Thawngttha Chimtu:
Salai Hung Kii
General Understanding of Miracles
Jesus ministry is full of miracles. His miracles can be divided into four parts, (1) curses, (2) casting the demons, (3) resurrection of the dead and (4) controlling over the nature. The most wonderful event of Jesus’ miracle is His resurrection. That is central to our Christian faith. The purpose of all these miracles is to show His uniqueness and to enthrone the Satan. Today I want to share with you about Jesus first miracle of changing water into wine.
First of all, it is important for us to know the word “miracle.” Sometimes, it can be translated as a sign or wonder. The word “miracle” derived from Greek, dunamis, (miraculum in Latin), which is the root of our word dynamite, meaning power or strength. Dumamis indicates the nature of Holy Spirit—transforming us from within. Miracle is something that still happens to us today in supernatural way. Unfortunately, many scientists do not believe in it and some Christians say Jesus’ miracles are just for “embellishment.”
John 2:1
“God’s Performance and Human’s Participation”
The Gospel of John is a bit different from the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke. The Gospel of John is known as “spiritual gospel” and three of those Gospels are called Syn-optic Gospels. We can see 7 kinds of miracles in John Gospel. (1) Changing water into wine (Jn 2:1-11), (2) Healing the official’s son (4:43-54), (3) Healing the sick at the pool of Bethesda (5:1-9) (4) Feeding the 5000 people (6:1-5), (5) Walking on water (6:16-25), (6)Healing the man-born blind (9:1-41), (7) Raising Lazarus from the dead (12:1-18)
The first miracle has two significant levels—the first level is about wine for a party, and a deeper level is revealing Jesus’ glory.
Context:
I am very interested in “the place and time” that Jesus performed this first miracle by using water into wine. Jesus has a special purpose for choosing the time (wedding) and place (Cana) and changing water into wine. Wedding is one of the most honorable events in a whole life. Why Jesus chose Cana, which is a small and unpopular place. He should choose Jerusalem (a big city) to make miracle and why Jesus did not make the first miracle at the Passover or some other festivals. The context tells that God chooses unlikely places (Bethlehem, Cana and Nazareth etc) and unlikely persons to do His works, like (David, Moses, and Gideon etc) to reveal His glory. Thus, this miracle gives us a motif of Jesus’ humble mission into the world!
2. The Condition of Changing Water into Wine (Jn 2:1-5)
We notice the substance “water and wine.” Water stands for a symbol of purification (Myanmar New Year) and wine stands for a symbol of God’s bountiful grace (remember Holy Communion). According to Jewish culture, wedding is to be celebrated for one week. Jesus is invited to this ceremony along with his disciples and mother. His mother appears in this Gospel only here and at the cross. When wine was gone, Mary said to Jesus, “They have no more wine.” She might expect Jesus to take a collection from His disciples to buy additional wine. It is unclear what she has in mind, but for sure, she is worried about wine.
In verse 4a, Jesus replied her, Dear woman, “why do you involve me (NIV), this is not my problem (NLT)? Te emoi kai soi kunai” in Greek, literally meaning, what to me and to you or what is my involvement in this? Jesus’ response sounds uncaring or disrespectful, but the word, woman used by Jesus to His mother stands as a form of “distance address rather than disrespect.” Jesus says, “My time has not yet come in verse 4b.” At a few moments, may I request you to be supposed as the groom or his parents, and imagine how shameful and difficult condition in front of the invited guests! We might say, the groom and his family has very limited budget for marriage.
I believe that it must be the most difficult time and most serious embarrassment for the groom; he might have no more resources or hopefulness. But Jesus’ words, “my time has not yet come” is a time of His glorification. Jesus’ action is always governed by the time set by His father. Jesus always makes miracle in due time, never in a hurry. As humans, sometimes we are in a hurry, but God is never late, always on time! See also Luke 5 (Jesus and Peter). The best time for God to make miracles is when we are in the most difficult time or in time of crisis. Thus, C.S, Lewis says, “God whispers in time of normal condition, but shouts in times of crisis.” Remember, Jonah’s hopeless situation inside the belly of huge fish. It is the best time for God to make miracles for him!
Jesus’ Method—Changing Water into Wine! (2:6-11)
Sometimes I wonder Jesus should change water into wine without using the servants at the wedding ceremony! Jesus has power to change water into wine directly. Why Jesus uses the servants to participate in this miracle. It is very important for us to think today!
In verse 7-8, Jesus said to the servants; “Fill the Jars with water, so they filled them to the brim and draw some out and take it to the master of banquet.” The servants fill the six water pots with water. I am so happy to see that all the servants have no hesitation and response to Jesus. But, they follow and obey what Jesus asks them to fill the pot with water. Jesus used His servants to be the participants in the matter of his miracle.
In verse 9 and 10, we see Jesus’ promise has fulfilled—water is changed into wine. There is much confusion about it. The master of the banquet didn’t know where that wine came from, but the servants know about it. In this manner, most of the religious leaders did not often know about the meaning of Jesus’ signs but it was the disciples or the ordinary peoples who know it. Even today, many people do not understand what Jesus miracle means to them.
In verse 11, this first act of Jesus’ miracle is to reveal His glory so that His disciples may put their faith in Jesus. The word “glory” is very much important here, associates with God Exo 14:4, 17. When Jesus reveals His glory through this miracle, He is revealing his Divinity—being son of God. The purpose of this sign is to inspire the belief of disciples so that all His disciples come to know that Jesus is the messiah, son of God. Through believing, they may have life in His name John 20:31. Thus, the main purpose of this miracle is to reveal Jesus’ glory to the life of disciples so that they may honor God. Jesus’ disciples follow Jesus for almost three years without knowing Jesus is God’s son!
Looking at the Symbolism;
By looking at the symbols that Jesus uses in this miracle, the “old wine” stands for “old covenant” and “new wine” for God’s new covenant. The six empty water pots symbolize the heart condition of unregenerate peoples (the number 6 is not a perfect number but 7 is a perfect number for Jews). The water symbolizes the ceremonial cleansing, which is central to the practice of old covenant. A joyful wedding symbolizes a group of Christians or the church. And more importantly, the unnamed servants whom are used by Jesus as the participants symbolize “you and me” today in the ministry.
Conclusion:
Is it still possible for God to make miracles today? Yes, of course, Hebrew 13:8 say, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. If the answer is yes, so how God’s miracles can happen today? Today, God uses the peoples as His channels or ambassadors in many ways. It is the Holy Spirit living within us to make miracles through us today. It is a nature of dynamite as I talked earlier (eg., boat moved by wind and dynamite). Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God wants you and me to be the participants not just the observers in His ministry. Remember, through the participation of servants, all the peoples at the wedding come to know and honor Jesus. Especially, the disciples came to put their faith in Christ and honor Him. Likewise, let us welcome and invite God to use us in wonderful way so that other peoples come to know God as creator and savior and experience God’s grace. Although, we are just the ordinary servants of the extra-ordinary God, we can become extra-ordinary peoples through serving the living God! The Spirit is always on the move with us through the dynamite power today! May God bless you all. Thanks.
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