The Wedding at Cana
By Richard P. Joseph
12/24/2018
Early in Jesus’ ministry when he was first gathering his disciples he and his
mother were attending a wedding, probably of a relative, in Cana. As the festivities
went on, they obviously ran out of wine, or did they? Next, a weird conversation
between Mary and Jesus transpired in which I do not believe I have ever found
a satisfactory explanation for. I still think there is more to it than what I say here
but hopefully we can have some fun trying.
mother were attending a wedding, probably of a relative, in Cana. As the festivities
went on, they obviously ran out of wine, or did they? Next, a weird conversation
between Mary and Jesus transpired in which I do not believe I have ever found
a satisfactory explanation for. I still think there is more to it than what I say here
but hopefully we can have some fun trying.
First of all, remember that Jesus and his disciples were invited guests, they
were not the host. Mary was probably helping the host herself but Jesus was
not. Mary then says to Jesus (a guest) that “they have no wine”. She didn’t say
“they ran out of wine” she just said “they have no wine”. This could be pure
semantics but it might not be either. If I threw a party and ran out of food or
beverages, I would not ask a guest to supply it, I would run to the store myself
and get it. Do you see my point. Also, by her statement that “they have no
wine”, it is almost like saying that they are lacking in some vital thing that they
should know about. Jesus picked up the “code” that Mary was talking in and
responded with “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour
has not yet come.”
were not the host. Mary was probably helping the host herself but Jesus was
not. Mary then says to Jesus (a guest) that “they have no wine”. She didn’t say
“they ran out of wine” she just said “they have no wine”. This could be pure
semantics but it might not be either. If I threw a party and ran out of food or
beverages, I would not ask a guest to supply it, I would run to the store myself
and get it. Do you see my point. Also, by her statement that “they have no
wine”, it is almost like saying that they are lacking in some vital thing that they
should know about. Jesus picked up the “code” that Mary was talking in and
responded with “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour
has not yet come.”
If you were asked to provide wine what would you do? If someone asked me
that same question (or statement really) I would run to the corner store and buy
a couple bottles of wine; right? Why didn’t Jesus do that? In other words he
understood this had nothing to do with natural wine, it had to do with a new
covenant approaching. This theme about a new covenant approaching to
replace the old one started right off the bat with John the Baptist and continued
to the last word in our New Testament. It is the idea that the old law was to be
replaced with a new “law”. The old covenant would be completed and a new
covenant would ensue. The new covenant would be superior to the old. When
Jesus turned the water into wine the master of the wedding proclaimed “Every
man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well
drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” Jesus is that
new wine.
that same question (or statement really) I would run to the corner store and buy
a couple bottles of wine; right? Why didn’t Jesus do that? In other words he
understood this had nothing to do with natural wine, it had to do with a new
covenant approaching. This theme about a new covenant approaching to
replace the old one started right off the bat with John the Baptist and continued
to the last word in our New Testament. It is the idea that the old law was to be
replaced with a new “law”. The old covenant would be completed and a new
covenant would ensue. The new covenant would be superior to the old. When
Jesus turned the water into wine the master of the wedding proclaimed “Every
man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well
drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” Jesus is that
new wine.
In Matthew chapter 9 Jesus was questioned about “why he and his disciples
were not often fasting but the Pharisees and John’s disciples fasted”. Jesus
immediately compared his ministry to a wedding. Sound familiar? Jesus was
plainly proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah and comparing it to a marriage.
The marriage to the church was upon them and they did not realize it. Jesus
then told them 17 “...Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the
wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put
new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
were not often fasting but the Pharisees and John’s disciples fasted”. Jesus
immediately compared his ministry to a wedding. Sound familiar? Jesus was
plainly proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah and comparing it to a marriage.
The marriage to the church was upon them and they did not realize it. Jesus
then told them 17 “...Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the
wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put
new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
The old wineskins is the old covenant. The old covenant can not contain the
New Covenant; it would burst. The old covenant (old wineskins) would be
replaced with new wineskins (the church) and the church (the called out
assembly) would contain the new wine (Holy Spirit). This New Covenant was
given at the Last Supper.
New Covenant; it would burst. The old covenant (old wineskins) would be
replaced with new wineskins (the church) and the church (the called out
assembly) would contain the new wine (Holy Spirit). This New Covenant was
given at the Last Supper.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it
to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink
from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for
many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of
the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s
kingdom.”
from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for
many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of
the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s
kingdom.”
There are two parts to this statement. First, they are to drink from it showing
they are entering into a new blood covenant and second, there appears to be a
transition period where he would not drink with them again until they are together
in his Father’s kingdom. In other words there was going to be a period of time
to accomplish and consummate this covenant. Almost like God telling Noah to
build an ark but it took many years to build it and finally to enter into it. But
how long would it take?
they are entering into a new blood covenant and second, there appears to be a
transition period where he would not drink with them again until they are together
in his Father’s kingdom. In other words there was going to be a period of time
to accomplish and consummate this covenant. Almost like God telling Noah to
build an ark but it took many years to build it and finally to enter into it. But
how long would it take?
Well, if you are a futurist then you are still waiting. However, if you have a
thorough understanding of scripture and history then you would conclude that
the consummation occurred within 40 years of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
If we are still waiting then we are most miserable among people. That is why it
is vital to study biblical history as well as biblical teaching. According to modern
futurist teaching, we are in a state of nothingness. Almost like nirvana. A place
that has no real description or borders. An undefined drifting toward nowhere.
God did not leave us in this state, it was invented by fault or by ignorance. The
fall of Jerusalem was the time of consummation. The first Christians are at the
table of Christ in his eternal kingdom. Us on earth are spiritually connected with
that kingdom and will upon our leaving this earth be at his table also. If the
kingdom was not established in AD 70 then we would still be drifting aimlessly
amidst the waters of confusion. This is not the case for those that understand
the historical timing of the Parousia.
thorough understanding of scripture and history then you would conclude that
the consummation occurred within 40 years of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
If we are still waiting then we are most miserable among people. That is why it
is vital to study biblical history as well as biblical teaching. According to modern
futurist teaching, we are in a state of nothingness. Almost like nirvana. A place
that has no real description or borders. An undefined drifting toward nowhere.
God did not leave us in this state, it was invented by fault or by ignorance. The
fall of Jerusalem was the time of consummation. The first Christians are at the
table of Christ in his eternal kingdom. Us on earth are spiritually connected with
that kingdom and will upon our leaving this earth be at his table also. If the
kingdom was not established in AD 70 then we would still be drifting aimlessly
amidst the waters of confusion. This is not the case for those that understand
the historical timing of the Parousia.
The wedding at Cana was just one part in a consistent theme that runs
through the entire New Testament. It is one of transition from old to new,
from law to grace, from ineffective to effective from sin to glory, from
incomplete to completion.
through the entire New Testament. It is one of transition from old to new,
from law to grace, from ineffective to effective from sin to glory, from
incomplete to completion.
