John 2 - God Saved the Best for Last!

John 2 - NIV


Verses for the Day - John 2:7-10

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 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 10 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.”

Commentary

John's gospel is unique in that it uses the word "signs", and the other three gospels use the word "miracles". The word miracles focuses more on the power of Jesus. The Greek word for "miracles" is "dunamis", which is where we get our term "dynamite". A sign is something that points to something else. Each of the signs reveals the divinity of Jesus and provokes faith. 

When Jesus turns the water into wine in today's reading, it marks the first of the seven signs in John. "These signs, largely found in the first half of the Gospel ("Book of Signs"), demonstrate Jesus's power over nature, sickness, and death."  - OnMissionMedia

Jesus was invited to this wedding with his disciples, and his mom was there too. The groom ran into a very embarrassing situation. He ran out of wine. In Jesus' culture this was a major "faux pas". So like any Jewish mother, Mary told her Son, Jesus, to do something about it. 

Jesus' response is interesting. He says, "Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

I don't think Jesus is being disrectful to his mother. He is saying that his actions are governed by a divine timetable. Though his mom meant well, she had the concerns of man not necessarily of God. There are other times that Jesus refrained from doing something because it is was not in God's timing. 

Jesus knew that the more signs he performed, the crowds would grow and his end would come more quickly. It reminds us that just because something is good to do, it isn't always the right time to do it. God's timing is perfect. One of the hardest things is to trust God and His timing when we want something done right away.

As the song goes, "He makes all things beautiful in His time." 

But, in the end, Jesus performs his first sign. He took six massive jars, which were usually used for ceremonial cleansing, and told the servants to fill them up with water. It is estimated each container held 20-30 gallons, which would have meant they totalled 120 to 180 gallons of water. When the servants brought the wine to the master of ceremonies, he tasted it carefully. He loved it. 

He took the bridegroom aside and commended him for the wine was of the highest quality. Usually the wine brought out at the end of the night was not as good. After all, after a few glasses would people really know the difference? 

The important words he used were, "You saved the best for last!"  

So what is the significance of this first sign that Jesus performed at the wedding in Cana in Galilee?

1. First, we see the compassion Jesus had on the bridegroom, who faced major embarrasment if he had run out of wine. I'm sure his bride wouldn't have been too happy either. 

2.The sign showed the divinity of Jesus in that he is Lord of Creation and has power over it. Some say this is miracle of acceleration. Water starts the growth process of a vine, which yields grapes. The grapes ferment and wine is produced. Jesus just sped up the process. Water turned into wine in an instant as soon as the servant started pouring. 

3. The water in the jars represented ritualistic cleansing in the Jewish faith. The water turned into wine represented Jesus' blood which cleansed us from our sins. 

"Used for Jewish ceremonial washing, these large vessels represented the "incomplete" old system (six being a number of imperfection) that Jesus filled with the abundant, superior new wine of the Gospel." - psephizo

Application

1. Where is God asking you to wait for his timing? How can waiting on him be an act of faith?

2. Are you settling for the old wine, or are you filled with the new wine of the gospel? God saved the best for last for you!

Prayer

Jesus, you bring us new wine. The new wine of your forgiveness through Your blood. May we continued to be filled with new wine and new life through Your Spirit. Amen. 

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