John 2:1-12
A marriage feast is meant to be a time of joy when the friends rejoice with the bride and groom. Jesus and the disciples were invited to such a feast in Galilee, given by the bridegroom.
It was a custom to serve wine, made from grapes, and the host would pride plenty. But at this feast there was not enough.
The mother of Jesus was at that house and when she knew there was no more wine, she told Him, expecting He could supply it, for she believed Him the Messiah to bring all blessings.
As a boy, and as Jesus grew older, He had always obeyed His mother (Luke 2:51), but at this time He had begun the special work as the Son of God, which it was not right for her to direct, as His answer to her showed. And He said, “Mine hour is not yet come”, the time for Him to give all blessings on the earth.
There were six large stone jars there, and Jesus told the servants to fill those with water, and they filled them “to the brim,” or full. Then He said to draw out from the jars and serve the “governor”, or honored guest. That man did not know how the wine was obtained, but when he tasted and found it the best wine of all, he spoke to the bridegroom of its goodness.
The servants and disciples knew Who had provided it, and no doubt the rest soon heard, for to make water become wine was a miracle, no one else could do. This was the beginning of Jesus’ miracles, and showed His glory; it was as a promise before, of what He is able to do and will do when the nation Israel believe Him. For wine is a symbol of earthly joy, because for a time it makes people feel glad (Ps. 104:15).
But He had come to earth to give true and lasting joy, as the angel. said when He was born, the news was “of great joy”. Those who believed Him the promised Messiah, as Mary, expected there would be no more sorrow, only joy on earth.
But the most of that nation refused Him, and for that reason have since had great sorrows. Yet it is plain there will be a time of full joy on earth, as written in the prophets and told by Christ, which only He can give (as Zech. 2:10-12; Matt. 25:34, Luke 21:27, 28).
Since Christ was rejected, it has not been a time of full earthly joy for all who believe Him, and what they use of earth’s things are to be in His honor, and “much wine” is one of the things warned against, leaving sorrow, and not joy. Eph. 5:18.
Yet there is even now great ioy Christ gives those who trust Him, by His Word and by His Spirit, and He told the disciples to ask the Father in His Name that their “joy may be full”. John 16:23, 24.
ML 02/06/1946