Jesus' First Miracle
It was Jesus’ first miracle. Looking back, it might seem a little odd to us in modern America. Christians of our culture have often declared alcoholic drink as out of bounds. Not fit for “serious” Christians. And not without reason. Alcoholism has ruined many. Drunk driving has claimed too many lives. We are told by the apostle Paul not to get drunk on wine, but to have minds controlled by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 8:5). So, what do we make of this miracle Jesus performs in Cana?
First, let’s back up. It’s interesting to see the positive references to wine in scripture. For example, when Melchizedek the priest of God came to meet Abram, after Abram has rescued Lot’s family from enemies in Genesis 14, we are told, “And Melchizedek King of Salem brought out bread and wine” and he blessed Abram. We find of the 235 times wine is mentioned in the Bible (Young’s Analytical Concordance) it is a mixture of positive and negative references. The author of Psalm 104:14-15 says, “You (God) cause the grass to grow for livestock, plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food, and wine to gladden the heart of man.”
So, there was a wedding in Cana, not far from Nazareth where Jesus grew up. It appears the wedding party were friends of the family, as Mary (Jesus’ mother) is there also. Wine was part of the celebration, but they ran out. Mary informs Jesus, then tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus tells them to fill six stone jars (used for Jewish purification rites) with water (each typically holding 20-30 gallons!). Then he tells them to draw some out and have the wedding manager taste it. He does and responds to the bridegroom (who is probably watching all this with his mouth dropped open), “Everyone serves the good wine first, then the poor wine when people have drunk freely, but you have kept the good wine until now.” Was it just good grape juice, as some contend? Come on, you know better.
Why this for Jesus’ first miracle? Rabbi Jason Sobel (a Messianic Jew) says there are multiple reasons. First, the six jars used may be symbolic. God created the world in six days, and on the seventh day he rested. Now, as Jesus initiates his ministry, he comes to restore the Lord’s blessing of creation. Numbers often hold meaning, Sobel says, and it may be true here. Jesus creates 6 jars of wine, then they rest. A stretch, I think.
Or, Jesus was the fulfillment of what Moses had been to the Israelites. In Deut.18:18, “I will raise up for them a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” Hebrews 3:3 says, “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” And what was the first miracle Moses performed? He turned the water of the Nile into red blood, a symbol of death. Jesus, by contrast, turned the water into red wine at a wedding feast, a symbol of life and abundance. It’s a wedding, Jesus is initiating a ministry to provide salvation for his bride, the church. Better, I think.
Amos 9:13 tells us, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, …the mountains shall drip sweet wine…and I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel.” In Isaiah 25:6, we find, “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine.” Isaac blessed Jacob with, “May God bless you with the dew of heaven…and plenty of grain and wine” (Gen. 27:28).
What does all this mean for the Christian? First, that we recognize significance in Jesus turning water into wine as his first miracle. We might ask: can the Christian have a glass of wine today, is it a sin? Like many things in life, we must evaluate it responsibly. If that means avoiding it because it is a problem, that’s what we should do. The Bible says getting drunk is a sin. Beyond that, it’s a matter of judgment and Christ-honoring behavior.
Question: If you were at the Cana wedding, how would you have reacted to Jesus’ first miracle?
First, let’s back up. It’s interesting to see the positive references to wine in scripture. For example, when Melchizedek the priest of God came to meet Abram, after Abram has rescued Lot’s family from enemies in Genesis 14, we are told, “And Melchizedek King of Salem brought out bread and wine” and he blessed Abram. We find of the 235 times wine is mentioned in the Bible (Young’s Analytical Concordance) it is a mixture of positive and negative references. The author of Psalm 104:14-15 says, “You (God) cause the grass to grow for livestock, plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food, and wine to gladden the heart of man.”
So, there was a wedding in Cana, not far from Nazareth where Jesus grew up. It appears the wedding party were friends of the family, as Mary (Jesus’ mother) is there also. Wine was part of the celebration, but they ran out. Mary informs Jesus, then tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus tells them to fill six stone jars (used for Jewish purification rites) with water (each typically holding 20-30 gallons!). Then he tells them to draw some out and have the wedding manager taste it. He does and responds to the bridegroom (who is probably watching all this with his mouth dropped open), “Everyone serves the good wine first, then the poor wine when people have drunk freely, but you have kept the good wine until now.” Was it just good grape juice, as some contend? Come on, you know better.
Why this for Jesus’ first miracle? Rabbi Jason Sobel (a Messianic Jew) says there are multiple reasons. First, the six jars used may be symbolic. God created the world in six days, and on the seventh day he rested. Now, as Jesus initiates his ministry, he comes to restore the Lord’s blessing of creation. Numbers often hold meaning, Sobel says, and it may be true here. Jesus creates 6 jars of wine, then they rest. A stretch, I think.
Or, Jesus was the fulfillment of what Moses had been to the Israelites. In Deut.18:18, “I will raise up for them a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” Hebrews 3:3 says, “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” And what was the first miracle Moses performed? He turned the water of the Nile into red blood, a symbol of death. Jesus, by contrast, turned the water into red wine at a wedding feast, a symbol of life and abundance. It’s a wedding, Jesus is initiating a ministry to provide salvation for his bride, the church. Better, I think.
Amos 9:13 tells us, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, …the mountains shall drip sweet wine…and I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel.” In Isaiah 25:6, we find, “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine.” Isaac blessed Jacob with, “May God bless you with the dew of heaven…and plenty of grain and wine” (Gen. 27:28).
What does all this mean for the Christian? First, that we recognize significance in Jesus turning water into wine as his first miracle. We might ask: can the Christian have a glass of wine today, is it a sin? Like many things in life, we must evaluate it responsibly. If that means avoiding it because it is a problem, that’s what we should do. The Bible says getting drunk is a sin. Beyond that, it’s a matter of judgment and Christ-honoring behavior.
Question: If you were at the Cana wedding, how would you have reacted to Jesus’ first miracle?
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus