Posted on 09/18/2022 5:32:57 AM PDT by metmom
“This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).
When Jesus turned water into wine, His purpose was not to amaze His audience with His power. His miracles met specific needs, such as opening blind eyes or deaf ears, delivering those oppressed by demons, feeding hungry people, or calming a threatening storm. This miracle met the genuine need of the family and their guests.
But even more important, this first of Jesus’ signs manifested His glory (cf. 1:14)—He put His deity on display. Jesus’ signs were not simply powerful displays of compassion, but were designed to reveal who He really was, since they unmistakably manifest God at work. Signs, miracles, and wonders nevertheless do not necessarily convince people to believe in the Lord and the gospel.
Amazingly, Jesus seems to have left Cana with only the disciples who had come there with Him, despite having performed a miracle, the likes of which had not happened since God created flour and oil in the days of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:8–16; 2 Kings 4:1–7). The obvious deduction that He was the Messiah escaped the people; they saw the sign, but missed what it pointed to.
His disciples, however, believed in Him. Having heard John the Baptist’s testimony that Jesus was the Messiah (1:34), having heard Jesus’ own words (1:39) and believed in Him (1:41), they now saw firsthand miraculous confirmation of that faith.
Ask Yourself
There is not a need He hasn’t met in your life, even though it may appear so at times. If a “need” goes unmet, it’s only because there is reason to wait or because we have incorrectly categorized our desire as a demand. As you bring your needs before Him today, you can be sure He hears you and responds.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
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Studying God’s Word ping
Ping
I always wondered whether the water was actually changed to wine, or Jesus just knew that if they ran out of wine, then the guests were so trashed that they wouldn’t know the difference.
I always wondered whether the water was actually changed to wine, or Jesus just knew that if they ran out of wine, then the guests were so trashed that they wouldn’t know the difference.
The message, then, would be that there are more important things in the world than wine at weddings; which under Jewish law then would have been blasphemy.
I’d go with that He actually changed it, since Scripture states that. Otherwise, you’d have a situation where there was deceit, either in Jesus falsifying a miracle, or Scripture giving an errant account of something.
Neither one of those options is acceptable since God’s word is Truth.
A much less “controversial” take on this. 🙂 Thanks for posting.
That's an interesting take on this. As the story is laid out, the only ones we are told explicitly were in the know about all the details of this miracle as it quietly unfolded are Jesus, Mary, the disciples, the servants, and maybe the chief steward and the groom. If the other guests had seen what had occurred in their midst, I would imagine we would have seen quite a commotion.
Interesting how some Christians prohibit alcohol.
Our own blessings aren’t just for our private enjoyment. They are meant to be shared.
My memory is a little fuzzy, so I only remember that the head waiter tasted it and thought it was good wine. But, you know, he had an interest in making sure the guests had wine ;). Jesus never said he was doing anything; he said to fill the casks with water.
John 2:4b
“My hour has not yet come.”
The only other time Jesus says this of himself is John 7:6 & 8, when his brothers speak to him about the Feast of Tabernacles.
His disciples also use the expression about him when Jesus escapes from the grasp of his persecutors (John 8:20b), referencing his death having an appointed time.
Could Jesus have been indicating his own very real wedding, when he comes to rapture the church his bride? In effect was he saying to Mary, “This isn’t MY wedding, where my glory will be on display, but I will have one.” After all, Jesus would not get an earthly wedding, and he had a mere three years left to live this life. Such thoughts may have preoccupied him.
And then could he have been hinting at the very specific Feast of Tabernacles when he will come to dwell with his people Israel? Thus was he saying to his brothers, “All the Feasts are available for you, but there is coming one specific Day when MY Feast will be fulfilled, and I will dwell with my people in glory.”
Just ruminating (John 16:12). He must have longed to share all the truth with those closest to him.
“Joh 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
Joh 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
Apparently, the good wine (which exceeded the quality of the wine set forth at the beginning of the celebration)brought forth praise unto the bridegroom. He is commended by the ruler of the celebration for having done so (something good, a wedding celebration, only became better).
So it is with the Bridegroom of the church, the Lord Himself. Having begun in Christ, the believer can look forward to the best of celebrations at the marriage supper of the Lamb. (I wonder if His comment at the last supper “Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come,” is a look toward to that great celebration.)
A continuation of our discussion.
We were ahead of the game.
I have heard it preached that the reason God gives us stuff is to share it with others. It isn’t for our benefit and comfort but to minister to others with.
Lots of different things to be found, pondered and studied in this passage of Scripture.
One of the first words a child learns: Mine!
Great word play and timing. Transliterated into Hebrew:
!מיין
It begins with the letter mem [מ], which means water, followed by the word yayin [יין], "wine."
M'yayin, "from wine",
Which in Jewish tradition is a secret involving the numeric value of 70, because "sod" (סוד secret) = 70, the same as wine.
Example explanation:
The numerical value of “wine” (יין) is 70, a most significant number. It reminds us of the seventy names of God, of the seventy root nations of the world, and the seventy “faces” of Torah understanding. Our Sages famously stated that nichnas yayin, yatza sod, “when wine enters, secrets come out”. More than a simple proverb, it is a mathematical equation since the value of “secret” (סוד) is also 70. So, as seventy comes in, seventy comes out. On the surface level, the statement means that alcohol makes a person more likely to spill their secrets. On the deeper level, though, the Sages meant that one who drinks wine may be able to enter a mental state where they can uncover the secrets of Torah, and see it through all seventy faces. Wine can make “a man’s mind more receptive” (Yoma 76a).מיין also spells Maine, the place of first light on the US mainland. Actually the first sunrise shifts locations:
MarsHill Mountain from March 25 - Sept 18 (the place of the Big Rock, address 37 Graves, which is also the place of getting First Wind).
Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island in the winter.
And in between these two locations, at around the equinoxes (March 7-March 24 and Sept. 19-Oct. 6), at West Quoddy Head, the easternmost point on the mainland.
Just thought I'd mention it because today marked a shift. Tomorrow's sunrise (0611 EDT) will be the first at the West Quoddy Head position.
To relate the sunrise to the broader aspect of world events, the queen's funeral starts at 1100 BST (0600 EDT).
She reigned for 70 years as everyone knows. Could be some water (tears) involved.
(Follow the light.)
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