CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JESUS #29: Water into Wine

 

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JESUS: MIRACLES

FIRST MIRACLE - WATER TO WINE (JOHN 2:1-11)

 

A miracle is considered an event that occurs outside the bounds of natural law. Recorded in the Gospels, Jesus performed more than 40 miracles including healing the sick, changing the natural elements of nature and even raising people from the dead. Looking at Jesus’ miracles help us begin to understand the depth of His love for us.

 

Location of Miracle: Cana of Galilee, nine miles north of Nazareth

 

Set the Scene: 

·      Jesus was attending a wedding. Weddings in these days may have lasted up to a full week. 

·      Mary may have been the groom’s aunt.

 

Read JOHN 2:1-11.

 

Big Take-Aways:

·      Jesus was 30 years old and had yet to perform a miracle. Why now? The water-to-wine miracle is more than a miracle, it shows us exactly who Jesus is and why He came to earth. 

·      The miracle removed shame from the family. It saved the family from looking like poor hosts.

 

·      This miracle is not about drinking wine or getting drunk; it’s about the fulfillment of OT 
prophecies about the new covenant and its accompanying sign – wine. While drinking wine was a normal custom in the Jewish culture, drunkenness was not  (Isaiah 5:11) 

 

·      Significance of the wedding: The wedding is a direct imagery to Heaven. The picture of the kingdom of God as a feast is prominent in Judaism and in the Gospels… And the abundance of wine is a feature of the feast. 

§  Isaiah 25 – a picture of kingdom plenty

§  Jeremiah 31 – the sign of a new covenant; the presence of wine & great rejoicing

·      The new covenant is in no way anti-Jewish. It is inclusive! It includes all Jews & Gentiles who repent & receive the long-awaited Messiah! 

§  Amos 9:11, 13 – the restoration of the Davidic kingship (new wine will drip…)

·      Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David, who comes to fulfill Judaism and bring the expected kingdom of God. 

·      Six Stone Jars: Jars were stone because stone vessels could not contract uncleanness. The mention of the Jewish purification water jars makes it clear the Gospel author wishes to suggest that Jesus replaces the rituals and institutions of early Judaism with something more life-giving and enduring. The water = purification. Cleansing by water = old covenant. Cleansed by Jesus = new covenant. 

·      The disciples “put their faith in” or “believed in” Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus become his possession. As a result of believing in Jesus, there should be a total difference in the way we live, in how we use our money, in how we think, in what we watch on tv, in how we treat our families, in how we spend our free time… Believing in Jesus changes EVERYTHING. 

 

Call to Action: God showed His faithfulness in sending Jesus to fulfill Old Testament prophecies. How has God shown His faithfulness to you in the past months? How do you need to put your faith in Jesus?