Grapevine Ministries
Messages from the bible to uplift and encourage those that need a word from the Lord, to strengthen their faith. Ps Phillip Barker is an itinerant pastor in Perth, Western Australia.
Grapevine Ministries
A Spiritual Journey to the Heart of Christmas Gospel of John
As Christmas draws near, we invite you to shift your focus from the commercial hustle to celebrating the true essence of the season—Jesus' birth. Reflecting on the subtle societal shifts that have impacted the sanctity of this holiday, we discuss the importance of aligning our celebrations with the spiritual significance of Jesus’ life. Through the lens of biblical narratives like Jesus’ interaction with Mary and his miracle at Cana, we draw parallels to modern-day faith journeys. Embrace a deeper appreciation for these timeless stories and find inspiration in the unique perspective the Gospel of John offers, enriching your spiritual celebration of Christmas.
Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are in the world - Welcome to Grapevine Ministries.
Greetings and salutations everybody. Sorry for the late message, but sometimes the hours turn into days and the days turn into weeks, and before you know it we're at the conclusion of another week. But so, as my title is concerned, god has saved the best for last. Now we're back in the book of John, john 2, 1 through to 11. Now this is about the first miracle that Jesus performed in his earthly ministry. It was changing of the water into wine. At the wedding feast in Cana, no one was healed, no one was raised from the dead, no one was fed by loaves and fishes. This miracle was purely and simply something of enjoyment for those at a wedding, like a parent who loves to bless their children. God loves to bless us, not based on our performance, but based on our goodness. The wine that Jesus miraculously produced at the end of the wedding banquet was the best wine of the banquet. At the end of the wedding banquet was the best wine of the banquet, a reminder to us that God saves the best for last. Now let's just read through this together. Like I said, we're in the Gospel of John, john 2, 1 to 11.
Speaker 1:On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. Now, both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding and when they ran out of wine ran out of wine, no, they ran out of wine. The mother of Jesus said to him they have no wine. Jesus said to him they have no wine. Jesus said to her Woman what does this concern have to do with me? There were six water spots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing 20 or 30, they say gallons in there, but I mean, for those that are listening, I think it's litres, it's about 150 litres, something like that. Whatever he says to do, do whatever he says to do. Do. Fill the water pots with water and they filled them to the brim and he said to them draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. And they took it when the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came. But the servants who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests are well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now. This, beginning the signs, jesus did in Canaan of Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Now, water and wine being the very first miracle performed during his earthly ministry, is actually quite unique to the Gospel of John, the location being, cana, is a town in the region of Galilee of Israel, meaning a place of reeds. This was a Jewish wedding. Jesus' mother and the disciples were present, but there was no mention of Jesus' father, joseph. It is believed that Joseph passed away prior to this event.
Speaker 1:Now, the miracle of turning water into wine is an interesting first miracle. Like I said, no one is healed, no one is raised from the dead. Jesus seemed to perform this miracle purely and simply for the enjoyment of the marriage and for the enlightenment of the guests. In John 2.11 it says and his disciples believed in him. Sometimes God performs miracles purely for one pleasure and to open the eyes of our hearts to whom he is. You see, god delights in doing this solely because he loves us. He doesn't bless us based on our performance. He blesses us based on our performance. He blesses us based on his goodness. We often miss a lot of small miracles that take place in our life where we are blessed. While we're looking for the big miracles Now, running out of wine I mean, I can pertain to this.
Speaker 1:Okay, in the first century, running out of wine at a wedding is a major social embarrassment. I know this because I'm married to a European and it's the same consensus host an event reflects upon you and your family based on how all the guests perceive it. And the thing is that, you know, as a, you know, non-european, you know I never really understood this concept, but in reading the Bible you get a very clear picture of how culture and lifestyle has a lot to do with some of the things that Jesus did. See, mary brought the situation to Jesus' attention. She didn't directly tell him how to handle it. We don't know if she was expecting him to perform a miracle or he had not performed any other miracles.
Speaker 1:Now, when Jesus responded in 1 John, 2, 4, woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has yet come. Now you think that this is Jesus being disrespectful to his mother, but it's not communicating that the parental bonds were no longer binding and he answered solely to God, the Father. Now, this is very interesting here, because the thing is that Jesus worked on a divine timetable and he only did that which was the will of the Father. In John 5.19 it says Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do, for whatever he does, the Son also does in like manner. And John 5.30 says this the son also does in like manner. And John 5.30 says this I can of myself do nothing, as I hear. I judge and judge, and my judgment is righteous because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me. And if you go on to John 8, 29, it says here For I always do those things that please him, jesus discerned that God, the Father, was calling him to act.
