6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 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, 10 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.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
Message: The First of Jesus' Signs
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: This is a rather interesting miracle that begins Jesus' ministry. In the books of Mark and Luke, the first miracle that is mentioned is bringing the unclean spirit or demon out of a man (Mark 1:25; Luke 4:35), and in Matthew, it was healing a leper (Matthew 8:3). But here in John, the first miracle is Jesus turning water into wine. In this situation, John provides many details about the event. In the previous lesson I saw that his mother Mary was present, as well as his disciples with him at the time (probably 4-5 of them), water pots nearby for purification purposes.
I think it is normal for us in reading these words from Jesus and scripture to glean from them multiple observations. The written word is no accident and so even in writing these words, it seems that perhaps there was more of a meaning here than meets the eye.
For instance, verse 6 mentions that the water pots are those used for the Jewish custom of purification. This could have something to do with wedding guests purifying or washing their hands or it may have something to do with ceremonial practice of cleaning mentioned like in Exodus 30:17-21 the priests followed prior to entering the tabernacle or temple. And so in a way Jesus uses these to show something "new" that he is doing. The practice of going to the temple will no longer be needed upon his sacrifice on the cross for our sins, becoming a permanent substitute for us.
The other thing that stands out to me is in verse 10 when the headwaiter states, “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.” Again, this seems another way of expressing that in Jesus we have someone new and in Jesus we have the best that came last. It is said that others will serve good first and then poorer next but in this situation the best comes at the end.
We also understand that what was former was good, but now this wine is the good wine which means the former wine can now be called the poorer wine. So once people experience Jesus and what He offers, everything in the past pales in comparison.
Finally, John ends this by saying that in this sign it is not the last time, but there will be more signs and this is a form of people manifesting His glory. As it states in Hebrews 1:3, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." That glory is speaking of God's glory. Earlier John had mentioned the Word becoming flesh and the glory is the glory of the Son -- John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Glory is an interesting word. Possible meanings:
- good opinion concerning one
- splendor, brightness
- magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
- majesty
- a most glorious condition, most exalted state
This glory is distinct and different from anything else. And it seems that it is a word to describe the recognition of one, stating that this one has all excellence and exaltation. I think of the statement, "Give God the Glory" to me it means give God all that is due him, all the praise and excellence and great opinion that He is the one who did it, whatever that is. So to manifest His glory is to equal that glory that only God has because only God created and birthed and is in charge of all that we see. So I'm trying to figure out a little whether the glories are different - God's glory and Jesus's glory or is the glory that is talked about all for God?
Summary: Jesus does a miracle, turning water into wine, and shows that He is better than the past; new is better than old.
Promise: Jesus fulfills the old covenant revelation, bringing something new. The moral law continues, but the outward administration of the covenant has changed.
Prayer: Father God, you are holy and good and true. And thank you for helping me understand this message today and understand the Glory of God, though I am still figuring it out. Thank you for this message about You Jesus and coming to us and ushering in something new that is better than the past. The past paved the way, but you have sealed it and continue to give me understanding.
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