Water to Wine

How many times have I read the passage of Jesus' first miracle and look at it solely as His first miraculous expression as God. But recently, I have discovered a richer, deeper meaning of what this story is. In April of 2012, Elizabeth & I had the opportunity to renew our wedding vows at the very location in Israel where this wedding feast happened. We had a feast in our hearts that day. We read the following scripture at the location.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. (John 2:1, 3-12 ESV)

The purpose of this first miracle was to prove that he was in fact God. The miracle of this story however is only the surface of what The Lord was teaching.

At this time, Israel was uninformed about their own Messiah. John the Baptist said in John 1:26 "there stands one among you who you do not know". Metaphorically, this wedding feast was a picture of the nation of Israel, "their wine had run out, the people's supply was empty, yet their Messiah stood there to help". The people were without Joy. The people were bankrupt of joy, they were without hope. Psalms 104:15 (Wine being a symbol of joy). 

Consider the following:

The thirsty crowd is a picture of the lost in the world today. Tasting the worldly secular pleasures is a dead end. No long term personal satisfaction is ever achieved. While a temporary earthly achievement provides satisfaction....isn't that short term. When its achieved, aren't we looking for the next goal, the next level, the next position. God's word provides sinners to come to Christ for salvation which is the ultimate eternal satisfaction.

The human heart is representative of the 6 empty water pots.  Jesus, over looking the Kidron Valley just near the Mount of Olives spoke about The pharisees being beautiful whitewashed tombs, but inside, nothing more than dead men's bones.

Sinners may look lovely on the outside, but God sees them as empty and useless unless He is able to work a divine miracle in it"....Salvation.

Throughout the bible and just like today, water is for washing. Water is a metaphor or image for the word of God. Our responsibility is to give people the "water" and let Christ perform the miracle of Salvation.  When a sinner's heart has been filled/receives the water in their empty water pots/their heart, then Christ can perform the miracle and bring joy. Just like the Ethiopian, he went on his way rejoicing.

The beginning miracle of our life is salvation. Christ takes our empty clay jars/our hearts, and performs the miracle after miracle.  I want to continue to fill my heart with his wine.....the word of God.