Bereansearching Bible Studies

Background: “Hidden Gems“

Many people, particularly in our day, scoff at the idea that the Bible is the Word of God. However, If people would just take the time to prayerfully study the Bible, they might find some amazing surprises (like Hidden Treasure), which actually show how the Bible consistently corroborates itself, and therefore that the following is also true:

1. The Bible was supernaturally crafted (by God the Holy Spirit), and
2. There is indeed a God as He describes Himself in the Bible, and
3. That God will be sending most people to Hell for their sins, and
4. Yet God offers The Way of escape in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, as is also described in the same Bible through the sharing of Jesus’ Gospel.

This is the thirteenth of a series which explores how God has masterfully hidden profound spiritual truths—“hidden gems”—within Scripture. These gems are meant for believers to diligently search out, celebrate together, edify one another, and strengthen the faith of the saints.

Introduction

This study will show that, just as Jesus employed “Parables“, which are “earthly/temporal” stories to convey “heavenly/eternal” spiritual truths, so too did Jesus employ the use of “Miracles” (supernatural “physical/temporal” events) to convey “heavenly/eternal” spiritual truths (and which are in effect, additional Historical Parables).

There are a few key things that we need to review before going further in this study.

1. “Miracles” do not bring about or produce “saving” faith as we read in Luke 16:31, “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.“
2. “Miracles” serve the same purpose as “Parables”, in that they represent visible “Signs” of a Gospel truth…an eternal, spiritual, meaning given or produced by God that teaches and reveals the things of God…but only to those to whom God ordains with “the spiritual ears to hear and the spiritual eyes to see“. Remember in 1 Corinthians 14:22, “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.“
3. Each and every supernatural miracle that Jesus performed had an eternal “spiritual” meaning that is almost never realized by the average Bible reader. Jesus healed the sick (Matthew 15:30&31), the lame, the deaf, dumb, and the blind, the leprous, and multiplied the loaves and the fishes (John 6:5-14), and cast out demons (Mark 5:1-17). He also healed the cut-off ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus (John 18:10). Jesus even raised dead Lazarrus to life after being dead in a tomb for four days (John 11:39-44). Most readers go no further than to think that these miracles demonstrate that Jesus is God, and to illustrate His Authority over all of His Creation. And while that much is certainly true, all of these miracles are, in one way or another, more importantly pointing to the spiritual eternal implications of becoming born again/being saved through the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of His Gospel by His Holy Spirit.

For anyone curious about a more complete list of Jesus’s Miracles, see: https://www.gotquestions.org/miracles-of-Jesus.html. But please also ponder these verses that deal with healing of the sin-sick souls and hearts of everyone who becomes saved by Jesus: 1. Isaiah 53:5, “But he (Jesus) [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” 2. Psalam 41:4, “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.” and 3. Psalm 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.“

Remember also that Jesus said in John 3:12, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?“

So then, as we move on, we must keep an eye out for the spiritual interpretation of this miracle…every facet of it!

Turning Water Into Wine at the Marriage of Cana* Was the Beginning of Miracles Performed by Jesus

According to John 2:11, the marriage of Cana was the beginning of miracles performed by Jesus according to John 2:11, “¶This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.“

The word that is translated as “beginning” by the King James translators is in the original Hebrew, ἀρχή (archē)^G746, which can mean:

1. “Beginning” (at the very first, as we read in John 1:1, “¶In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“), but it can also mean…
2. “Chief” or “prime importance” (e.g, “principal thing”as in Proverbs 4:7) as we read in Hebrews 5:12, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first ^G746 principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” and in Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles ^G746 of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” but it can also refer to…
3. “Superiority” or “prime rule/power” from which all else is derived as we read in Luke 20:20, “And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power ^G746 and authority of the governor.” and Romans 8:38, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, ^G746 nor powers, nor things present, northings to come,” and Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, ^G746 against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].”

Therefore, might this word be an indication that this particular parable is a “key” to knowing the prime focus of Jesus’ first advent? Could this miracle be providing us the basis for understanding the meaning of “all” of Jesus’ miracles, much as the Parable of the Sower is with regard to “all” of Jesus’ parables. Let us now take a closer look at the first ten verses of John chapter 2.

