John 2:5-10 PODCAST
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” ~ John 2:5-10
Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana. Those who planned the wedding wanted Jesus to be present. The presence of the Lord Jesus was desired by His friends. The Lord Jesus imparted truth to His friends through meaningful relationship. This tells me that Jesus was no party killjoy.
Our text today begins with Jesus' mother telling the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. This is the goal of every servant, to do whatever the Lord Jesus tells us. It has taken me thirty-eight years to figure this out. Not that any of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven, but it is wise to do whatever the Lord Jesus tells us to do. This is wisdom. You and I will never be about His work on this earth until we see ourselves as His servants.
This was an unscheduled miracle. From time to time, the Lord Jesus was known to deliver a miracle that He seemed not to be about to do. His mother expected the Lord Jesus to do something. Like the woman who intercepted the Lord Jesus as He was on the way to go to Jairus' house to help his twelve year old daughter. On His way, the woman with a twelve year issue of blood begged the Lord Jesus for help. And, the Lord Jesus delivered her. This is the point of Jesus' miracles, He always works in the context of expectation.
According to v.6, there just so happened to be six stone water jars that could hold up to thirty gallons of water each. These jars were not used for drinking. They were used for bathing, for purifying, for washing of the hands. It is no coincidence that at this point in Jesus' ministry, there were six disciples. Keep in mind the number six is the number of man, and the number for incompleteness. This miracle underscores man's emptiness and Jesus' fullness.
In v.7, the Lord Jesus orders the servants to, "'Fill the jars with water.'" And they filled them to the brim. Then Jesus said, "Now draw some out, and take it to the master of the banquet." At some point between being taken to the master of the banquet, the water became the best of quality wine.
This miracle is a picture of the overall theme of this gospel account: God's fullness, man's emptiness. In Genesis 1 we see God’s fullness overflowing into the emptiness. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:1-3). The rest of Genesis 1 displays God’s creative power to destroy the emptiness and dispel the darkness.
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” ~ John 2:5-10
Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana. Those who planned the wedding wanted Jesus to be present. The presence of the Lord Jesus was desired by His friends. The Lord Jesus imparted truth to His friends through meaningful relationship. This tells me that Jesus was no party killjoy.
Our text today begins with Jesus' mother telling the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. This is the goal of every servant, to do whatever the Lord Jesus tells us. It has taken me thirty-eight years to figure this out. Not that any of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven, but it is wise to do whatever the Lord Jesus tells us to do. This is wisdom. You and I will never be about His work on this earth until we see ourselves as His servants.
This was an unscheduled miracle. From time to time, the Lord Jesus was known to deliver a miracle that He seemed not to be about to do. His mother expected the Lord Jesus to do something. Like the woman who intercepted the Lord Jesus as He was on the way to go to Jairus' house to help his twelve year old daughter. On His way, the woman with a twelve year issue of blood begged the Lord Jesus for help. And, the Lord Jesus delivered her. This is the point of Jesus' miracles, He always works in the context of expectation.
According to v.6, there just so happened to be six stone water jars that could hold up to thirty gallons of water each. These jars were not used for drinking. They were used for bathing, for purifying, for washing of the hands. It is no coincidence that at this point in Jesus' ministry, there were six disciples. Keep in mind the number six is the number of man, and the number for incompleteness. This miracle underscores man's emptiness and Jesus' fullness.
In v.7, the Lord Jesus orders the servants to, "'Fill the jars with water.'" And they filled them to the brim. Then Jesus said, "Now draw some out, and take it to the master of the banquet." At some point between being taken to the master of the banquet, the water became the best of quality wine.
This miracle is a picture of the overall theme of this gospel account: God's fullness, man's emptiness. In Genesis 1 we see God’s fullness overflowing into the emptiness. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:1-3). The rest of Genesis 1 displays God’s creative power to destroy the emptiness and dispel the darkness.
We are told the master told the bridegroom that it was not customary to save the best wine till the end of the ceremony. We are not told what the bridegroom said in response. He just went with it. This must be our response, to go with it. To ride the wave. He is the answer and we are in desperate need of His presence, His filling.
Finally, the first miracle of the Lord Jesus here on earth was turning water into wine at a wedding. His first miracle valued the commitment of marriage. This wedding had run out of wine, just like mankind has run out of its source of life. As a result, His commitment is to a greater marriage. He is always committed to bringing those who have been separated back together. At the very end of time as we know it, He will be the Groom at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the ultimate reconciliation of that which was once separated from its creator. My question to you is this: will you be the bride?
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Finally, the first miracle of the Lord Jesus here on earth was turning water into wine at a wedding. His first miracle valued the commitment of marriage. This wedding had run out of wine, just like mankind has run out of its source of life. As a result, His commitment is to a greater marriage. He is always committed to bringing those who have been separated back together. At the very end of time as we know it, He will be the Groom at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the ultimate reconciliation of that which was once separated from its creator. My question to you is this: will you be the bride?
To help BYM, click here
