hold a little water; it is a running, living stream, and a fountain that springs up perpetually. Now a fountain is produced by the pressure of water coming down from a height, and never rises higher than its source. Our spiritual life has its source in heaven. It came from God, and to God it will return.

February 5th.—The Nobleman's Son Healed.

To read—St. John iv. 43-54. Golden Text—Ver. 53.

Christ has passed through Samaria, returned to Cana. Now works first miracle of healing.

I. Faith Beginning (43-47). The father. A courtier of Herod Antipas, King of Galilee. In trouble because of son's sickness. Hears of Jesus and His wonderful doings—will see if He can help him. Leaves his home to go and meet Jesus. Urgently entreats Him to come from Cana down to Capernaum on the Lake of Galilee to visit and relieve his dying son.

II. Faith Increasing (48-50). Christ seems to hesitate—makes a difficulty. He wants strong faith. He sees father desires external signs, personal visit. Christ must have implicit faith. What does Christ do? Does not comply with the request nor refuse, but calmly tells him his son lives. The man believes, and returns home.

III. Faith Perfected (51-54). Met by his servants on way back. They had noted the change for the better in the boy, hastened to meet the father and tell the good news. What does he ask? The time exactly agreed. So the father knew that Christ was more than man—that He was Lord of life and death—the true Son of God. No more doubts.

Lessons. 1. Trouble leads to prayer and prayer to blessings.

2. Belief in Christ brings peace and happiness.

3. He is the same Lord to all them that believe.

Freemen of the Gospel.

An old man once said that it took him forty years to learn three simple things. The first was that he could not do anything to save himself; the second was that God did not expect him to; and the third was that Christ had done it all, and all he had to do was to believe and be saved.

February 12th.—Christ's Divine Authority.

To read—St. John v. 17—27. Golden Text—John iv. 42.

Christ has returned to Jerusalem to keep one of appointed feasts (ver. 1). There He healed a cripple at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, which caused the Jews to persecute Him for "breaking" or relaxing the Sabbath day. Christ answers them.

I. The Father's Work (17, 18). God is Creator of world and Father of all. The Sabbath not a time for inaction. Does everything stop? Earth continues to revolve, winds blow, vegetation grows. Sabbath a rest for man from work by which livelihood gained, but also a day to be spent in works of mercy. Thus Christ works on with the Father. His claim to be equal with God angers the Jews.

II. The Son's Work (19-23). Same as the Father's—does nothing by Himself. He shares the Father's counsels—loving bond of sympathy between them. Shares Father's work—giving life to dead (i. 4). Christ already done this when raised Jairus's little daughter (St. Matt. ix. 25). Also raised dead souls by forgiving sins and leading to new life. Example—sick of the palsy (St. Matt. ix. 2) and the woman who had sinned (St. Luke vii. 37, 47).

Christ also appointed as the Judge (Acts xvii. 31). Therefore equally with Father claims honour from men. To dishonour Him is to dishonour God.

III. Man's Relation to Christ (24-27). How can he obtain this new life? Must hear and accept Son's word, must believe the Father, Who speaks through the Son (xvii. 3; Heb i. 2). Then he passes from death in sin (Eph. ii. 1) to life in Christ (Col. iii. 3). This a present change. Old things passed—all become new. New faith, hope, love. New life for soul now, for body hereafter.

Lessons. 1. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

2. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Full Salvation.

Those who trust Christ do not trust Him to save only for a year or two, but for ever. In going a long journey it is best to take a ticket all the way through. Take your ticket for the New Jerusalem, and not for a half-way house. The train will never break down, and the track never be torn up. Trust Jesus Christ to carry you through to glory, and He will do it.—Rev. C. H. Spurgeon.