WINE
FROM THE WELL.
Text : “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana
of Galilee,
and manifested forth
His Glory; and His disciples
believed on Him.” John 2:11
Have you ever wondered why
John should declare that the miracle of the water which was made wine revealed
the glory of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
What of other miracles? The stilling of the storm?
The raising of the dead? Walking on the sea? What is the distinctive feature of this
miracle which made so great an impact on Christ's’disciples?
If we read carefully we shall
understand. There was a wedding in Cana
of Galilee. Our Lord, His mother and His
disciples were present. The guests were
occupying themselves according to custom when someone realised with
consternation the wine was all used up.
What was to be done? The guests
must not be slighted by confessing their needs had not been correctly
anticipated, yet there was no opportunity of additional supplies. Perhaps Mary, Jesus’ mother, was the only
person to whom the servants could safely reveal their anxiety. In any case it was Mary who told Jesus. And Mary knew He was capable of “saving the
situation”. How often have we proved
that in our extremity and helplessness, when all seemed lost, Jesus intervened
and delivered us out of our distresses?
So having made known the great problem, Mary turned to the servants and said,
“Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it”.
Wondrous words of
assurance. Wondrous words of wisdom!
“Whatsoever He saith unto you…..do it!”
Did Mary know her Son would ask them to do some strange new thing? Unquestioning obedience to God is imperative if
we would succeed in the Christian path.
Sometimes He leads us along strange ways but “He knoweth the way that He
taketh” and we must simply “trust and obey”.
Now “there were set there six
waterpots of stone…Jesus said…Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim”. This is most important. The servants went to the well and drew from
the well several “buckets of water” and filled those jars to the very top. They filled them “up to the brim”. The estimated quantity the servants drew is
120 gallons. Having filled the waterpots
with water Jesus said “Go again; draw now; but this time bear to the governor
of the feast”. The English translation
does not give it precisely thus, but the force of the Greek is the meaning here
given. Scholars tell us the word for
“draw” means “to draw from a well” being identical with the expression used in
John 4 verses 7 and 11. Moreover, it is
well worth noting that had the servants dipped any vessel into the water
filling one of the jars the water would have spilled over the sides of the
jar. But they did not draw the water
from the jars – they drew it from the well.
“Draw now” said
Jesus. There was abundant evidence, 120
gallons of it, to prove the well yielded WATER.
“Draw now” said Jesus. And the
servants WENT TO THE WELL (whilst Jesus remained in the house) and draw from
the well. Not water, but WINE. WINE FROM
THE WELL.
The ruler of the feast was
amazed at the quality of the wine and said to the bridegroom “Every man at the
beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then
that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now”. The best wine was the wine drawn from the
well. Nothing added, nothing artificial,
but wine that was pure and wholesome.
The evidence of Christ’s power to create was therefore made
manifest. He was not at the well when
the servants drew from it. The well
yielded water until His bidding it yielded wine. The 120 gallons of water standing there bore
“silent” testimony to His power. He was
Lord of the earth!
The suggestion that Jesus
turned the water into wine robs the miracle of its force. It also reveals a lack of understanding for
why should the guests towards the close of the feast require 120 gallons of
wine? No; the wine was drawn from the
well and the disciples saw the glory of God in this mighty deed. And they believed on Him.
This wonderful power is still
in operation. The failure of men is
abundantly clear in every walk of life.
But in our midst stands One Who has unlimited
power, unlimited wisdom, unlimited strength.
If we hearken to His words and “do as He says” we may be sure “He’ll
meet, supply our every need” – we shall, as the Psalmist says, “lack nothing”.
You may have “tried” a thousand times; you may have “failed”
a thousand times: the evidence of “personal incompetence” may be strong and
plentiful. But the gentle Voice of Jesus
speaks “Try again; Try again; but now in MY STRENGTH; try again, THROUGH ME”. And the impassible barrier becomes a bridge
to triumphant attainment, the stumbling stones become
stepping stones to peace. “Draw now”. Now. “Come now”. Now
is the acceptable time, Let no past failures or follies frustrate
you. The Lord of heaven and earth and
sky and sea watches over you and He will guide you. He will keep.
He will help you evermore.