John 2:1-10 He turned the water into wine

John 2:1-2 John's narrative gives a time sequence of days, that these events happened in a very short order. John the Baptist had a discussion with the emissaries of the Jews. (John 1:19) The next day, Jesus came to John the Baptist. (John 1:29). The same day, John's disciples left him and began to follow Jesus. (John 1:35) The day after that, Jesus and His disciples went to Galilee (John 1:43). On the third day, Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding with Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 2:1-2). Actually, Mary may have had a role in the wedding because the text does not say she was invited, it says she was there; and Mary gave instructions to the servants (John 2:5). This may explain the invitation to Jesus and His disciples. Perhaps it was a relative or a friend of the family who also knew Jesus fairly well. Mere speculation.

John 2:3-10 In Jesus' first miracle, He provides for something that is not a basic human need, but a shortcoming in the preparations for a celebration of a wedding. Jesus' initial response to Mary is puzzling, because it seems to imply that it was not yet the appropriate time for Him to begin His ministry of works of power. But, because of the faith implicit in Mary's directions to the servants, Jesus honored His mother's request. Later on, Jesus indicated that He only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Hence, we can infer that the Father also chose to do this miracle, even though Jesus had previously said His hour had not yet come. The faith that says to do whatever Jesus says to do is the faith that is prepared to accept the outcome, whatever God chooses, so long as we trust the situation into His hand. And then we do our part - whatever He says.

          The water vessels for purification were based on Jewish custom which was based on the Mosaic ceremonial law for purification. Numbers 8:7 prescribes water of purification for the Levites, to be presented before God as His. Numbers 19 gives instruction for water of purification in two circumstances: when a red heifer is offered; and when a person dies in a tent.  However, none of these commands relate to purification in connection with marriage. So why did they have all of these waterpots containing a lot of water for purification

          In this miracle, what is the significance of turning water into wine? There are several places where the unfortunate tendency to drink wine to excess is either illustrated or forwned upon. In Genesis 9, Noah drank to excess and was shamefully exposed. In Genesis 19, Lot's daughters get him drunk and then lie with him in order to have children. In Lev 10:9 wine is forbidden to priests who will enter the Lord's presence. Numbers 6:3 forbids wine to anyone making the Nazirite vow. Proverbs has several specific admonitions about the dangers of excess consumption of wine (20:1, 21:17, 23:20, 23:30-31, 31:4-6). Isaiah 5 lists a number of woes, three of which relate to excess consumption of wine. Isaiah 56:12 links excess consumption of wine to a lifestyle that is not approved. Jeremiah 35 lauds the decision of the Rechabites who followed a vow to drink no wine. Daniel 5 relates a drunken feast at which Belshazzar defiles the articles from the Jewish temple, and is judged and killed the same night. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul commands believers not to be drunk with wine to excess. I Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 say that the overseer must not be given to excess of wine.

          What is interesting is that all of these passages must be weighed against innumerable other passages in the Old Testament in which wine is one of the crops whose abundance is promised as part of God's blessing (Gen. 27:28 for example). It seems to be a common challenge across the ages to live with wine as a fact of life and its consumption as normal, and not fall into the habit or practice of excess. And this is not unique to the consumption of alcohol.  Other examples of items for which maintaining balance of a lawful thing is a challenge include money, sex, and power. In fact, life is full of things that used properly and in the context of God's intended purpose bring tremendous blessing, but that taken out of context or blown out of proportion become a curse. A very human and easy response is to shun whatever we have seen abused - becoming a teetotaler, taking a  vow of poverty and/or chastity, refusing to accept God-appointed relationships of authority and responsibility. But in fact, money used properly can greatly build God's kingdom. Sexuality in the context of marriage and properly exercised brings not only children but also joy in marriage. Authority and responsibility in God's kingdom are spelled out in considerable detail in many of Paul's epistles, and properly exercised bring growth and wholeness to God's people individually and in community.

          In the case of wine, we also see that it is sometimes used as a type of aspects of God. This is especially noted on the day of Pentecost when witnesses attributed the behavior of the disciples when under the influence of the Holy Spirit to them being full of sweet wine. (Acts 2:13) And, of course, during the last supper, Jesus raised the cup and said that the cup was the covenant in His blood which was shed for them.

          The bottom line on this miracle is that Jesus seemed to be almost a facilitator of the consumption of a significant amount of wine. There were very large water vessels. And according to the headwaiter, the wine He created was very good. So perhaps the lesson here is not that we need to become connoisseurs of physical wine and seek out the best brands. Rather, the lesson seems to me that we need to seek the things of God that wine represents, which are good and perfect gifts. (Ephesians 5:18) The consumption of physical wine should be in its proper place and proportion, in moderation, in conjunction with celebrations of God's goodness. There are some people for whom consumption in moderation is simply unattainable, and they become addicts ... to alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. For these specific people, complete abstention would be advised. The advice of Paul in Romans 14:21 suggests that under these circumstances, others around the weaker brother should also abstain, for his sake.

          Although God has given good gifts in food and drink, He has kept the best for last, when Jesus has been revealed and has shed His blood for our sins and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us.