On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2
Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8
And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10
and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did
at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
What is this account of Jesus’ turning the water into wine, about? Why is it in the Bible? How would you teach this text if told to teach it in Sunday School, or bible
study, or if your children would ask you for further insight after reading this story in family worship?
Remember, John’s interest has been and will continue to be, to set before us the person and work of the Lord Jesus so that we might be faced at every turn with the
reality of who this is, where He comes from and what His purpose is upon the earth. In chapter one, He is the one who created all things and who has been from the beginning. He is the one who dwelt in glory in the OT tabernacle, coming to his people, dwelling
in a tent as they dwell in a tent. John wants to lift our eyes to see that heaven has intruded in the plain of human reality, the kingdom above, coming to the earth in the person and work of Jesus.
This is seen even in the calling of men to follow Christ. The common things of men: birth, life, eating bread, drinking water, and even following teachers which was
common in the day, all of these things, ordinary as they be, take on a greater meaning and greater significance in the kingdom of which our King rules.
Now we are at a wedding. And John stays on task. He wants us to see the kingdom of God and the glory of our King—to see behind the event to the depths of its meaning
and purpose.
John tells us in verse 11, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory and his disciples put their
faith in him.” Look over at verse 23, “now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.”
And you will remember the point we made in our first devotion in John in seeking the theme verse for the gospel of John found in 20:30-31: “And truly Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Xp, the Son of God, and believing you may have life in his name.”
Jesus, when Mary comes and asks him to do something, is saying to his mother that his time has not yet come, and this introduces a theme that we will see throughout
John’s gospel. Many have commented that these stone pitchers were probably those used by the Jews in their ceremonial washings, that is, to hold the water that they would use to perform the rights of cleansing both those commanded to Moses and those they had
made up themselves…the cleansings that were to make them right with God and now Jesus takes them, to do something new, something wonderful.
Think about this. That was the picture in the old administration, sacrifice and sacred ceremony, over and over again, filled with water, over and over again, to perform
ceremonial washings, over and over again. And Jesus takes these pictures that represent the old and he fills them with new wine. He is subtly turning the attention of the disciples away from the old order, and not even the wine itself becomes the point, but
HE becomes the point…HE is the one who gives to us new life, and the new wine that HE alone can give.
The “signs” Jesus does are illustrations in the physical world of that which is operative in the spiritual realm, there is connection between what is seen upon the
earth, and what, who and where the sign focuses our attention. We are looking at those things that take place in the sphere of creation pointing us away from itself to the plan or the sphere of redemption.
Let me ask you to consider something, something that you see almost every day, but perhaps don’t really think about, this by way of illustration. God places signs
in the creation, in the sky, the sun and the moon and these signs are in a real way doing the same thing, if you are viewing things correctly. That is, pointing us away from themselves to that which is greater, to that world which is the glory of God.
There is light before the sun is created and this is because we are told that God is light and dwells in unapproachable light; just as we are told in the Revelation
that there is no sun in heaven, because the glory of God lights up heaven. So, there is light at the creation, before the sun was made, the glory of God literally was the light, just as it will be in heaven. At creation, God makes the sun to light the day…the
sun, therefore, is a reflected light…a secondary light, reflecting the glory-light of God which lit up the creation before the sun was even made. The sun, pretty amazing in itself in that it is on fire but doesn’t burn up, (remind you of anything…) The sun
reflects something greater than itself, it points us even to the beginnings of light, the glory of God.
Every time you wake up in the morning and you see the light coming, you see the light overcoming the darkness, this is God’s way, not just for helping you get to your
car without tripping over the cat, but that you might be reminded of God Himself, of His pervasive presence as the one who is Light itself.
And then Jesus comes and what does John call Him in chapter one? The light of the world! Just as John reminds us of Genesis in verse one where he starts; “In the beginning…”
So now he makes the connection between light and Jesus. Adding to that, we as Christians are then called by Paul…the light of the world…Not just that we dwell in light, but that we ARE light! (Ephesians 5:8)
Brothers and sisters, we are the glory of God in the earth…that is our identity as the people of God. Therefore, we must shine the light!
Prayer: Father, I know that Jesus is the light of the world and that You have called me to not only walk in the light but to be the light as I follow Him. Father,
I fear I am not able to bear such a calling. I pray you would fill me with Your Spirit and help me to hear Him, to discern His voice and to live with humility and boldness so that my life would shine with the glory light of my Savior. Lord, help me, that I
might glorify You, in Jesus name, Amen.
Hymn: Kyrie Eleison