Speaker 1:He instructed the servants to fill six stone water pots with water. Now, that was according to the measures of those days. It's about 180 gallons of wine, which is something like I don't know 300 and something litres. It's a huge quantity. The miracle was about the quantity and the quality of the wine. The Master of the Feast stated every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now In John 2.10.
Speaker 1:Now, everything that Jesus does, he does with purpose. He does it in such a way that every part of what he's doing has some sort of significance, and if you're not careful it's very, very easy to miss that aspect of it. You see, jesus doesn't just do things by chance. He doesn't speak to people, he doesn't say things. He doesn't do things without some sort of biblical reference or the fulfillment of something that has come before him. This is no different. Jesus discerned that God, the Father, was calling him to act. The miracle is about both the quantity and the quality of the wine.
Speaker 1:Jesus didn't use the empty containers from the wine rack earlier. He used water pots designed for purification. The Jews highly valued ceremonial washing. The Jews highly valued ceremonial washing. They would use water from purification vessels for ritual bathing and for physical cleansingness when approaching God. As a means of recognizing God's holiness, he changed the water into wine, which was symbolic of his blood, changed the water into wine, which was symbolic of his blood. He was communicating the importance of internal cleansing through his blood, via his sacrifice on the cross, instead of external cleansing to be right with God, the internal cleansing work of a relationship with Jesus where he forgives us of our sins and is what's making us right with God. Everything about this was biblically based Saving the best for last. God always saves the best for last.
Speaker 1:For those who don't know Jesus in a personal way, this life is as good as it gets. For those who have a personal relationship with Jesus, this is as bad as it gets Because we know what is yet to come. This life is full of heartache, betrayal, remorse, regret. We are both the offender and the offended in life. Jesus came to save us from our sins and rescue us from a sinful world, so that we cannot forever be in a relationship with him without the cares of this world being being our problem any longer. The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding banquet, and the last mention of a wedding banquet in the Bible is the one that Jesus has prepared for us who know him. Now, just read this. I mean, you don't have to go there, but I just want to let you know.
Speaker 1:In Revelation 19, 6 through to 9,. This is what it said, and I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering saying Hallelujah for the Lord, god omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and his wife has made herself ready and to her it was granted to be an array of fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous act of the saints. Then he said to me Right, blessed are those who called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, to the marriage supper of the Lamb. It is a picture of the ultimate fulfillment of the relationship that we have now, that we be enjoyed forever because God has saved the best for last.
Speaker 1:As we look at this, we see the significance of how everything aligns together and as we go through the book of John, you'll find a foundation for Bible study, because there were so many things unique to the book of John that are not found in the other Gospels, book of John that are not found in the other Gospels. The turning of water into wine was an interesting first miracle, as no one was healed and no one was raised from the dead. Why, then, might Jesus have performed this miracle? Is he not showing another side of himself? There are many faces, and there are many facets of our Heavenly Father, and Jesus does things with a purpose behind them and sometimes we need to look and see what it is he's really doing in our life and see what it is he's really doing in our life.
Speaker 1:When was the last time something small and relatively insignificant happened in your life and you thanked God for it? We have little miracles happening in our life every single day and sometimes we're oblivious to what God is doing behind the scenes. I can't remember this. I think it's a Hillsong song. Then it says you know he's always working. You can't see him, but he's always working, he's always working.
Speaker 1:The thing is, god is always working in the background of your life. God is always having an input to you. You know, even when Jesus communicated to his mother, said Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? Who was the main authority figure in Jesus' life? Well, it is obvious that now he knew that that was his heavenly father. He wasn't being disrespectful, he was just saying that look, I'm answering to my father now because I've come to that stage in my life and we know that there are significant reasons behind some of the things that he does.
Speaker 1:I want you to just pause for a moment and just reflect on what has happened here. Let's just say that you were at a special event where someone was being honoured for what they were doing, and you were just there to be part of that, to be involved in the celebrations, but it wasn't directly in relation to you, but it touches you in such a way that you receive something out of it as well. God has a purpose behind everything that he does, and it says in his word. And now, if we look at Romans 10, 9 and 10, the thief has come but to rob, kill and destroy, but I have come to give you life and give it to you more abundantly. Destroy, but I have come to give you life and give it to you more abundantly. It's clearly showing that, okay, we live in an ungodly world, we're surrounded by ungodly people and many, many things will come against us, and we don't see how God is working in the background. We don't see that he's actually, you know, looking after us, because we're looking for the big things. You know we're in the process of. My daughter is very, very good at this and I love mentioning her because she doesn't listen to my podcast for her own reasons.
