Hi there,

Just wanted to share with all of you some thoughts that came to me this morning as I was spending time with the Lord.

John 2: 1- 11 A lot of us are quite, or should I say very, familiar with this first miracle that Jesus did at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

The village where the wedding took place is a rather small one with a population not exceeding 2000. Jesus went to the wedding with his mother (note the Bible did not name her but just said "the mother of Jesus"- I think it is significant here otherwise people would place too much emphasis on the person of Mary) and his disciples.

In the Jewish custom, the wedding party lasts for about a week as some of the guests come from far away places to celebrate with the, note carefully, bridegroom. The wedding party must have gone on for six days already by the time bible records this portion and this is the last day of celebrations. Man, what a party it must have been and by now the wine had run out (logistical nightmare catering for seven days).

What do the servants do when they discovered that there was no more wine?
They must have been talking very loudly and desperately when they discovered to their horror that the planning had fallen short - this gives some of us hope, doesn't it when we are faced with similar situations. Jesus and His party must have been standing around near the back of the house where the action is and He and His mother must have overhear the commotion (verses 3 - 5). It gives me great comfort to know that He is always around (loitering nearby in fact) when we run into difficulties and He knows our situation even before and better than we know it.

In verse 6, we read that there were six water-pots of stone that was used for the Jewish rite of purification (washing of feet before entering the house and hands before eating). It is interesting to note that the bible mentions the number "six" which is always used to signify "man". Jesus instructed the servants to fill the six water-pots up to the brim with water, which the servants very faithfully did. Then He instructed them to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. Notice that the bible did not mention "draw some of the water out". When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that had now turned to wine. He was astonished and confronted the bridegroom why the best was kept for last. The bible did not record for us the reply and reaction of the bridegroom but my guess is that he was just as "blur" and he simply enjoyed the wine.

Notice a few lessons to be drawn here: -

§ For the water to turn into wine, the servants had to not only obeyed Jesus' instructions to fill the jars with water but to bring the water to the master of ceremonies. Had the servants only filled the water-pots and left the water there, the contents would continue to be just water. When they obeyed the second instruction, the water turned into wine on the way to the MC. When we are regenerated (our lives changed) with the Water of the Word, we will become "intoxicating wine" and we touch other lives. Only when we are obedient and allow ourselves to be used by Him will our lives be fulfilling.

§ There were six water-pots there. As mentioned, the number "six" in the bible represents mankind. Unless we allow Jesus to touch our lives, we will continue to remain as water-pots for the rite of purification (part of the Old Testament law). Only when we allow grace to transform our lives, we will remain under the law.

§ There were six water-pots each containing between twenty to thirty gallons of water. Historians estimate that a total of about 160 gallons of wine were transformed from those water-pots - that is a whopping 1280 pints of wine. Try drinking all those wine after six days of partying and tell me that you can still walk, think and talk straight. I am sure that had there been more water-pots there, Jesus would have instructed the servants to fill them all. Jesus is not limited to our abilities or to our numbers. He uses us just the same to fulfill His purposes.

§ And here is the best part, when He blesses; He does not know when to stop. He knows no limit. Only man is the problem (limited number of water-pots).

§ What a wedding gift the wedding couple received from the Lord Himself. They certainly had an excellent start of their family life (in and with the Lord). Imagine holding the wedding feast and at the end of it have a fully paid honeymoon sponsored by courtesy of the Lord (what a blessing).

§ The miracle took place on the "third day". In 2 Peter 3: 8, we read that one day to the Lord is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Notice that the verse did not say "one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day" but simply " with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day". It is a fact and not a make-belief. Praise God that two thousand years have passed since Jesus came to this world to die for our sins and we are at the start of the third thousand years - the third day. And there will be a big wedding feast in heaven for all believers. The bible tells us that as believers, we will be caught up into Heaven to be at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. We will not be around during the time of the Tribulation (the bible calls it Great Tribulation).

1. Isn't it exciting to know that we are in that third day generation and that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning very soon for His Bride, the Church, of which all believers in Jesus are?

2. The timing is very short from here. If you read Matthew chapters 24 and 25, you will notice that the writer mentioned some of the signs, which we are witnessing today as almost a daily affair - earthquakes, wars, etc. The bible mentions that all these will increase in intensity as the end approaches. We need to remember our loved ones who do not as yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior. All the more we need to commit them to the Lord and claim their salvation in His timing - Jesus knows best what is the best timing for their return to His fold.

3. For those who are hurting or who feels that the joy of life has run out, there is hope. Jesus can fill their lives with the Water of His Word and make us intoxicating wine.

§ Notice that the wine became intoxicating wine when the Water of the Word (Jesus) came into the water-pots. When we allow Jesus to take over our lives, we become intoxicating wines. Wine is meant to be a blessing to others and we are that blessing to be shared with others around us.

§ One of the first people to enjoy this intoxicating wine was the wedding couple. Jesus can put the "oomph" back into our marriage and husband and wife can be intoxicated together with His love every day. What a joy this brings to my heart.

I asked the Lord why "to the brim" and He told me so that the water overflows. His reply was that the best effect would be when the jars overflow. Try it some time. Allow the Lord to not just fill you halfway but all the way and even overflow. Don't worry about the water that is spilled. There is plenty more where it comes from. We have a Living Fountain from where Living Water flows and the Source is the Throne of Grace itself (Ezekiel 47).

I don't know about you but my heart is already filled with joy even as I type this mail.
Be encouraged.

And now the Lord of peace grant you His bountiful Shalom and may the rich blessings found in Deuteronomy 28 be yours and your loved ones.

Best regards,
Andrew L W Lee

Dated : 03 July 2001