Last weekend, we had the privilege of hosting our friends, Brenda and Bruce’s wedding ceremony in our little garden. It was a perfect, beautiful spring day, with just family and a few close friends attending. What a blessing it was to see two hearts joined together as one.
We had the opportunity to meet the families we had heard so much about but had never physically met. As one car would arrive after another, I would try to anticipate who it would be before the door would open. At first glance, I recognized them from the family resemblance. Because of the family connection, I felt as if I had known them. After the ceremony, we went to the couple’s home for a reception. The food and punch were delicious, as was our fellowship together.
As I reflect on that special day, I am reminded of another wedding that took place in the Bible. In John, Chapter 2, Jesus was called to a wedding in Cana of Galilee with his Mother, Mary, and his disciples. Upon arriving, He learns from His Mother that they have no wine. At this point, Jesus stated to His Mother, “What have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.” (verse 4) He was referring to His ministry at this time. Jesus did not want to draw attention to Himself before He started preaching the kingdom of God. After Jesus had told Mary this, she immediately said, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” (verse 5)
There were six waterpots of stone there, and Jesus told them to fill the waterpots up to the brim. He wanted them full, nothing lacking. “He told them to draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast. They bare it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water that was made wine, he called for the bridegroom, ” and said unto him, 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.” This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory, and His disciples believed on Him.” (verses 8 – 11)
We have recently been studying the book of John in our Sunday School class. As I began studying the first miracle that Jesus performed at a wedding, it became apparent how impactful this seemed to me! What better place to start than where a marriage is taking place? What better earthly example do we have than when the Bible says, “…We leave Father and Mother…” and become one together in the most intimate physical relationship we have here in this life? That is why He came to us, to engage us in an intimate spiritual relationship. God saved the best for last.
The law declared our sins; Jesus came to remove them. Through God, Moses turned the water into blood, and through God, Jesus turned the water into wine—new wine! John 17:21 states, “…that they all may be one, as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”
The new covenant had come; there would be no old wineskins for this new wine. Jesus paid a dowry of His life through His blood. Jesus betrothed Himself to us. The earnest has been given.
“Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnestness of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14“Who that also sealed us, and giveth the earnest of the spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:22
Just as the stone vessels needed to be filled with the new wine, we are empty vessels in need of filling with the Holy Spirit. It is a promise of the bridegroom to His bride, a covenant made of the great marriage supper of the lamb for a bride to the bridegroom of Christ, who has made herself ready.
In the Old Testament, wine symbolized blessings and abundance. In the New Testament, at the last supper, Jesus, with His disciples, said, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:20
The new covenant is with Christ and His church, as He declared intimately with His disciples at the last supper was so special to Christ that he conveyed in Matthew 26:29 that he would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the day that He would drink it in celebration in His Fathers kingdom. What a day of rejoicing that will be when all of God’s family will come together and celebrate at the marriage of the Lamb of God!!
Isaiah 62:5 says, “For as a young man marrieth a virgin the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” All the family will be there waiting to meet you, just as at the wedding in my garden last week. Even though we never met, I recognized them because they were family. We will be known as we are known.
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
You are invited to a wedding.
Please come!
Whosoever will let them come…
Diane Mann
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#dianemannblogs
