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BACKGROUND
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
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
FIRST MIRACLE BACKGROUND
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Reading the introduction is recommended to obtain the full value from this study. It's easy going!
If you have already read the first section, WHAT HAPPENED, you may like to skip down directly to todays teaching, A REVELATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. |
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Jesus with the Jars. They would have been a bit larger though.
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| FROM THE WORD
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 Look up the record of this miracle in your favorite translation, or read online, at the blue link below.
John 2:1-11
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| TURNING THE WATER INTO WINE
A Revelation of the Lord's Supper |
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| WHAT HAPPENED |
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 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.
Painting of the wedding ceremony.
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.
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.
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 We are unsure as to where the water came from. Whether it was drawn from a local well or came from another source.
Joseph´s Well near Bothan. A traditional well surrounded by stones grooved by the ropes of the buckets let down to obtain water.
There is a possibility that it was special holy water containing traces of the ashes of the red heifer, (see Numbers 19) 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.
John 2:11
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| 1. A STATEMENT OF GOD’S AUTHORITY VESTED IN JESUS
2. THE REVELATION OF HIS MINISTRY ROLE
3. THE REVELATION OF A NEW PRIESTHOOD
See previous 3 week's teachings. (Link is included at the end of this week's teaching.) |
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| 4. A REVELATION OF……. THE LORD’S SUPPER
(Illustrating the 'POWER OF 3' In God)
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 The celebration of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion as it is now widely known, is the third in a series of similar celebrations or remembrances. For nothing in God happens by chance! The coming of Jesus was planned and prophesized from the beginning of time! For God works in patterns of 'three', of which this is but one example.
The Lord’s Supper had it’s origin 4000 years ago, way, way back in antiquity.
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| ABRAHAM AND MELCHIZEDEK |
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 When Abram (Before he became Abraham) returned victorious from the battle with King Kedorlaomer and his associates, he gave the king priest Melchizedek, an ancient picture of Jesus, a tithe of the spoils he had acquired. In return, Melchizedek brought out bread and wine as a celebration or remembrance of the event.
Etching shows Melchizedek blessing Abraham.
Genesis 14:!7-20
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| MOSES AND THE TABERNACLE |
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 Moving on 600 years, we come to the world’s first church, the Tabernacle of Moses, detailed plans of which were given on Mount Sinai. (See A Revelation of… The Church – Past, Present and Future) As is the case with progressive revelation, further truth was revealed.
Tabernacle and model of the High Priest, robes.
In the Tabernacle, the most regular offering of all those made on the Bronze Altar for the Israelites sins, was the twice daily, morning and evening sacrifice of a one-year-old lamb, together with accompanying Grain (bread) and Drink (wine) Offerings. A perfect picture of what Jesus would do for us, once and for all, 1500 years later! The Lamb of God, (The Sacrificial Lamb) whose body would be broken (Grain Offering) and whose blood (Drink Offering) would be shed for us.
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 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
The Lord’s Supper symbolises and recognises the fulfilment of God’s eternal plan of reconciliation, in bringing us back to Him through the blood of Jesus. Everything has now been done. His work is finished. All we have to do is believe and obey. Our trust and rest is in Him.
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| JESUS AND THE LAST SUPPER |
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 When Jesus came to be our final sacrificial lamb, the need for the twice-daily sacrifice ceased. This physically happened when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans on 5 August 70AD and has never been re-instituted into Jewish worship, as there is no longer a temple in which to make the sacrifice. God works too, in the natural as well as the spiritual! And as the Last Supper reveals, the final sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf is to be remembered by breaking bread, symbolic of His battered body and drinking wine, symbolic of His blood poured out for you and me. Isn’t it amazing how it all ties in together?
The form of the symbolism would not have come as a complete surprise to the Disciples either, for Jesus had earlier talked about the principles it contains.
John 6:53-57
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‘In the same way’ they too, after the Last Supper may well have understood the application of the principles of the Grain and Drink Offerings to what Jesus had taught, for they undoubtedly participated in these ceremonies at the Temple, when in Jerusalem. As the Apostle Paul said:
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| A PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE |
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If you have read this, not yet having personally accepted the sacrifice Jesus has made on your behalf as revealed through the changing of the water into wine and in the Lord’s Supper, here is your opportunity to do so. He died for this moment. He died for you, yes, you! All you need to do is to respond to Him through this prayer.
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Congratulations and welcome to the Kingdom of God! Please share with another Christian what you have just done, and seek their help in finding a fellowship of believers to support you in living out this decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life. May the Lord bless you as you build an eternal relationship with Him.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
A REVELATION OF……. SERVANTHOOD AND LEADERSHIP
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 The first of a new 7 part series, particularly exploring servanthood in leadership. Sure to challenge and make one think!
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Just to think, that when we take the bread and the wine, we are continuing a spiritual observance that has been in place for many thousands of years. Wow! And even more wonderful, to celebrate it in the third and final dispensation of Jesus.
The enjoyment of food is an international experience. Here in the Philippines, my hosts, Boy and Methusula Ramos, are entertaining Filipinos, an American, a Japanese lady, and me - a Kiwi - to a tasty Asian meal!
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
Blood is life. Sin is death. Help me to love your blood more and more each day, Lord.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
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