Water into Wine

 While Jesus and His disciples were attending a wedding feast in the Galilean town of Cana He performed His first recorded miracle, that of turning ordinary water into wine.

The Wine Runs Out

Wine was always an important part of any celebration but here in Cana, unbeknown to the guest at large, it was, during the festivities discovered that the wine had run out. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, became aware of the need she approached her Son instinctively knowing that He would solve the problem.

"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Jhn:2:1-3

It seems that, at first Jesus is a little reluctant to act, yet His mother acts none the less, seemingly with the faith that Jesus would do whatever is needed in the situation.

" Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jhn:2:4-5

 Stone Ritual Jars

 Now, there was on hand six stone ceremonial washing pots for the purification rituals which the Jews were careful to observe. These stone vessels could hold up as much as twenty or thirty gallons of water. 

 "Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim" Jhn: 2:7

 The servants followed Jesus' instructions and filled jars full. He then tells them to draw some of the water out and take it to the Master of the feast. When they draw it out, they find that it is no longer ordinary water but wine, and not just wine but the best of wine.

"Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 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 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.” Jhn: 2:8-10

 Transformed

What now filled the jars, was more than what anyone could have thought or even hoped. These jars were no longer vessels of a ritualistic uses, but rather had become, through the word of Jesus, receptacles of His grace and power. It was not just water to quench a thirst, but wine to gladden the heart and reflect the blessing and joy of God.

"So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine" Pro:3:10

 "And wine that makes glad the heart of man" Ps: 104:15a

 What Jesus is showing through this miracle, is, that He is the one Who transforms us , brings us out of the stone dead ritualistic religion symbolized by the stone jars, into a new and joyful relationship of being vessels of His grace , filled with the new wine of a new life that is better than the old.. "but you have saved the best till now."

 This speaks of new life we have in Christ, this relationship in which we are transformed, is far above any religion, which was as the Old Covenant. He has done this for us, making us vessels of His mercy and grace.

 "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared to glory," Rm:9:23

The wine used at the start of the Cana wedding which ran out, that is, it will not last, this world and any and all that it offers is only temporary and will fade away, that is, it will run out.

 Fermentation

 Wine naturally is the result of a process, which is known as fermentation, it makes mere juice, wine. This new life is the result of process of the Holy Spirit changing us into new creations. It is this water into wine miracle that is presented in the Gospel of John at the very beginning as foretaste of the entire mission of Jesus, He came to bring humanity new life, now and forever more, a life that is transformed and new. He is inaugurating a spiritual fermentation for us. 

This speaks to us that this is not just a past miracle, at Cana alone but an ongoing one in the lives of any and all who will but freely receive it.

 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."2Cor:5:17

 Wedding Supper to Come

  We are filled with this new life, this new wine, which is cause for us to be filled with His Joy, looking forward with anticipation of Eternal Celebration of the Wedding Supper, that all weddings even the one at Cana is but a faint copy at best.

 "And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God." Rev: 19:9

 This is the one that we all will rejoice in for all eternity in the eternal life in Jesus. That is a message of Jesus turning water into wine.

Benediction: May we each and all be transformed into vessels of God's grace through the world of Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee Michigan

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