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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 highly recommended to obtain the full value from this study. It is not hard going!
If you have already read the first section, WHAT HAPPENED, skip down directly to todays teaching, 2. THE REVELATION OF HIS MINISTRY ROLE |
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The Bridal Procession.
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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
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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: Mary asking Jesus.
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)
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 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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 Typical well in Israel
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, (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 |
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 See last weeks teaching. (Link is included at the end of this week's issue.)
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| 2. THE REVELATION OF HIS MINISTRY ROLE |
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 But what was the water about? Why water into blood? This is a most powerful and beautiful part of the revelation. For the water in the stone jars represented the Old Testament (Covenant) principle of the Law. For 1500 years the Law had required the outwards cleansing of the body as a symbol of purity. Over the centuries it had been developed into an elaborate ceremony, in which the original simple symbolism had got lost in a myriad of self-righteous, religious rules.
Through this miracle Jesus was illustrating that He had come to replace the ‘Old (external) Covenant’ which had proved impossible to keep, represented by the water, with the ‘New (internal) Covenant’ of salvation through God’s grace by the final, once only blood sacrifice of Jesus symbolized in the wine.
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 The water represented the old way of seeking reconciliation with God, the wine (symbolic of the blood), the new. The water was applied externally, the wine was drunk, pointing to an internal change. Through this miracle, Jesus announced in a natural, albeit supernatural way, what His ministry was all about. To replace the ‘Age of the Law’ with the ‘Age of Grace.‘ Replacing purification through water, with perfection through His blood. A change that has had greater impact upon the world than any other, before or since.
If the Master of the Banquet had realized that this, most beautiful wine, had been made with the holy water drawn from the ceremonial stone jars, there is no way that he would have drunk it, no matter how good the taste. For it would have been anathema to him.
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 Today too, we still have people who try to find their way to heaven through living good lives, attempting the impossible task of keeping the law. How sad it is to know that they are doomed to failure, for no person has ever been able to fulfil God’s requirement of 100% compliance all the time.
Yes, Jesus came with a new and better way, a way He revealed through His first miracle. A future of reconciliation with God that we can all participate in, provided we are personally prepared to accept the sacrifice He made on our behalf. I’ve accepted His offer. How about you?
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
PART 3. THE REVELATION OF A NEW PRIESTHOOD |
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 Jesus is the fulfillment of the Priesthood.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Isn't it amazing what depth of meaning the Bible contains! And how God is progressing His plan form the beginning of time until today. Next week we will see a further, amazing example of this.
Today's photo is of a basketball game in the 'square' of a small village in the Philippines. Basketball is hugely popular worldwide, but no more so than amongst the hugely friendly Filipinos.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
Jesus' Blood is the stain remover of life.
David Tait
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