Year 2, Week 30, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 30, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Luke 5; John 2.

Today’s reading records some of the key events that unfold early in Jesus’ public ministry. Today’s reading entails John 2, which starts with a miracle—the first miracle—Jesus performed, even before he traveled to Capernaum, which was the location from which Jesus was ministering in yesterday’s reading. Before Capernaum, Jesus was about sixteen miles southwest in Cana where He was at a wedding: “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there” (John 2:1). The reference to the third day marks what occurred at the wedding from the day that Jesus spoke with Nathaniel (see John 45-51). While at the wedding, Jesus performs His first miracle, which consists of turning water into wine: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11). John 2 also records an incident that took place with Jesus at the Temple: "In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:14-15). Today’s reading also includes Luke 5, which records Jesus calling some of His disciples, such as Peter to whom Jesus said: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:10b-11). But Luke 5 also touches on the early conflict that Jesus faces with some of the Jewish religious leaders, such as when Jesus healed a man: “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21); or when Jesus dined with those deemed very sinful: “And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Luke 5:30).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the occasion of Jesus’ first miracle in Cana, as well as what the miracle signified: “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine” (John 2:6-9). Jesus began His public ministry at a wedding that He, His mother, as well as His disciples, were all in attendance. When the wine ran out before the wedding was over, Mary solicited Jesus’ help: “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine” (John 2:3). But when Jesus was finished there was anywhere from 120 to 180 gallons of good wine: “the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:9b-10). John will go on to record another six signs, for a total of seven, but this first sign is full of significance to start Jesus’ ministry.

The first significance of Jesus’ first miracle being at a wedding is that there were Old Testament promises that linked God’s restoration of His people to that of a marriage: “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:5-8); and: “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:4-5). As Jesus would be confronted about His and His disciples’ presence with certain people, He would identify Himself as being in a wedding: “And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:34-35). With the arrival of God’s Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, the reality of a wedding was signified at a wedding.

Another Old Testament aspect that was linked to the restoration of God’s people was the imagery of an abundance of wine: “They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:12-13); and: “They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon” (Hosea 14:7); and: “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit” (Amos 9:13-14).

The One who would restore God’s people, re-establishing them in their marriage relationship to the LORD, even as He would abundantly supply them with all the joyful blessings His presence would bring, had come. But already, the keepers of the old wineskins were sensing this meant the end of them and their empty system: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins” (Luke 5:37-38).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe