Anchor My Faith

This Is Very Good Wine

Scripture: John 2:9-12

In our previous lesson, we ended with the servants taking the water made into wine to the master of the feast. “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” (John 2:9 ESV). Our text indicates that the master of the feast did not know that Jesus was responsible for producing the wine. As far as he knew it was that provided by the bridegroom. If he had known that it was from Jesus, he would not have called the bridegroom, but would have commented to Jesus. He didn’t, but 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.”’ (John 2:10).

To say that people have drunk freely does not necessarily mean drunkenness, although maybe some were, it indicates that they were at the point of hilarity, with their keenness of taste diminished to the point of not being able to distinguish good wine from bad wine. At this point the bridegroom could save some expense by serving cheaper or “poor wine” and no one would know the difference, but the master of the feast knew the difference and he thanked the bridegroom for maintaining the quality of the wine. In fact, the master commented that this wine was better than the first wine served.

The commentary on the wedding ends at this point, indicating that this was the first sign of Jesus: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11 ESV). The signs that Jesus displayed were for the purpose of identifying him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and to lead unbelievers to faith.

To say that this was his first sign would seem to indicate that Jesus did not perform any miracles during his childhood or early adulthood, as reported by some, but that he lived an ordinary life, free of sin, to this point. From this point on, each sign served the purpose stated above in identifying who he was and to develop faith in unbelievers.

Here, Jesus produced a large quantity of high quality wine, but we will see even greater signs in future lessons: the feeding of many on two occasions, healing the man born blind, and raising Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, to name three. All the signs Jesus performed were carefully chosen to display a particular characteristic and help lead people to believe in him and the work he would finish on the cross; the purchase of our salvation.

This sign of converting water into wine, showed the glory of Jesus as the sovereign Creator and ruler of the material universe and also as the merciful God who provides abundantly for his people’s needs. Our text reports that the disciples believed. This belief was just starting at this point and would be challenged again and again as they walk with Jesus on the way to the cross. They do not yet understand the true meaning of Messiah.

“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 2:12 ESV). After the wedding at Cana, Jesus, along with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, went down in elevation to Capernaum, which was at the sea of Galilee. This was a days’ journey of about 16 miles.

Prayer

Father, the time came for Jesus to perform a sign to begin the process of identifying who he was and what he was sent to accomplish. He has a long, and at times painful and discouraging, journey ahead as he makes his way to the cross. As we walk with him, along the gospel path, we will see, hear and learn many things that if applied to our lives will change them.