MIRACLES AND REVELATION
THE PRINCIPLE OF BLOOD SACRIFICE
JESUS AT THE TIME
JEWISH MARRIAGES IN JESUS’ TIME
BREAD AND WINE – REALITY AND SYMBOLISM
...Bread
...The Table of Shewbread
...Wine
...Bread and Wine Together
THE WEDDING FEAST ITSELF

The Wedding Ceremony

Look up the record of this miracle in your favorite translation, or read online, at the blue link below.

As Jesus was sitting down enjoying the company and building a closer relationship with his first five disciples, a crisis developed. The unthinkable happened! Yes, Mary saw that the hosts had a hugely embarrassing situation on their hands. For after nearly a week’s feasting, the supply of wine had run out before the celebrations were complete. What was to be done? Mary had an idea.

You see, for the previous, now approaching 31 years, ever since the visit of the angel to tell her that she was miraculously pregnant, Mary had known that Jesus was someone special. This had had finally been confirmed when her well known nephew, John the Baptist, the final prophet of the Old Testament order who had predicted the coming of ‘the Christ’, the promised Saviour of the Jews, baptized his cousin Jesus as the one chosen of God. Confirmed too by the Holy Spirit alighting on Jesus like a dove, as well as the Father’s heavenly words of confirmation. So it’s little wonder that Mary, who was perhaps the chief caterer, called upon her special son, to help overcome this very serious and embarrassing problem.

So Mary went into the Feasting room herself, or sent a message in to ask Jesus to come out to the kitchen. When she explained the predicament and asked Him to help, He immediately questioned her request, saying, “My time (hour to act) has not yet come.” (John 2:4) This referred of course, in an oblique way, to His death, which was still 3½ years in the future. But Mary understood the destiny of her son. She realized the time for His ministry, as opposed to his death, had come. For John the Baptist had proclaimed it, both God the Father and the Holy Spirit had confirmed it, while Jesus too, had reached 30, the traditional commencement age for ministry under the Jewish system. So she simply told the servants to “Do whatever he tells you.” (John2:5)

So through this first demonstration of the miraculous in His ministry, as one set apart from all others, Jesus was about to illustrate precisely who He was, what form His ministry was to take, and how it was to end. Of course, the people didn’t understand at the time, nor could possibly be expected to imagine or comprehend what was going to take place over the next 42 months. How such a short moment in the vast passage of time could and would, change world history forever.

Jesus instructed the servants to “Fill the jars with water.” (John 2:7) For these, the 6 special, holy stone jars, had been emptied during the pre meal ceremonial hand washing rites that the guests, being devout Jews, had religiously performed.

Water pots of the type used in Jesus' time.

Having carefully filled the precious jars with about 700 litres (150 gallons) of water, reflecting the considerable size of the wedding, the servants returned to Jesus.

We are unsure as to where the water came from. Whether it was drawn from a local well or came from another source. There is a possibility that it was special holy water containing traces of the ashes of the red heifer, normally used for the sanctification and purification of those who handled dead bodies.

For there are indications that this anointed water was in wider usage at this time. But, whatever the source of the water, because of the containers it was now stored in, it was regarded as holy, suitable for using in the cleansing rites to be observed prior to eating each meal.

Next, Jesus ordered the servants to draw water from the jars with what we would now call a ladle, and take it to the Master of the Banquet. Not knowing where it had had come from, for he would never had considered drinking it had he known that it was the holy water reserved for ceremonial washing and cleansing, he tasted what was now wine and found it to be superb! Amazed, he sought out the bridegroom, and taking him aside to avoid any embarrassment, complimented him on how he had saved the best until wine until last, at variance with normal practice. For usually, cheaper wine was served “after the guests have had too much to drink.” (John 2:10) Jesus simply smiled.

The typical pattern in which God acts is one of ‘threes’. A prime example is found in the Godhead itself. This principle permeates God’s actions from the design of the first church, the Tabernacle of Moses with its Outer Court, Holy Place and Holy of Holies. It remains the pattern for today’s church too. In the New Testament, we find the triad of faith, hope and love, together with many other examples of the application of ‘threes’ in God’s order.

Moses Tabernacle in the desert.

Along with the wine at the wedding feast, copious quantities of bread were consumed. Bread and wine in early times, signified the ample provision of God, for when both were plentiful, God’s abundant physical blessings were upon the people. Remember the principle… ‘first in the natural, then in the spiritual.’ So bread and wine have always been associated with the Priesthood, spiritual nourishment and blessing too.

This can first be seen way back, over 4000 years ago, in the time of Abraham, where we have the revelation of first ‘order’ of the priesthood, in the person of Melchizedek. And what did Melchizedek do? He brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham upon his return from a successful battle.

Etching shows Melchizedek blessing David.

Six hundred years later, in the time of Moses, when the second ‘order’, the Levitical priesthood succeeded the order of Melchizedek,

The High Priest

the Levites ministered in God’s first church, Moses Tabernacle. Each day on the Brazen Altar, both morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed, along with an Offering of Grain (bread) and a Drink Offering of a ‘hin’ (about a quart or a litre) of wine.

The Brazen Altar

The priests also placed an offering of unleavened bread, once a week on the Sabbath, on the Table of Shewbread. While we do not know the details of the ceremony involved, it certainly included a Drink Offering (i.e. wine) as there were plates, dishes, bowls and pitchers made of pure gold, for the pouring out of drink offerings on the Table.

Model of the Table of Shewbread.

Jesus came as the fulfilment of the third and final order of the priesthood. He announced this fact at the wedding feast in Cana, changing the water into wine, and consuming it with bread and lamb (He too, was the Lamb of God! Further symbolism.) in the Middle Eastern tradition, reminiscent of Melchizedek’s feast with Abraham. Jesus was also the replacement for the Grain and Drink Offerings, sacrifices required under the second, unsuccessful Levitical Order of the Tabernacle and its successor, the Temple in Jerusalem.

And today too, we are called upon to give thanks for what He symbolically announced at that wedding, through continuing to eat the bread and the wine in remembrance of what He has done for us. Isn’t that amazing? For nothing happens by chance in God!

The coming and the death of Jesus were foreshadowed three times in the Old Testament. And here we see that the symbolic celebration of thankfulness and remembrance of His death through the sacrament of Communion, the bread and the wine, was the third and final fulfilment of a ceremony that started over 2000 years before He came!

With our new understanding that the wine Jesus made was symbolic of His blood, being taken with bread too, we can see that Jesus was proclaiming the beginning of the third and final priesthood of God’s order. These three forms of priesthood are revealed as being God’s plan, one progressively revealed from the beginning of time. The first priesthood of Melchizedek, replaced by the Levitical, and now finally, the ultimate priesthood of Jesus. Amazingly each incorporates the symbolism of the bread and the wine! The Lord’s Supper was not just a good idea Jesus had the night before He died, but remains a symbol of the fulfilment of God’s three-step Priesthood plan designed from the very beginning of time. Jesus was the final sacrificial lamb, the Saviour of the world. Just incredible! And faith building too!

Coenaculum, Dining Hall. Possibly where Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples.

It never ceases to amaze me, even though it shouldn't, how God's plan has been in place since the very beginning. And for us to be a part of the third and final Priesthood makes me jump with joy. (If you can while sitting in a chair and typing!)

Pictured is a village medical clinic in India, run by a German trained Eye Surgeon, Dr Kumar. A wonderful work showing God's love. The man in the striped shirt with the camera hiding his face, is Asher Peri, our ministy's Indian Representative and very good friend.