nd scarcely his own dog track him to it, he was
waited for and met with a loving welcome by Him whom he had chiefly
wronged. He saw heaven opened, and that from the lowest, most forlorn
spot of earth to the highest and brightest point of heaven there is a
close connection and an easy, friendly communication. If Jesus, thought
Nathanael, could reopen heaven in that style, He would be worthy of the
name of King of Israel. But he is now to learn that He will do far more;
that henceforth it was to be no visionary ladder, swept away by the
dawn, which was to lead up to heaven, but that in Jesus God Himself is
permanently made over to us; that He, in His one, visible person, unites
heaven and earth, God and man; that there is an ever-living union
between the highest height of heaven and the lowest depth of earth.
Profound and wide as the humanity of Christ, to the most forgotten and
remote outcast, to the most sunken and despairing of men, do God's love
and care and helpfulness now come; high and glorious as the divinity of
Christ may the hopes of all men now rise. He who understands the
Incarnation of the Son of God has a surer ground of faith, and a richer
hope and a straighter access to heaven, than if the ladder of Jacob
stood at his bed-head and God's angels were ministering to him.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] See Mr. Reith's rich Handbook on _The Gospel of John_ (Clark).

V.

_THE FIRST SIGN--THE MARRIAGE IN CANA._

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and His
disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of
Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her,
Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His
mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews'
manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus
saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
up to the brim. And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto
the ruler of the feast. And they bare it. And when the ruler of the
feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was
(but the servants which had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the
feast calleth the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man setteth
on first the good w