Lesson 8, The Life of CHRIST ( Changing the Water to Wine )

The lessons text comes from John 2:1-11. Before we start, I would like to give you a few facts about wine. Wine is a symbol of Joy in the Jewish custom. In the event you did not have wine or not enough wine to go around, it was considered Taboo in the Jewish custom. Proverbs 23:30-32, tells us that the strong wine was the intoxicating type, which in no way did JESUS ever partake of. It was the weak, sweet, drink (wine), that was the best or first wine, that was fit for our KING! John calls this event, the beginning of miracles, John 2:11. JESUS was at a wedding feast. Reculect back to any wedding you have been a part of. Everything was in place and set to a tee. On the onset, everything looked ok, but, behind the scenes, problems, panic, was about to happen. The wedding party had ran out of wine. What a social embarrassment and a taboo from their culture to do so. In the very time of need, not a moment before, not a moment too late, JESUS handled the situation and provided exactly what was needed, right on time! I believe once Mary, JESUS'S Mother, told her SON of the problem, I honestly believe once her petetion was made known, she had Faith in HIM, to do exactly what needed to be done. Her Faith was based on just exactly what the Angel's proclaimed, or told her before HIS birth as to who HE is! Once Mary told HIM about the wine problem, JESUS replied that HIS hour had not yet come. It was likely related to the proper time for HIS ministry and HIS eventual death to be revealed. JESUS was doing this miracle as a mere warm up of what HE had in store during HIS ministry as well as the miracle of miracles when HE Rose HIMSELF from the Dead..Glory!! Isn't it a relief as well as a Blessing to know our GOD can and will do something about any problem we may face! The same held true for the very Miother of JESUS. As I spoke of the very sweet wine earlier, the first wine, the very best wine. This was what JESUS made from water. HE even had the servants use the unconventional water pots to catch the water in. These pots were typically used to catch water in for washing/bathing purposes. Thank GOD HE used my old unconventional condition of sin, not fit for anything but Hell and Eternal Damnation. HE gave me new wine, sweet wine..JESUS offers us HIS very best, JESUS gives HIS very best and JESUS wants our very best. Mary gave us a true example as she spoke to the serveants in verse 5, " Whatsoever HE saith unto you, do it." I believe they did just exactly what Mary told them. I believe they did just exactly as JESUS required of them. I believe that the more they drew the water (wine) out, the more glad their heart became. Just like our life. The more you do what JESUS requires of us, the more grounded and joyful we become. John 2:3 Presented the Problem, No Wine. John 2:4-8 Presented the Solution ( Mary's concern was physical and temporal. CHRIST'S concern was spiritual and eternal. CHRIST is the answer.) Also the servant's responsibility was to fill the water pots. Take the newly created wine to the Governor of the feast. John 2:9-11 Presnted the results. Wine was produced. CHRIST'S miracles begin. CHRIST'S Glory is manifested. I will leave you with this quote from Oliver B. Greene.." Christianity does not take the joy out of living. On the contrary, Christianity brings life, and life abundant."