1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So, they took it. 9 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 10 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.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Though most Christians may think that this first miracle of Jesus is cool, very few have any idea of the message that Christ is saying by it. So, perhaps I can help. These first miracle from the Lord recorded in John 2, of Jesus turning water into wine occurs at a wedding, in six stone jars, used for the Jewish rights of purification, which we just read. However, what some may not know, is that this suggested that this was a culture steeped in Old Testament and other Jewish writings in which wine, in moderation, frequently represented the joy that God brings to His people, during Jewish celebrations and festivals. But, in this account, Jesus displays new wine, which represents a new way and the New Covenant that Jesus was bringing.
Jesus points this out again in Matthew 9:17-Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
Albert Barnes says of this verse: “By long usage bottles of skins became tender and would be easily ruptured. New wine put into them would ferment, and swell and burst them open. New skins or bottles would yield to the fermenting wine, and be strong enough to hold it from bursting. So, says Christ, “It is not “fit” that my doctrine should be attached to or connected with the old and corrupt doctrines of the Pharisees. New things should be put together, and made to match.”
In Matthew 9, Jesus was actually saying, “The old deluded water of Judaism was being replaced by the new and powerful gospel of grace.
But, know this Christian, in no way is Jesus condemning or throwing aside the Old Testament. Actually, the New Covenant that He brings is Himself, who fulfills the Old testament law entirely. Meaning, it is by faith in His perfect work, not our works, that one is saved. A belief that Christ was able to do everything required by the Father, for us, that we were in no way able to do for ourselves. For it is by faith, not works that we are saved. What amazing grace is found in the Savior Jesus Christ. What depth of love He has, that He would lay down His life for His people. May we forever declare from our hearts, Hallelujah, what a Savior.
By: Daniel C. Rodgers