* Cana (Κανά (kana)^G2580 which is the Greek for the Hebrew קָנָה (qānâ)^H7071, meaning a “place of reeds” and pertains to a river that forms a boundary between the lands of Ephraim and Manassah, hence emblematic of a “divide”) was a village located only about four miles northeast of Nazareth in Galilee (Jesus’s hometown) and just one mile northeast of the hometown of the prophet Jonah (known as Gathhepher). It is also the home of Jesus’s disciple, Nathanael, as we read in John 21:2.

Verse by Verse Exegesis of the Marriage of Cana Miracle Account

John 2:1,”¶And the third day there was a marriage (γάμος (gamos)^G1062 in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

Right away we see a reference to the “third day”. We are immediately reminded of the “three days” of Jesus’ Atonement that was completed with His Resurrection on the “third day”.

Then we see reference to a “marriage” which is a reminder of Matthew 22:2, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage ^G1062 for his son,“

Note that Cana is in Galilee, as in “Galilee of the nations” (Isaiah 9:1), in the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulon, which is representative of the Gentile world, or the world of the lost…and, like Galilee, Cana can be seen to spiritually represent a “division”… or those who are separated from God.

We are also told that “and the mother of Jesus was there“. Given the proximity to Nazareth, we can only presume that she likely was acquainted with those involved in the wedding.

John 2:2, “And both Jesus was called (καλέω (kaleō)^G2564, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Jesus and His disciples were invited also. There is no mistake in the fact that Jesus is the only name that is given! We have to stop and think about the spiritual implications of what is unfolding here given the context.

1. Question: Who was/is with Jesus during His Atonement? For whom does Jesus do this? and are they “with” Him in this?
2. Answer: The Elect believers from both the Old and New Testaments. There were “transitional” disciples found in the Old Testament side, the true believers, who become and build the New Testament Church.

But what about the role of the “mother of Jesus”? She (Mary) is only referred to by Jesus as “Woman” in the subsequent passages. That “Woman”, as is clearly described in Revelation 12:1-5, while “temporally”referring to Mary, in fact, “spiritually” represents all those who are the Elect of God, the believers, the Eternal Church throughout the Old and New Testaments.

John 2:3, “And when they wanted (ὑστερέω (hystereō)^G5302 wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.“

The people at the wedding had evidently run out of wine, because ὑστερέω (hystereō)^G5302 means “to lack” as we find in Mark 10:20&21, or to “fail” as we read in Hebrews 12:15, or to “come short” as we read in Romans 3:23.

And what does the “wine” (οἶνος (oinos))^G3631 spiritually represent? While we all understand that wine (οἶνος (oinos))^G3631 is something we drink as we read in 1 Timothy 5:23, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine ^G3631 for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.“, we also know that it can be a spiritual, metaphorical, reference to the following:

1. The “Word of God”, or a reference to a “False Gospel”, as we read in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 14:10.
2. The “Gospel of God”
   • “Oil and Wine” representing the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ shed blood, as we read in Revelation 6:6.
   • “The Atonement” as we find in Luke 22:17-20 which specifically links the wine to Jesus’ blood.

NOTE: Although the linkage between the wine and the blood of Jesus was made known during the Passover that heralded Jesus’ death, there is no reference to wine being part of the institution of the Passover feast that had as its focus the the sacrificial lamb and its blood, and the unleavened bread. Nothing was provided regarding “drink”. As slaves, the Israelis likely had only water to drink, and in the wilderness they even sometimes lacked that.

Therefore, the “wine” at this “Marriage” is looking forward to the Atonement. As Mary said to Jesus (in representing the believers of the Old Testament Church), “they have no (“old”) wine.”

John 2:4, “¶Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.“

This verse is critical to true “spiritual” understanding. On the face of it, it is rather curious that Jesus would have responded to his mother this way. However, when we search out the meaning of the Greek words used in this verse some interesting aspects come to light.

