My, Devotion to Him #43
VERSE PASSAGE: John 2:5-11 “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” – NIV
Wow! This story has always been interesting to me since I was fairly young. I so amazed how Jesus could turn simple water into wine. It wasn’t until now that I started to find some really interesting things that were tucked away in this passage.
You see Jesus was at a wedding. This was the third day of the ceremony. Everyone is having a great time and then a big problem happens. They are out of wine. This is not good. The Bible does not mention whose wedding this is. However, I believe it is either a relative of Jesus or it’s of someone who is very important. The reason I believe this is Jesus’ mother comes to Him in verse 3 and states that they are out of wine. Then in verse 5 she tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. Now, this is where things start to change.
Nearby were six watering jars. From the study that I’ve done these watering jars were not the containers that held the wine. They held water for ablutions that would be done before and after the party. In which an ablution is when people would wash parts of their body. So these jars were for people to wash their hands and such. Nothing special here. Each jar held 20-30 gallons, there was 120-180 gallons in total. Jesus told them to fill the jars with water. So, these jars were either partly filled or totally empty. The servants went and filled each jar to the brim. Now filling these jars to the brim would be filling to the point of overflowing. What I think is interesting is Jesus told them to fill it. However, He did not tell them how much. Let alone to fill all the way to the tip of the jars.
After the jars had been filled to the point of overflowing Jesus told them to draw some and take it to the master of the banquet. This next part is very interesting. It says that the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine he did not realize where it had came from but the servants who had drawn the water did. Interesting part here is it states that the servants who had drawn the water. Jesus had them fill the jar and then draw from it. So, to me when the servant had drawn from the jar of water as it poured out it was water. Then the master of the banquet had tasted the water that has been turned into wine. So sometime between the cup being taken to the master and the master drinking from the cup had the water been turned into wine.
The master goes and pulls the bridegroom aside and states that it’s customary for the best to be brought first then the cheap wine to be brought out last but the best was saved for last.
The bridegroom was probably having to think back because he most likely as it was customary he had the best wine served first. You see the water that was turned in wine by Jesus was so rich in flavor and amazing in taste that it far out did the best wine that had already been served. Amazing!
Now, this was the first sign through which Jesus revealed His glory and in which compelled His disciples to believe in Him. What is interesting here is John says “sign” he did not state that Jesus did a “mighty work” or used “powers” however he said that this was the first sign. This was the first in which revealed His glory and which convinced His disciples to believe. Jesus did not touch the water, they did not see for themselves the water changing into wine, Jesus did not say He would change the water into wine. Yet the wine that was water was so amazing that it was so much better than the best that had already been presented.
Mary knew Jesus as no one else did at this point. It is certain that Mary knew Jesus was no ordinary man. Her request of Jesus to provide the guests with more wine reflects her belief that He could do things others could not.
Her instructions to the servants were, “Do whatever he tells you to do.” This shows that she not only knew Jesus could work miracles, but she knew His way of doing things did not always conform to conventional thought. Sure enough, Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water and then take it to the master of the feast.
This defied logic! Everyone there knew the guests wanted more wine, not water. Yet these servants, at Mary’s bidding, did exactly what Jesus told them and the results were wonderful. This miracle would not have taken place if the servants had not done what seemed foolish to them.
The Lord’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:8).
To see His miraculous power in our lives, we must do “whatever” He tells us to do regardless of how foolish it may seem. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor. 1:25).
Today, whatever He tells you to do. Do it! When you do it, do not do it half heartedly. Do it to the point of overflowing, do it to the max that it can be done.
Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 