The Wine Revelation

A little while ago, I heard a message where the pastor preached about Jesus’ first miracle. While the pastor explained it, the Holy Spirit revealed a perspective I didn’t hear of or know about before. It wasn’t even close to the sermon, which at this point I can’t even remember, but this revelation stuck with me, and I’m excited to share it with you!

There are countless messages and interpretations of Jesus’ first miracle, but this revelation helped me understand God and our salvation better.

God does that sometimes. He’ll reveal something to you personally to bring you closer to Him. He knows how you understand, feel, and perceive knowledge and wisdom. He knows your learning style, the way you comprehend, and what means most to you, especially in your current season. The way He speaks to you is special and no one else can absorb the information and revelations He gives to you at the time given.

That doesn’t mean you go off the rails and interpret your own truth, but measure it with the Bible and other faith-filled believers. There have been countless times when I got things wrong because I assumed it was already in the Bible. So, with that said, take everything with a grain of salt and learn to rely on the Holy Spirit more than your knowledge, other people’s knowledge, unless it’s checked.

As you read the rest of this post, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something new to you. Something you’ve never heard of before. And then be sure to do some research and study the Word to enhance the revelation. I pray this post about John chapter two encourages your faith, sharpens your awareness of God, and makes you want to know Him in a deeper way. I believe this will encourage you about our salvation in Jesus and reaffirm your faith in Him!

Let’s talk about the Wine Revelation!

Wedding in Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus *said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

John 2:1-5

In the Hebrew culture, weddings usually lasted for several days, even up to a week. Which meant that during this time, food and wine get fully supplied by the bride and groom’s families for the whole celebration. It was almost shameful to run out of food or wine and other necessities, because that potentially implied thoughtlessness, impoverishment, and a lack of provision. That was part of the culture, and it was normal.

When Mary came to Jesus, there was a need. They lacked wine on the third day of the wedding. The jars were empty and dry. And Jesus; well, His time had not yet come.

Like the wedding traditions, rituals, and other requirements in their culture, we’ll often find that the Old Testament has the same things. It’s like a laundry list of rules and regulations, laws and traditions. The genealogies, specified numbers, customs, and sacrifices are almost overwhelming and dreadful to read through nowadays (especially the first time you read it). But as you read on, and move into reading the New Testament, the pieces connect and the prophecies come together, and with every Jesus encounter, the law gets fulfilled. We see the Old Testament connect to Jesus in the New Testament and vice versa. We see why He came, why He died and resurrected, and salvation makes more sense.

Just like the wine ran out, so did the law in the Old Testament. Just as the prophets spoke of Jesus, Mary and so many others spoke directly to Jesus. His hour to fulfill the law completely had not yet come, but He filled the current need and challenged the impossible.

Water Into Wine

⁶ Now there were six stone water pots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each. ⁷ Jesus *said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” And they took it to him. 

John 2:6-8

These six water pots represent six instances leading up to Jesus’ birth that were Holy Spirit inspired. Not just any instances, but people, servants, who were ready to get filled and become aware of and help God’s plan:

1. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary to conceive (Luke 1:35)
2. Angels appeared to Joseph affirming him to marry Mary (Matthew 1:20-25)
3. Angels appeared to shepherds declaring Christ is Lord (Luke 2:8-20)
4. The star which led the wise men to Jesus supernaturally (Matthew 2:1-12)
5. Elizabeth got filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:41-42)
6. And John was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb, before he was born (Luke 1:15)

The water pots for the Jewish custom of purification represent these people as a connection to help fulfill the law. God found these people righteous before Him. They walked according to His commandments. As far as we know, they emptied themselves, like the jars, and became available for God to use them. They were connected and obedient to the law.

Jesus took everyday water pots used for purification, filled them with water, and had some taken to the headwaiter (the master of the feast). Like so, God took everyday people who lived according to the law, purified according to their time’s standards, and He filled them with purpose.

Before we talk about the headwaiter, let’s talk about the water.

Often, water symbolizes the Holy Spirit. When the servants filled the pots with water and obeyed Jesus, the miracle took place, and the water transformed into wine.

When God fills us with the Holy Spirit and we obey, transformation happens. Obedience leads to transformation.

Best Wine First

⁹ Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the groom, ¹⁰ and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 

John 2:9-10

They serve the best wine first until the guests don’t care for the taste. In this case, it’s the other way around.

They had to run out of wine in order for Jesus to fill the need and provide the miracle.

Similarly, the law came first, but overtime, people lost their fear of God and didn’t care for its taste. The law ran out in order for Jesus to fulfill it and provide salvation. He is our best wine that is served, like it was at this wedding.

The headwaiter did not know where the new wine came from. I bet most of the guests weren’t even aware a miracle had happened. And today, we find many people know the Bible and the law and what it means to be a Christian (going to church, reading the Bible, praying before you eat, etc.), but few are aware (or refuse to accept) the miracle that happened. That there’s more. They tasted what they thought was the best, unaware that there was something more and even better.

Like they served the best wine last, Jesus is our last. Our hope and salvation.

He’s better for our faith than that what was prior to Him: the law of sin and death, living according to the world and the flesh, and religiosity.

The wine ran out; the law ran out.

They served the best wine last, and so Jesus came as our wine.

The best Wine. This miracle is a representation of Him and the salvation He brings!

Revealed Glory

¹¹ This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

John 2:11

As a concluding point, the revealed glory of Jesus is that He truly is the foretold Savior of the world. The transformational miracle of water into wine also reveals the quality of this truth:

The 6 water pots provided 120+ gallons of more wine (that’s around 900 wine bottles!), and they were only 3 days into the wedding. They served this wine for the remaining part of the wedding.

Jesus Christ (our wine) is our salvation from sin and death, which means He is ours for the remaining part of our life on earth and when He comes again.

We can enjoy Him now and for eternity.

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Bible passages to extend your study:

• John 2 & 15
• Romans 8
• Psalms 34
• Exodus 20

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More on faith, life, and motivation

• Your Actions Matter: How to Develop a Godly Character 
• Proverbs 9: Seven Truths About Us in Christ (Revised)
• Your Goals Matter: How to Set Intentional Goals That Help You Live the Life You Desire
• Your Attitude Matters: How to Maintain a Positive & Pure Attitude 
• Your Words Matter: How to Speak Kindly to Yourself and Others