“Woman” can also be interpreted as “Wife”… clearly in this case not “temporally”, but rather “spiritually” for this verse to make sense

Foremost is the fact that “Woman”, as was translated by the King James translators, is in the original Greek as γυνή (gynē)^G1135 which has been translated woman/women (129x) but also wife (92x). This is VERY important, particularly when we look at Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife ^G1135 hath made herself ready.” and also Revelation 21:9, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. ^G1135

We also see this in Ephesians 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife, ^G1135 even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” and in Ephesians 5:28, “So ought men to love their wives ^G1135 as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife ^G1135 loveth himself.” and remember this key following verse, Ephesians 5:32, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” The “wife” (γυνή (gynē))^G1135 represents the church! And therefore Mary, in her spiritual role, represents the eternal church of Christ in this historical account.

And, again, as was mentioned earlier above, the “Woman”, as is clearly described in Revelation 12:1-5, while “temporally”referring to Mary, in fact, “spiritually” represents all those who are the Elect of God, the believers, the Eternal Church throughout the Old and New Testaments.

So then: We can see how Mary can be viewed “spiritually” as representative of the Bride of Christ of the Old Testament was in fact stating an important “spiritual” truth! Mary was in effect saying, “Until now we do not have the fulfillment of the Passover, the Lamb of God, sacrificed for us!”

And let us now look closer at Jesus’ response. Jesus responded to Mary with the question, as He would to all believers when they are confronted with and hear the true Gospel…”What have I to do with you?“,”What am I for you?“, “Why do you want/need of me and of my wine/blood?”

And note also, that Jesus is spiritually stating that His time of death, for the Atonement, has not yet come!

John 2:5, “¶His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].”

This verse provides Mary’s answer to Jesus’ question. Mary, responds, as would all true believers acting under the inspiration of God, The Holy Spirit, to instructing the servants (pointing us to Jesus’ true followers)…”Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].”

The believers, from whatever era, Old or New Testament, who are awaiting the Coming of Jesus:

1. Whether for the Atonement at the Cross, or
2. The Last Day (Judgment Day)…

The believers will be doing the will of Jesus, as we are told in John 14:15 where Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.“

Then in the following verses we have this so often misunderstood event of Jesus turning water into wine at the feast.

This passage tests the “spirits”…whether they seek for and understand the hidden Gospel meaning, or whether they will only see an approval for drinking alcohol (because they are carnal and not spiritual).

Most people are aware of this passage, either through the reading of it, or second hand mention of it by others. In addition to the obvious fact that such miracles imply supernatural power over the elements of creation, it is commonly presumed that not only did Jesus approve of the drinking of wine, given His providing wine at this wedding feast, but, moreover, that Jesus must have also been a partaker of that wine. Most people would therefore use this pretext as an approbation by Jesus in support of drinking alcohol. Is that what this passage is saying?…besides the fact that Jesus had begun to perform supernatural feats that we call “miracles”? When we dive deeper into this passage by comparing “spiritual things with spiritual” (using the “Biblical Hermeneutic” per 1 Corinthians 2:13), we can actually draw a much different conclusion.

John 2:6, “¶And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.“

The words “there were” is from the original Greek, ἦν (ēn)^G2258, which can mean “existed” or “continue to exist” (perfect tense) and “set” is from original Greek, κεῖμαι (keimai)^H7225, which means “laid” but also metaphorically, to be (by God’s intent) set, i.e. “destined” or “appointed”. This is also very important for us to understand. We see this in Luke 2:34, “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set ^G2749 for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;” and 1Thessalonians 3:3, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed ^G2749 thereunto.”

“six waterpots of stone“

Numbers in the Bible convey spiritual truths. The number six (“6“) identifies with “Work“, we see God’s Divine Work of Creation in six days, and also “man” and “his works” as opposed to God’s. The number “666” forms a trinity of the devil’s (and natural man’s) false gospel…”works, works, works”, which is entirely opposed to “Grace“.

The “waterpots” (ὑδρία (hydria))^G5201 are vessels to hold water, which were made of stone (λίθινος (lithinos)^G3035. “Stone” is often a term used as as metaphor of “mankind”, specifically being under the curse and unregenerate mankind. We see this in both Ezekiel 36:25&36, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” and 2 Corinthians 3:3, “[Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” The letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive, as we read in 2 Corinthians 3:6, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.“

We should also not forget that “stoning” was a primary method of execution for disobedience to the Law.

