A Human Jar – Part 1
Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” [John 2:6-7]
In John 2:1-11 Jesus was at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Mary His mother had an official role of some sort. During the celebration the wine ran out. This was most embarrassing for the newlyweds. They didn’t adequately provide for their guests.
Mary approached Jesus and informed Him of the need. From the story it is obvious she knew He had miraculous powers, though He hadn’t been about His ministry very long and had yet to perform miracles (cf., v.11).
Jesus politely declined His mother’s request, informing her that the new life of ministry to God established new relationships. The natural birth relationships such as parents no longer ruled. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit did.
After setting the bounds of leadership in ministry, Jesus then acted out a picture story to teach the spiritual truth of this very point. There were six stone water jars at the celebration. This was typical for the Israelites of that day. The jars held water—from 20 to 30 gallons each, we are told. The water was used by the Jews for ritual washing of various kinds, religious ceremonies if you would.
Jesus instructed the servants to fill the jars to the brim with water. They obeyed His word, which is always a good thing to do when Jesus speaks! Next Jesus instructed them to draw the water from the jars and serve it to the guests.
This was awkward for the servants. If they knew which side their bread was buttered on, they wouldn’t be so keen to obey this part of Jesus’ words. Imagine the wedding guests. They drank all the available wine and wanted more. Here come the servants with a fresh brew. The guests hold out their goblets and the servants fill ‘er up.
The guests take a deep gulp of the wine. Oops! It isn’t wine. It’s water! The guests demand in voices of outrage, “Tie those wretched servants to the whipping post, ya’ hear! We’re gonna exact our pound of flesh for their inappropriate prank. Fie fie on them! Serve us water when we want wine? Hmpf. The nerve of some folks!”
So we can see why the servants would not be excited by Jesus’ instructions to them. Notwithstanding, they obeyed. Praise the Lord! Would that all of us were so readily agreeable to the Word of God. In fear and trepidation the servants served the guests the water…and waited to be flayed alive for their mischief.
Not to worry. The guests began with one voice to sing the praises of the groom. “This is the best wine ever! Congrats to you, Mr. Groom. You sure are strange though. Everyone else serves the best wine first. After we’re all somewhat sated with wine, then the cheaper stuff makes the rounds. But you saved the best for last. Good things come to those who wait. My mama told me that, and she was right!”
And so it was that Jesus began his ministry of miracles. The water-to-wine in Cana was His first, but it was by no means His last, praise God! Being His first miracle, Jesus put it to work doing double duty. For one thing it revealed His powers. For another it taught spiritual truth.
This was common with the Lord. We will explain how so in our next study. See you then, and don’t forget to talk with Jesus a while.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In John 2:1-11 Jesus was at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Mary His mother had an official role of some sort. During the celebration the wine ran out. This was most embarrassing for the newlyweds. They didn’t adequately provide for their guests.
Mary approached Jesus and informed Him of the need. From the story it is obvious she knew He had miraculous powers, though He hadn’t been about His ministry very long and had yet to perform miracles (cf., v.11).
Jesus politely declined His mother’s request, informing her that the new life of ministry to God established new relationships. The natural birth relationships such as parents no longer ruled. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit did.
After setting the bounds of leadership in ministry, Jesus then acted out a picture story to teach the spiritual truth of this very point. There were six stone water jars at the celebration. This was typical for the Israelites of that day. The jars held water—from 20 to 30 gallons each, we are told. The water was used by the Jews for ritual washing of various kinds, religious ceremonies if you would.
Jesus instructed the servants to fill the jars to the brim with water. They obeyed His word, which is always a good thing to do when Jesus speaks! Next Jesus instructed them to draw the water from the jars and serve it to the guests.
This was awkward for the servants. If they knew which side their bread was buttered on, they wouldn’t be so keen to obey this part of Jesus’ words. Imagine the wedding guests. They drank all the available wine and wanted more. Here come the servants with a fresh brew. The guests hold out their goblets and the servants fill ‘er up.
The guests take a deep gulp of the wine. Oops! It isn’t wine. It’s water! The guests demand in voices of outrage, “Tie those wretched servants to the whipping post, ya’ hear! We’re gonna exact our pound of flesh for their inappropriate prank. Fie fie on them! Serve us water when we want wine? Hmpf. The nerve of some folks!”
So we can see why the servants would not be excited by Jesus’ instructions to them. Notwithstanding, they obeyed. Praise the Lord! Would that all of us were so readily agreeable to the Word of God. In fear and trepidation the servants served the guests the water…and waited to be flayed alive for their mischief.
Not to worry. The guests began with one voice to sing the praises of the groom. “This is the best wine ever! Congrats to you, Mr. Groom. You sure are strange though. Everyone else serves the best wine first. After we’re all somewhat sated with wine, then the cheaper stuff makes the rounds. But you saved the best for last. Good things come to those who wait. My mama told me that, and she was right!”
And so it was that Jesus began his ministry of miracles. The water-to-wine in Cana was His first, but it was by no means His last, praise God! Being His first miracle, Jesus put it to work doing double duty. For one thing it revealed His powers. For another it taught spiritual truth.
This was common with the Lord. We will explain how so in our next study. See you then, and don’t forget to talk with Jesus a while.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
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