Why Water Into Wine?

The Bible tells us that this was the first time that Jesus revealed His glory.[1] Was there some special significance to this miracle? John further explains that “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which (were) not recorded... But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”[2] This tells me that the apostle John attached some significance to this miracle that would help us in our faith.

I have pondered this passage for a long time and I have noticed some interesting things about this miracle, especially in light of other passages of Scripture. First of all, I don’t believe the significance of this miracle has anything to do with what we should or should not drink. I think its importance is much deeper.

The story implies that this wedding event was one that was kept religiously sacred. The implication of this comes from the fact that there were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing.[3] Commentaries agree that these jars were used so that guests could ceremonially wash their hands before eating.[4] That this was done religiously and not just for cleansing is implied by the descriptive word translated “Jewish.” This does not refer to people coming from Judea, but rather referring to those that observed the Jewish religion – thus the word ceremonial is supplied.

There was another time when “an argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.”[5] This passage referred to baptism and the fact that Jesus’ disciples were now baptizing more people than John. John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.[6] I mention this because all these ceremonial washings never really cleansed the hearts of those that partook in them, just as they neither do today.

Back to the event in Cana, Jesus has the servants use these six ceremonial jars and tells them to have them filled with water. This is the typical contents for these vessels and there is an allegory in regard to this ritual cleansing. The water is usually applied to the outside of the pious person to cleanse them. Jesus changes THIS water into wine! I believe this is the true significance of this passage.

We use water on the outside of our bodies to cleanse ourselves, but Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (the new wine) who cleanses and controls us from the inside out.[7] The scriptures teach, “Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[8] One translation tells us, “to ever be filled with the Holy Spirit.” You see the real baptism of the Holy Spirit is His cleansing of our hearts from the inside out. We are to be under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit just as wine brings the partaker under its influence.

I think that this is the reason Jesus chose to do this miracle first. It prefigures his ministry of being the one who would come and baptize us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches the Jesus’ blood keeps on cleansing us from our sins[9] as we continue to walk in the Spirit.[10] May each of us give ourselves to Jesus to be made new vessels able to receive His new wine.
[1] John 2:11
[2] John 20:30-31
[3] John 2:6
[4] Matt 15:2
[5] John 3:25
[6] Mark 1:4
[7] Acts 2:13
[8] Eph 5:18
[9] 1 John 1:7
[10] Gal 5:16

The Lord is with You, Mighty Warriors

I was recently thinking again about how much we have seen our culture attack faith in Jesus. Many areas we have surrendered and just have begun to accept that is just the way it is. It reminds me of the story of Gideon. (You can read the whole store beginning at Judges chapter 6). Gideon was in a winepress threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites. The reason Gideon was in a winepress was he didn’t want to fight the Midianites. At the time the Midianites seemed like an unstoppable force, but he didn’t realize the LORD wanted Gideon and Israel to fight for what was right. The LORD wanted Gideon to fight with the strength that HE would provide.

We are no different then the many examples of people who have made compromises trying to avoid fighting for what is right. In the Preamble to the Declaration there is an explanation, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

There are many examples of our willingness to compromise from modern times to Biblical examples. There was another time in Israel’s history when fear overtook their ability to fight for what is right. Goliath, the Philistine, cursed God and defied the armies of Israel. When a shepherd boy questioned Israel’s fear, he was rebuked. But David said, “What have I done now?
Is there not a cause?”

It is our tendency to suffer for a while before we rise up and say enough is enough and we begin to fight for what is right. It is our right – yes it is our duty! The position of the church is always to be attacking the gates of hell. Our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness. We need not fear, but trust in God’s strength to provide for His purposes.
2 Thess 1:11 says, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by HIS power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

We limit God. We determine much of what we experience of God’s power. We set parameters on the depth of our relationship with God. In spite of limitless possibilities – we choose to impede what God does in our lives. The Bible says of Israel, “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy (Ps 78:40-42).

We must remember that Jesus has promised, “I am with you always…” Dwight L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. The Lord is with us, mighty warriors so let us trust in His strength and go forth and do the will of God. I don't believe the Gospel is no longer the power of God unto salvation.