Life-spark: Don’t just look at a miracle, look into a miracle. (John 2:9-11)
The Apostle John built the first half of his gospel around seven miraculous signs that Jesus performed. Each of these signs points beyond the meeting of a temporal human need to something even deeper, richer, and more permanent. Each of these signs points to the unstoppable aliveness of God, available in His Eternal Son, Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s first recorded miracle, changing water to wine, was a miraculous sign that pointed to what His life on earth would accomplish. The six water jugs, used for ritual washing in the Jewish religion, represented our religious attempts to clean up our outer, visible lives. (Six is the number of man in the Bible).
Second, the slave’s obedience to Jesus command represented what happens when any person trusts God for her or his salvation.
Third, the water made wine represented the blood of Jesus that would be shed on the cross, just as wine does when Christians take communion today.
Fourth, the manager of the Feast represents Father God, who will officiate at the wedding of Jesus and His bride, the church.
Fifth, the master’s approval of the wine represents God’s approval of Christ’s work of atonement. … and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. (John 2:9, NIV) This Galilean wedding miracle was a sign, pointing to God’s plan of salvation and the wedding feast of the Lamb.
What can we learn from this first miracle, this sign? Don’t give God a glass of water at the final wedding feast on that final day. Don’t just say, “I really tried to clean up my life. I hope I lived a good enough life to please you.” The Father will expect good wine. Better to say “I know that I didn’t live up to your standards God. I’m not here on the basis of my righteousness or religious works. I believe in Jesus and His death for me on the cross. I believe in the blood represented by the wine I drink when I participate in holy communion. I saw the sign, and I get it.
Life-question: Think on this for 60 seconds, or until you can formulate an answer: Why would Jesus start His ministry with a miracle that previewed His whole plan for saving people?