Jesus really knew how to liven up a party. He showed up at a wedding reception and bought a round of drinks for all present. Well, maybe He didn't exactly buy the drinks; He did something more dramatic - He turned several pots of water into fine wine.
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew ), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." (John 2:1-10)
Straight-laced, tee-totaling church-goers have a tough time with the first miracle of Jesus. Surely the Son of God could kick off His earthly ministry with something better than spiking the punch. But if all we see is a Savior who provided alcohol for the party we miss the point entirely.
Consider the occasion for His first miracle: a wedding. We are told that the Second Coming of Jesus will be preceded by a wedding and reception (Revelation 19:7-9). The ultimate life celebration is a wedding and a very fitting symbol of the joy of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus used waterpots that were for the purpose of purification as containers for the fine wine He provided. The truest purification is what He offers: a baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). The early believers, having received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, were thought to be drunk with wine (Acts 2:13).
So the picture we have in the first miracle of Jesus is not that of a wine-making miracle man, but rather a wonderful picture of celebration of the Kingdom of God and the empowering of Holy Spirit. The real miracle is that Jesus came to introduce the beginning of the ultimate party, the Kingdom.
Isaiah the prophet says, "The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain ; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine." (Isaiah 25:6). The kingdom is a magnificent celebration, complete with rich food and fine wine.
May your day today be a kingdom celebration as you await the Big Party.
Steve
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew ), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." (John 2:1-10)
Straight-laced, tee-totaling church-goers have a tough time with the first miracle of Jesus. Surely the Son of God could kick off His earthly ministry with something better than spiking the punch. But if all we see is a Savior who provided alcohol for the party we miss the point entirely.
Consider the occasion for His first miracle: a wedding. We are told that the Second Coming of Jesus will be preceded by a wedding and reception (Revelation 19:7-9). The ultimate life celebration is a wedding and a very fitting symbol of the joy of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus used waterpots that were for the purpose of purification as containers for the fine wine He provided. The truest purification is what He offers: a baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). The early believers, having received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, were thought to be drunk with wine (Acts 2:13).
So the picture we have in the first miracle of Jesus is not that of a wine-making miracle man, but rather a wonderful picture of celebration of the Kingdom of God and the empowering of Holy Spirit. The real miracle is that Jesus came to introduce the beginning of the ultimate party, the Kingdom.
Isaiah the prophet says, "The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain ; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine." (Isaiah 25:6). The kingdom is a magnificent celebration, complete with rich food and fine wine.
May your day today be a kingdom celebration as you await the Big Party.
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:14 AM
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