Chapter 15. “Miracle at the Marriage Feast”

Three things that stood out to me:

 1.The only hope of redemption for our fallen race is in Christ; Mary could find salvation only through the Lamb of God. In herself she possessed no merit. Her connection with Jesus placed her in no different spiritual relation to Him from that of any other human soul. 

2.The wine which Christ provided for the feast, and that which He gave to the disciples as a symbol of His own blood, was the pure juice of the grape. To this the prophet Isaiah refers when he speaks of the new wine “in the cluster,” and says, “Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it.” Isa_65:8.—IT WAS NOT ALCOHOL , don’t get it twisted folks.

3.As men set forth the best wine first, then afterward that which is            worse, so does the world with its gifts. That which it offers may please the eye and fascinate the senses, but it proves to be unsatisfying. The wine turns to bitterness, the gaiety to gloom. That which was begun with songs and mirth ends in weariness and disgust. But the gifts of Jesus are ever fresh and new. The feast that He provides for the soul never fails to give satisfaction and joy. Each new gift increases the capacity of the receiver to appreciate and enjoy the blessings of the Lord. He gives grace for grace.

Chapter. 14 “We have found the Messiah”

Three things that stood out to me:

1. Jesus came as a poor and humble person so that He could be our example as well as our Savior. If He appeared as a king, how could He teach humility? How could He preach about serving others with love?

2. John answered with the words of the prophet Isaiah “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’”. John 1:23.  —Anciently, when a king journeyed through the less frequented parts of his dominion, a company of men was sent ahead of the royal chariot to level the steep places and to fill up the hollows, that the king might travel in safety and without hindrance. This custom is employed by the prophet to illustrate the work of the gospel. “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.” When the Spirit of God, with its marvelous awakening power, touches the soul, it abases human pride. Worldly pleasure and position and power are seen to be worthless. “Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” are cast down; every thought is brought into captivity “to the obedience of Christ.” 2Co_10:5. Then humility and self-sacrificing love, so little valued among men, are exalted as alone of worth. This is the work of the gospel, of which John’s message was a part.  {DA 135.1}  

3. By becoming human, Jesus grasped hands with the sons and daughters of Adam. By remaining divine, He holds tightly to the throne of God. Jesus is the connection between God and humanity.  

—EGW “Privilege of Prayer “

(John 14:15) if only i could get someone to make a bumper car sticker like this