Making Things New

 JOHN 2:1-11

Read John 2:1-1

Jesus's Glory Revealed through Wine

The wine miracle at the wedding in Cana was one of  the miracles recorded in John's Gospel that pointed to Jesus as being the Messiah and God's incarnate (not adopted) Son, full of grace and truth (John1:14,17). Jesus's wine miracle is also part of the theme of the "newness" of the gospel that John emphasizes in his opening chapters ("new wine" 2;1-11, "new temple" 2:14-22, "new birth" 3:1-8, "new life" 4:4-26). In the person and ministry of Jesus, something brand new and unseen before was coming forth in redemptive history. The old order of Judaism, however was opposing and rejecting the "newness" that Jesus was bringing. The six stone water jars used for Jewish ceremonial washing (v 6) represent the old way of Judaism (the teachers of the law); the new (best) wine that came out of the old represents the "newness" that God brings to us in his Son. The great quantity of water turned into wine by Jesus represents the extravagant abundance of God's grace and new life that comes to us in Jesus.

It is in the context of "newness" in John's Gospel that we should consider the question about the kind of wine (sweet or alcoholic, see previous post) that Jesus created. Because this issue is addressed indirectly but not explicitly in John 2:1-11, we can only arrive at the conclusion of greatest likelihood, not of absolute certainty. The proposition is that the greatest likelihood is that Jesus created "new wine" (sweet/unfermented) rather than "aged wine" (fermented/alcoholic) for the following reasons:

1. "New wine" fits better the context of John with its emphasis on the "newness" of the gospel that Jesus brings. In addition, old wineskins and old wine (aged) are associated with Judaism, not the gospel (Luke 5:37-39). The ultimate goal of redemption is to make all things new (Revelation 21:1-5). 

   
2. The quality of wine that Jesus created is called "choice" wine in contrast to "cheaper wine". According to ancient writers, the "choice" (or best) wine was the sweetest wine - one that could be drunk freely and in large quantities without the danger of drunkenness. The "cheaper" wine was the alcoholic wine that had been diluted with water. In ancient times (unlike today) wine was not thought to improve with age. There was always the danger of the wine "souring" and turning to wine vinegar (from the old French word vinaigre which means sour wine). There was also the danger of the wine becoming cloudy with excess yeast and bacterial growth.
3. The logic implied by the banquet master's description of the customary practice at weddings also point to the likelihood that it was non-alcoholic wine which Jesus created from the water. Choice (sweet) wine is used first, then cheaper (alcoholic) wine is brought out after the guests have had their fill. 
4. Finally, the wine miracle of Jesus as his first miraculous sign was intended to reveal "his glory" and cause his disciples to put their faith in Him. In so far as Jesus regarded the Old Testament as God's revelation and therefore authoritative Scripture, it is unlikely that he would have created alcohol to reveal his glory in light of the strong warnings in Proverbs 23:29-35 about alcohol and its harmful effects. On the other hand, turning water into fresh, sweet, unfermented new harvest wine certainly would have revealed Jesus's glory to his disciples as LORD over nature (John 1:3,14) and as "the Christ, the Son of God" (20:31). 

Bible Verse

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us, that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete". 1 John 1-4 (ESV)

Prayer

Lord our God, we thank you that you have given us the light of life, that we can now learn how to live, and that through your great grace we may understand life in direct relationship with the Lord Jesus, who was crucified and who rose from the dead. Grant that the power of Christ may be made visible in us. Grant that his life may become our life, that we may leave behind all doubts and anxiety, even though we are often surrounded by darkness and night. Keep us in your Word. Let your will hold sway over all the world, for your will must be done in heaven, on earth, and down to the lowest depths. Let your will be done on earth as in all the heavens. In Jesus name, Amen.

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