We see therefore that waterpots of stone are spiritually representative of unregenerate mankind, the six of them representing the works of man in trying to keep the Law, with the water that they hold being to provide only “external” cleansing of the flesh which cannot provide spiritual cleansing of the soul…as we read next, “after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.“

The word translated a “firkins” is in the original Greek, μετρητής (metrētēs)^G3355, which simply means “measures” and similar to what we find in Revelation 21:17, “And he measured ^G3354 the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.“

The “two or three” is a clear reference to “witnesses”, as we see in Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, and for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.” Hence we could say the waterpots represent mankind and mankind’s gospel (witness) being a religion of works, which God has ordained (in sin’s curse) to be (measured) unto all of mankind.

NOTE the wording “after the manner of the purifying of the Jews” and NOT “of God“! National Israel (as well as the corporate New Testament churches), have developed their own gospel…what they deisired to make themselves clean before God.

But Jesus will next demonstrate what much change for there to be a true cleansing!!

It is the cleansing of the soul and not the flesh!…substance and not ceremony!

John 2:7, “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.”

Here we see Jesus commanding the servants (spiritually, His servants) to fill the waterpots with water up to the “brim”. The word in the original Greek that is translated as “brim” is ἄνω (anō)^G507, which can also be interpreted as “above” or “on high”. Do you see the connection with being full or filled up from “on high” as is the case with being born again from above as we see in John 3:3, “¶Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdomof God.” “Born again” can be equated to being “born from above“, because it is translated from the original Greek word ἄνωθεν (anōthen)^G509. See for example: John 3:31, John 19:11, James 1:17 & James 3:17.

John 2:8, “And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it].”

Jesus merely speaks and it is accomplished, no ceremony needed. Jesus commanded that the servants draw out (via a vessel) and bear (φέρω (pherō))^G5342, which means to 1) “bring forth” 2) “moved” and 3) “bring”, as we read in:

1. Mark 4:8, “And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, ^G5342 some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” and John 15:2, “Every branch in me that beareth ^G5342 not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth ^G5342 fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth ^G5342 more fruit.”
2. John 15:2, “For the prophecy came ^G5342 not in old timeby the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved ^G5342 by the Holy Ghost.” (those bearing the True Gospel)
3. 2 John 1:10, “If there come any unto you, and bring ^G5342 not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:” (those bearing the false gospels)

Jesus instructed the servants to bring it to the “governor of the feast”, which in the original Greek is ἀρχιτρίκλινος (architriklinos)^G755, from”Archi” meaning “Chief” “first” “beginnng”; “tri” meaning “three”; and “klinos” meaning “to recline/rest/bed”.

This “governor of the feast” is obviously the head and overseer of this “marriage feast”. When we look at the breakdown of the term “architriklinos“, we are moved to consider the possibility that this overseer of the marriage could be referring to the Godhead in Heaven:

1. “Chief/Beginning”, as in Genesis 1:1, “¶In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.“
2. “Tri” hence “three”, as in 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (Note also that the immediately following verse makes direct reference to “water” and “blood”: 1 John 5:8, “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.“, which elements are spiritually in view in this historical account)
3. “Recline/Rest/Bed”…when the work is completed, then there is rest, as in Hebrews 8:1, “Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” Jesus’ Atoning Sacrifice finished the work and fulfilled the Law of God. Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he (Jesus) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.“

John 2:9, “When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,“

The governor/ruler received the wine (representing the shed blood of Christ for the cleansing of souls) that had replaced the water (which ceremonially only cleansed the outward flesh) with gladness.

The word for “tasted” is in the original Greek, γεύομαι (geuomai)^G1089, which is an important word given its use elsewhere in the Bible as we find in:

1. Heb 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he ^G1089by the grace of God should taste ^G1089 death for every man.“
2. Hebrews 6:5, “And have tasted ^G1089 the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,“
3. 1 Peter 2:3, “If so be ye have tasted ^G1089 that the Lord [is] gracious.“

The difficult part of this verse is “knew not whence it was“. The word translated as “knew” is in the original Greek is εἴδω (eidō) ^G1492, which is interpreted by the King James translators variously as follows: know (281x), cannot tell (with G3756) (8x), know how (7x), wist (6x), miscellaneous (19x), see (314x), behold (17x), look (5x), perceive (5x), variations of ‘see’ (3x), variations of ‘know’ (1x). The word is used thusly to show God’s Omniscience as Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth ^G1492 what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

We can only surmise that this governor did NOT innately/experientially perceive, or be aware, from where the wine had come. Nevertheless, we are told that the servants did know, again the same word εἴδω (eidō) ^G1492. So then, with respect to the Governor being a representative, or “Type”, for the Godhead…in this respect it falls short.

