Have you ever thought about Jesus' first miracle? Seriously, really think about it. This is his first chance to make an impression on people in a miraculous way, so he should probably do something awesome, right? Yet, he turns water into wine.
I mean, on the surface it just looks like a nice party favor and I think that's how most people take it. He felt bad for the wedding party and wanted everyone to have a good time. Maybe he was just trying to please his mom?
No. I believe if you look a little deeper you can see that Jesus was really intentional with this miracle, just like he was with the rest of his ministry.
So look in John 2 where this story is found.
Jesus is at a wedding, which we know is a symbol of the church (or people) being reconciled to God. This is important to realize. Jesus tells the servants at the wedding to fill some water jars with water. What is interesting is that these water jars are used for ceremonial washing so that the Jews could be outwardly clean. This is a symbol of the Old Covenant.
When the jars are filled to the brim, the water turns into wine. Wine represents the blood of the New Covenant, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:27). The wine is then given so people can drink it. The master of the banquet says to the Bridegroom (who represents Christ), "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best till now."
Jesus is showing us something important with this miracle. God saved the best wine (Jesus' blood) for the final drink (or sacrifice). This wine comes out of the ceremonial washing jars to show us that this new wine will cleanse us on the inside.
Jesus wanted to show God's plan from the start. We would be reconciled by His blood through the forgiveness of sins.
God's grace is for every area of your life. Accept his grace today.
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