五旬节七

把好酒留到如今

——约翰福音二章十节

主耶稣所行的第一件神迹，既不是从病魔中解脱人生的痛苦，也不是从窘困中消除人生的饥渴，因为人生除痛苦与饥渴之外，也还有欢快与喜乐。

迦拿姻筵的神迹是说：人间确有喜乐，主愿意人间的喜乐更为丰富，更为满溢；人间确有令人欢欣的美酒，主愿意在人喝足的时候，叫仆人送去更美的佳酿。

历代圣徒，可能曾经是痛苦之人的慰籍，伤心之人的爱抚。但主耶稣将好酒留到如今，也许是要我们这一代人成为人们的乐中之乐，歌中之歌。

约翰记载的神迹中，有两处提到主的荣耀，一处是在亲人的泪水中使拉撒路从死里复活；一处是这里的，为欢乐的人把好酒留到如今。因此，主的荣耀不止彰显于泪水之中的安慰，也彰显于欢乐之中的欢乐。而歌中之歌，总是较之沉寂中的歌声更美。

Pentecost 7

John 2:10

You have kept the good wine till now

  Jesus’ first miracle did not free anyone from the pain of serious illness nor wipe away the distress of hunger or thirst. Instead, it was lighthearted, an occasion of happiness.

  The miracle of the wedding feast at Cana says to us: there is joy on earth and God wants to enrich that joy, to make it full to overflowing. There is indeed good wine on earth to lift people’s spirits, and the Lord tells his servant to bring the better wine when people have drunk their fill.

  The saints have always comforted the afflicted and have cared for those in distress. But the Lord Jesus left the best wine until now; perhaps because he wanted us, in this generation, to join our joy to that of others; to be one song among the many.

  Of the miracles recorded in John, two especially show forth the glory of God. One is the raising of Lazarus from the dead in the midst of his loved ones’ tears; the other is here, where Jesus has kept the best wine till last for the revellers. Thus, the glory of God shines forth, not only in comfort to those who weep, but also in the happiness of the joyous. For the song sung in chorus is always more beautiful than a solitary voice.