What then might be an alternative interpretation? Perhaps the governor could be representative of the Jewish leadership of the Old Testament, the priests, who were entrusted by God (to serve is God’s stead) with instructing the people in the ways of God to keep in the right path. But their focus was always on the outward ceremonial cleansing of the flesh with “water”, as opposed to the “washing of regeneration” vicariously in the shed blood of the Lamb of God. They could taste the wine, but would have no knowledge of from whence it came. Remembering what we read in John 1:11, “He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not.” But the servants who drew the water did “know” from where the wine came…they knew that it came only from Jesus!

The Introduction of the Bridegroom!

Then “the governor of the feast called the bridegroom (νυμφίος (nymphios))^G3566.“

This is a “marriage feast” after all. But we should all be aware that the “bridegroom” consistently only points us to the Lord Jesus Christ, because Jesus refers to Himself as “the bridegroom” in Matthew 9:15, “And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.“

We see this again in “The Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Marriage Feast” (Matthew 25:1, 25:5, 25:6 and 25:10) and in Revelation 18:23, “And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.“

And then in Revelation 21:9, we read “¶And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29 & 36) and the New Jerusalem (the eternal Church of God) is the bride as we read in Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

John 2:10, “And saith unto him, Every (πᾶς (pas))^G3956 man (ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos))^G444 at the beginning (πρῶτον (prōton)^G4412 doth set forth (τίθημι (tithēmi))^G5087 good (καλός (kalos))^G2570 wine; and when men have well drunk (μεθύω (methyō)^G3184, then that which is worse (ἐλάσσων (elassōn)^G1640: [but] thou hast kept (τηρέω (tēreō))^G5083 the good (καλός (kalos))^G2570 wine until now.“

Key words as translated elsewhere in the King James Bible:

1. καλός (kalos)^G2570: good (83x), better (7x), honest (5x), meet (2x), goodly (2x), miscellaneous (3x). which we can interpret to also mean “excellent” and “precious”. (Matthew 7:17)
2. τηρέω (tēreō)^G5083: keep (57x), reserve (8x), observe (4x), watch (2x), preserve (2x), keeper (1x), hold fast (1x). which we can interpret to mean “guarded” or “protected”.
3. τίθημι (tithēmi)^G5087: lay (28x), put (18x), lay down (12x), make (10x), appoint (6x), kneel down (with G1119) (with G3588) (5x), miscellaneous (17x).

We are presented with two contrasting wines, which are each representative of, respectively, an inferior gospel involving man’s works for salvation (for unsaved mankind), or the only true (best) Gospel that brings about salvation of souls from sin, being the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (for the elect believers).

Jesus is the Good Wine Maker

The wine that was previously provided at the feast was inferior by comparison, representative of the fact that the former wine was in effect a false gospel, which fell short, and could only produce sin and not save, as we read in Revelation 17:1&2, “¶And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.“

Alternatively, Jesus’ wine…the miraculous wine…is by far the best, because it represents the True Gospel. Only Jesus’ Atoning Sacrifice, His shed blood, can bring salvation from sin. It is made available when and where God ordains, and whose effects will be made known at the last on Judgment Day, the day of the ultimate Wedding Feast.

John 2:11, “¶This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”

The significance of this miracle being the “beginning of miracles” is described in the Introduction.

We can also see how his miracle was manifested (made visible, made known) was for Jesus’ glory and His disciples believed on Him as a result.

Just as Jesus’ servants (the true believers) “knew” from whom and where the good wine came, so to do the believers know and understand that the only Atoning Sacrifice for their sins can only come from Jesus and no where else.

Even today, through the reading and hearing of this passage, the meaning is continuing to be revealed to whomever the Lord has granted “the ears to hear and the eyes to see“. And if you have been so blessed, then you will understand what Jesus meant when He said, in Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Christ’s revealed glory is The Miracle of Salvation for sinners! Go forth and share that Gospel!

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