Water and Wine

In the gospel of John, chapter 2, we see Jesus working His first miracle.  He doesn't do anything without a purpose, so this was no accident.  Let's investigate this miracle.

Chapter two starts off with the words, "ON THE THIRD DAY".  This phrase appears several times in the bible.  3 is the perfect number of God.  On THE THIRD DAY, he rose.  On the third day, he performed his first of many miracles.  There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding, and so they were there.  In that they were invited, we can make a guess that the bride and groom were friends of the family.  Mary, the mother of Jesus was there also.  The wedding party ran out of wine before the party was over and Mary, mother of Jesus, came over and said to Him, "They have no more wine".  Think about our weddings today.  If wine is served and you run out, how does that make the host family appear?  Jesus replied to his mother, "what do you want me to do? My time is not yet come."  His mother, knowing her son well, turned to the servants and said to them, "do whatever he tells you".  There were six stone jars that each held from 20 to 30 gallons of water.  They were used for ceremonial washing.  They filled the jars and then Jesus told them to take some out and bring it to the master of the banquet.  The servants did as they were told.  The Banquet Master called the bridegroom and said everyone else serves the best wine first and then gives out the cheap wine when the guests are too drunk to notice.  You have saved the best for last!
     I did some research because there seemed to be a lot of symbolism in this story.  The Lord revealed some mysteries to me.  Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. John 3:29)
 The water represented the first covenant.  The 10 commandments.  The new wine represents the new covenant.  It is the best covenant.  It was nearly impossible for the people to keep the 10 commandments, plus they added about 400 more.  The punishment was death for breaking those laws, so God gave the people sacrifices to perform in order to take their places at the sacrificial altar.  The Feast Master represents God.  Jesus, as the bridegroom, brought the best wine, the second covenant after the first.  The Feast Master was pleased with the new wine.  It was better than the first.  Grace extends mercy to a people who cannot keep the first.  It was representative of the blood splattered on the doors of the Israelites as they waited for the angel of death to "pass over".  That blood was their salvation.  Jesus blood is our salvation.  New wine must be put in a new wine skin.  Jesus is that new wineskin  and representative of grace.  It was the third day.  On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.  This was the completion of his task.  he had become the final sacrifice and had taken the keys to hell and death.  The devil's hold over us was now broken.   He paid the price for the bride.  he ushered in the new wine.  It was grace - God's unmerited favor.  We are saved.
            WHAT WE READ                                                   SYMBOLISM
3rd day  he arrived at the feast                                 3rd day - Jesus rose from the dead
The bridegroom and his friends arrive at the feast - jesus and his friends are at the feast
cleansing jars used to wipe away dirt                       Wine in the cleansing jar to wipe away sins
Feast Master presides and approves of feast             The Lord God presides and approves of sacrifice
Feast Master approves of the 2nd wine                     God approves of the blood of Christ. It is finished
The first covenant wasn't sufficient                           The second covenant - GRACE covers all


John 20:30-31 tell us that this and the other miracles which John wrote about were given "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in His name."

If you would like to experience salvation and ever lasting life, just say this prayer with me.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father I come before you confessing that I am a sinner.  I ask you to wash away my sins.  I believe that you are the son of God and that you died for me on the cross for the removal of my sins.  I believe that you rose again from the dead and that you have the keys of sin and death.  I thank you that when my time comes I will be able to join you in heaven.  While I am here on earth help me to serve you the best way I know how.  Help me to walk in your ways.  Give me wisdom, knowledge, and insight so that I may learn of you.  This I ask in Jesus name.  Amen.