The Word Divides
Part XII
John 2:1-5
"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,' '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.’”
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee”
John records for us a chronological movement from “The beginning” to the first miracle in the Gospel of John which is alluded to have occurred on the “third day.” John has been intentional in tracking the movement; “The next day” (John 1:29), “The next day” (John 1:35), “spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour” (John 1:39), “The next day” (John 1:43) and finally “On the third day a wedding” (John 2:1)=on the 7th day.
John does not tell us that there is any significance to the time sequence; however, it certainly is tempting to see the following in the Gospel to this point:
“In the Beginning”=”Let us make” (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Genesis 1:26), God created and it was “very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Jesus comes to do a new creative work, a redemptive work.
“The Third day”=The resurrection of Christ and our Hope and assurance of the creative work of God being completed in our lives (John 20; 21, 1 Corinthians 15).
“The Third day” actually culminates on the 7th day (Genesis 2:2) =This refers to the ascensions of Christ (Acts 1:6-11), where he is seated in the Heaven’s (Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). His work is completed (John 19:30) and we as his bride will one day be gathered to him and sit at the great messianic banquet to rest forever with Him (Matthew 22; Luke 14:15-24; Hebrews 4:9).
The reason to assume the illusion to the above thought has any merit at all is found in Jesus rebuke of his mother for telling him, “They have no more wine.” (John 2:3)
The event certainly gives honor to marriage but the text is not focused on marriage, the couple is not named. The miracle is a sign that points to the identity of Jesus. When the messianic banquet occurs, there will be no marriages or sex and our bridegroom will be Jesus Christ. (Matthew 22:1-39; Revelation 19:7) Marriage is a creation ordinance (Genesis 2:24) which scripture says is to give us understanding of what it means to be “in Christ.” (Ephesians 5:22-32) This calls for fidelity to our bridegroom and not sharing ourselves or allegiance to anything or anyone else (Philippians 2:10). This is part of the reason for Jesus rebuke of this mother. Jesus is Mary’s master and Lord who has come to do “his Father’s will” not Mary’s will, similar to the occasion when his parents came looking for him and found him (Jesus) at the temple. (Luke 2:41-52) Jesus was on His Father’s timetable not his mother’s. (Romans 5:6-8, Galatians 4:4)
The same is expected of every Christian, we always follow God’s will no matter what or who calls us to do something contrary to the will of God!
I have never understood the arguments or strained attempts to make some sort of issue about the wine and whether it was fermented or not. In Jesus day, there were no water treatment plants or water lines running to the home etc. so wine was a staple drink. John does not record that there were a bunch of drunks at the wedding, certainly the disciples, Mary and Jesus were not drunk. If you were the host of the wedding, it certainly would be embarrassing to run short of the wedding essentials, food and drink. Jesus extends mercy to the host assuring that the wedding will continue to be a joyous occasion. Yes, Jesus cares about everything in our lives, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7; Matthew 10:30).
Mary seems to know that Jesus can do something about the shortage of wine and expects him to act. (Luke 2:19) If that is not the case then Jesus rebuke of his mother makes no sense. Mary accepts the gentle rebuke and responds in faith telling the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ (John 2:5) I wish I could respond to Jesus rebuke that quickly! A former President of Wheaton college was speaking during a chapel service I attended. He was an older man and he appeared to shuffle his feet and very slowly to the podium. I remember the words he said, ‘I’ve learned to repent quickly.”
A lesson for us, “repent quickly” and do what the Lord says.
John 2:1-5
"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,' '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.’”
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee”
John records for us a chronological movement from “The beginning” to the first miracle in the Gospel of John which is alluded to have occurred on the “third day.” John has been intentional in tracking the movement; “The next day” (John 1:29), “The next day” (John 1:35), “spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour” (John 1:39), “The next day” (John 1:43) and finally “On the third day a wedding” (John 2:1)=on the 7th day.
John does not tell us that there is any significance to the time sequence; however, it certainly is tempting to see the following in the Gospel to this point:
“In the Beginning”=”Let us make” (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Genesis 1:26), God created and it was “very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Jesus comes to do a new creative work, a redemptive work.
“The Third day”=The resurrection of Christ and our Hope and assurance of the creative work of God being completed in our lives (John 20; 21, 1 Corinthians 15).
“The Third day” actually culminates on the 7th day (Genesis 2:2) =This refers to the ascensions of Christ (Acts 1:6-11), where he is seated in the Heaven’s (Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). His work is completed (John 19:30) and we as his bride will one day be gathered to him and sit at the great messianic banquet to rest forever with Him (Matthew 22; Luke 14:15-24; Hebrews 4:9).
The reason to assume the illusion to the above thought has any merit at all is found in Jesus rebuke of his mother for telling him, “They have no more wine.” (John 2:3)
The event certainly gives honor to marriage but the text is not focused on marriage, the couple is not named. The miracle is a sign that points to the identity of Jesus. When the messianic banquet occurs, there will be no marriages or sex and our bridegroom will be Jesus Christ. (Matthew 22:1-39; Revelation 19:7) Marriage is a creation ordinance (Genesis 2:24) which scripture says is to give us understanding of what it means to be “in Christ.” (Ephesians 5:22-32) This calls for fidelity to our bridegroom and not sharing ourselves or allegiance to anything or anyone else (Philippians 2:10). This is part of the reason for Jesus rebuke of this mother. Jesus is Mary’s master and Lord who has come to do “his Father’s will” not Mary’s will, similar to the occasion when his parents came looking for him and found him (Jesus) at the temple. (Luke 2:41-52) Jesus was on His Father’s timetable not his mother’s. (Romans 5:6-8, Galatians 4:4)
The same is expected of every Christian, we always follow God’s will no matter what or who calls us to do something contrary to the will of God!
I have never understood the arguments or strained attempts to make some sort of issue about the wine and whether it was fermented or not. In Jesus day, there were no water treatment plants or water lines running to the home etc. so wine was a staple drink. John does not record that there were a bunch of drunks at the wedding, certainly the disciples, Mary and Jesus were not drunk. If you were the host of the wedding, it certainly would be embarrassing to run short of the wedding essentials, food and drink. Jesus extends mercy to the host assuring that the wedding will continue to be a joyous occasion. Yes, Jesus cares about everything in our lives, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7; Matthew 10:30).
Mary seems to know that Jesus can do something about the shortage of wine and expects him to act. (Luke 2:19) If that is not the case then Jesus rebuke of his mother makes no sense. Mary accepts the gentle rebuke and responds in faith telling the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ (John 2:5) I wish I could respond to Jesus rebuke that quickly! A former President of Wheaton college was speaking during a chapel service I attended. He was an older man and he appeared to shuffle his feet and very slowly to the podium. I remember the words he said, ‘I’ve learned to repent quickly.”
A lesson for us, “repent quickly” and do what the Lord says.
No comments have been added yet.
Jonahbooks.com
Jonahbooks.com release simple to-the-point Christian books, to-simply-serve through Christian Life-skill services. Coaching, Consulting and Training.
Our Blog: Unless otherwise stated, quotations from ...more
Our Blog: Unless otherwise stated, quotations from ...more
Jonah Books.com isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