Speaker 1:But as we approach Christmas, you know, there's two major events in the Christian calendar that without these two events, we would not be able to live the life that we live today. We would not be able to have Christ that dwells within us, and one of them is the birth of our Lord and Saviour, jesus Christ. Now it has been very, very heavily commercialised and it's all about Santa Claus and giving and receiving of gifts, but we need to look at the real purpose behind it, and society over a very, very long time, has been trying to water it down and change it. Yeah, and you see the, the little things that have been doing. It's like I remember reading this article about Michelangelo and he had just carved this beautiful statue and the comment was made that, wow, that he had created a unique masterpiece, unique masterpiece. And yet his response was totally unexpected by those that were talking to him and he said, no, was in there that we could not see until he had chipped away the rough edges.
Speaker 1:When you look at Christmas, right, something as subtle as changing the words from Merry Christmas, happy Christmas, you know, have a blessed Christmas to Happy Holidays, and a lot of people don't see that. They don't see the significance behind that. So, okay, it's just another terminology. No, it's not. It's taking Christ out of Christmas. We need to put Christ back into Christmas. We need to make this all about him. You know, the thing is that you'll find in a lot of places the nativity scenes are just replaced by fancy works of art and nice, pretty Christmas trees and things like that.
Speaker 1:Christ is being removed slowly but surely. Christmas is being watered down about being about Jesus Christ and some people because they're in such a hurry and I've actually done it well, I haven't done it personally myself, but I've received cards with it in whereas everybody puts Xmas instead of Christmas. So they remove Christ, put an X and then put Mass next to it. It's a shortened version of Christmas, but it's another way that you remove Christ from the equation. Let us not make this about just a special holiday. The same as Jesus didn't make this just a wedding banquet significance in this celebration to actually turn water into wine and to show that he actually wanted to celebrate this event with his disciples and with those that are at that wedding in Canaan that are at that wedding in Canaan.
Speaker 1:The simple, subtle things that take place sometimes can have a ripple effect. You just drop one small pebble into the water and it is only a tiny little pebble, but the ripples that it creates get bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. As society as a whole starts to water down Christmas, they remove the significance of that. Even if you're looking at this from Jesus' perspective about this being a wedding banquet and have a look at what they're doing to weddings these days. Have a look at what they're doing to the sanctity of marriage these days.
Speaker 1:Let's not allow Christ to be watered down in our lives. Look forward to Christmas and celebrating it with family and friends, but do it in such a way that we glorify and honour our Lord and Saviour, jesus Christ, because he was born of a virgin in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and people travelled from far and wide to come and give gifts of significance to him to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. How is it that you can celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour this year? Is it by explaining to your children about what the world is doing holistically in the celebration of this holiday, or is it time for you to let them know that this is all about Jesus Christ? He came to serve a purpose. He was the ultimate gift for all of us. He came and he dwelt among us and he did many signs and wonders and then he went to the cross and gave it all up so that we could live the life that we live today.
Speaker 1:Let us not water down the significance of this, and let us look very closely as we go through the Gospel of John. I want you to see the uniqueness of the Gospel of John in comparison to the other three Gospels and get a better understanding of what it was really all about. The Gospel of John is serving a great purpose and I think that when I talk about this next week, you'll just see how significant this is, because we get into the Book of John, chapter 3. Now, I'm just going to give you a little bit of a taste, but just remembering okay, everybody and I would say probably everybody there will be very, very few people that do not know, both Christian and non-Christian the scripture John 3.16. That's all I'm going to say at the moment, and every one of you that is listening to this podcast right now should be able to.
Speaker 1:If you are a believer, if you have Jesus Christ dwelling within you, you have the ability to be able to recite that scripture without any problem whatsoever. Everything that Jesus did, he did for a purpose. Everything that the Father allowed him to do was done for a purpose, even something as significant as this. So how should this shape our thoughts, attitudes and actions while we are here on earth? To have a look at it, and do not overemphasize the meaning of what this was done here. This is a perfect study aspect for you. This is the picture of the ultimate fulfillment of the relationship that we have with God, now that we will enjoy forever, because God has saved his best for the last. So I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed actually preparing it. So God bless for now, and we'll talk to you next week. Bye, bye, for now.
