The Gospel of John: John 2.1-12

Read and meditate on John 2.10.
The best for last – for these last days of the cosmos, God has, indeed, reserved His Best. And our Best, too. Let’s not miss any opportunity to enjoy God’s Best and to praise and extol His Best to others.

           So he called the bridegroom, ¹⁰and
he said to him, “I do not understand:
Each man, at the beginning of the feast,
serves good wine to his guests, and leaves the least
preferred 'til all the guests have drunk their fill.
But you the best wine have reserved until
this moment!”

- John 2.10

Reflect
1.  Now let’s be honest: There’s a comic quality to this little vignette. Here’s the master of the feast, blathering away in praise of the groom, who doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about, but is willing to receive the compliment, as the servants smile at one another knowingly and go about their business. The Gospel is serious business, of course. But the Lord has a sense of humor. He intends for us to enjoy our lives in Him. Right? How do you enjoy the Lord? Complete this prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the joy I know in…

2.  John does not recount the parable of the new wine in old wineskins, which comes a bit later than this story, and which is told in conjunction with a parable about a bridegroom (cf. Matt. 9.15-17; Mk. 2.19-22; Lk. 5.36, 37). But you can bet he was aware of that parable, as well as of the fact that the other gospel writers told it. Was John helping us to understand that parable by recounting this story? Explain. What does this suggest about how the Spirit helps us understand difficult portions of His Word (cf. 1 Cor. 2.12, 13)? Lord, teach me how to let Your Word be its own best commentary. As I’m reading anywhere in Scripture, help me…

3.  I’m sure John sensed the irony of that master’s comment: “the good wine until now” – the best for last. John knew that the story he was telling signaled the beginning of the last days (cf. Acts 2.14-17). What does he want us to understand by this master’s comment? These are the last days, Lord. Help me also to make them the best days by…

4.  We note that Jesus did not feel the necessity for explaining what had happened. Does glorifying God by blessing other always require words? Explain. Even if I have no opportunities to talk about You today, Lord, help me to glorify You by…

5.  In John’s gospel, the connection between wine and Jesus’ blood is not explained, as it is in the other gospels. John seems to have been content for his friends to tell that part of the story, even though he undoubtedly had the Last Supper in mind as he wrote his gospel. In what sense is the “new wine” of Jesus’ blood “better” than the “old wine” of the blood of animal sacrifices (cf. Heb. 10.1-10)? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“On the wedding day in Galilee, water was made wine. Do we have appropriate words or senses to ascertain what methods produced the change by which the tastelessness of water disappeared and was replaced by the full flavor of wine? It was not a mixing; it was a creation, and a creation that was not a beginning but a transformation. A weaker liquid was not obtained by admixture of a stronger element; an existing entity perished, and a new entity came into being. The bridegroom was anxious, the household in confusion, the harmony of the marriage feast imperiled. Jesus is asked for help. He does not get up or busy himself. He does the work without any effort. Water is poured into the vessels, wine drawn out in the cups.” Hillary of Poitiers (ca. 315-367 AD)

This story is delightful and significant for so many reasons: its humanity, cultural importance, eschatological significance, mystery, comedy, simplicity, and subtlety. The stories of Jesus are real stories, not fantasies, not super-hero stories, not myths. The Word-become-flesh brings the blessings of God’s goodness to the flesh of the world. And He’s doing this still through people like you and me. Who will know the touch of Jesus’ goodness through you today?

Closing Prayer
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Do not put your trust in princes,
Norin a son of man, in whom thereis no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
The LORD shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146

Psalm 146.5-8, 10 (Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows)
Blest are they whose hope resides in the Lord, Christ at His side.
By Him heav’n and earth abide –
            God forever reigns in Zion!

He is faithful evermore; He gives justice to the poor,
Feeds the hungry from His store –
            God forever reigns in Zion!

Jesus sets the pris’ner free, heals blind eyes that they may see,
Lifts those burdened painfully –
            God forever reigns in Zion!T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.