Apicontent

“No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” —John 3:13-15

In our verses for today we are presented with the Easter story … couched in unfamiliar words. Jesus was sent from heaven to save us from the sting of death!

The story of the snakes in the desert takes place in Numbers chapter 21. The Israelites were, once again, grumbling and complaining against God and Moses. They were sick of the lack of bread. They were sick of the lack of water. They were sick of the miserable food. And while their bodies were healthy, their attitudes were sick! Taking their eyes off God and placing them on their circumstances certainly did not fare too well regarding their behavior, but their complaining fared even less well with God. I am reminded of the verses in Philippians that have become our family mantra:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.” —Philippians 2:14-16

God was not happy with their stinking attitude and, I might add, He is not happy when my attitude stinks either! In the case of the Israelite people, He sent venomous snakes–biting many among them–causing death. The people turned to Moses immediately, crying that they had sinned and asking for his intersession. Mercifully, God told Moses to make a snake and place it on top of a pole. Anyone who had been bitten could merely look at that snake and live.

“Then they traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, but the people became impatient along the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food.”

“So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD that he would take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.”

“The LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.” —Numbers 21:4-9

You know, we often grumble and complain over God’s provisions for our lives as well. We don’t like the house we have, or the car we drive, or the spouse we live with. Our job is too hard, our money too little, our joy depleted. Our children rebel, our health declines, our friends fail us. You name it; we can complain about it. We can call this complaining and grumbling whatever we want, but God calls it sin.

Notice in the passage in Numbers, God did not take the snakes away rather He gave them a way through the snakes. Sin will never be eradicated this side of heaven. Jesus is our only way “through” the “snakes.” We are all born stricken with this sin nature– bitten by the venomous snake of Satan–and in desperate need of a Savior. And just as God in His mercy had Moses craft a snake on a pole to save many who had sinned, He also, in His mercy, sent His Son down from heaven to save all who would believe. Jesus came to reveal God to man and to take away our sin!

Take It to Heart

Jesus, being without sin, took upon Himself all the sins of the world–past, present and future–so that in turn His righteousness could be given to those who would trust in Him by faith.

“ God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

Further Reflections

“Sin is the deadliest foe we have; it cast our first parents out of paradise; it defaced God’s image in man; it brought pain, sickness, and death into the world, and a spiritual death into the soul; it causes a distance from God, and a dislike to his holy ways; it gives Satan an interest in, and a power over mankind; it once drowned the world, and will destroy it at last; it exposes body and soul to the just judgment of a holy God, and will seek every unpardoned offender into everlasting destruction. How is this deadly foe to be conquered? How is this fretting leprosy of the soul to be cleansed? Reader, be careful in this matter, and seek after a remedy that will be lasting and efficacious. Duties, prayers, tears, sacrifices, morality, and partial reformations, avail nothing in this case; all below Christ Jesus will prove physicians of no value. Jesus is the only Savior; God the Father sent him into the world to save sinners; his name declares the same; he is ‘called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.’ His blood is the only atonement for sin … May we be enabled to look to him, to receive him as our Lord Jesus, able and willing to save to the uttermost.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

“Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?”
Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” —John 3:9-12

Confessing his ignorance, Nicodemus is clueless over Jesus’ prior explanation of the necessity of being born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. Due to his lack of understanding, this teaching made no sense to Nicodemus, causing him to question the truth of it. Unfortunately, there are times when our ignorance blinds us to the truth. And yet, ignorance of the truth is no excuse for our lack of understanding. Jesus tells us that we fall into error when we do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. We find His words in Matthew:

“Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. ” —Matthew 22:29

Never forget that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for us. Picking and choosing what we may or may not want to believe or understand is simply not an option. We are to take it as a whole or not at all. Paul tells us:

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17

King David said:
“The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the LORD's promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.” —Psalm 18:30

Teachers are especially accountable for knowing the truth as they are responsible for leading others. When they wander from the truth, they lead others astray in their wake. Jesus came down hard on the Pharisees in regard to this:

“But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.” —Matthew 23:13

James gives us fair warning regarding this as well:

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.” —James 3:1

Take It to Heart

I am reminded of the prophet Hosea’s words:

“Who is wise? Let him discern these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them!

For the ways of the LORD are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.” —Hosea 14:9

“Lord, strengthen our faith, inflame our love, enlarge our views, support us in trials, guide us by thy counsel, and receive us into glory, that we may sing thy praises to all eternity. Amen.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

“Indeed, who is God besides the LORD? Who is a protector besides our God? The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.” —Psalm 18:31-33

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” —C. H. Spurgeon

Further Reflections

“Hence, in our verses for today, Christ gives Nicodemus a reproof for his ignorance. Being one of Israel’s leading teachers he should have understood Jesus’ teaching.“The word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” —A.W. Tozer

“Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” —John 3:1-2

Cloaked in the darkness of night, Nicodemus approached Jesus, the all-encompassing light, cloaked in flesh. Nicodemus was a “Who’s Who” of the Jewish people–a Pharisee, a scholar, a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. He was a man of authority in Jerusalem. This man noticed the miraculous signs Jesus performed. He knew enough to know that these things could not have been accomplished by mere man–the fingerprints of God were all too obvious. “Pala” works–things too hard for man to do–point us to the Creator.

I love how Jeremiah states this fact in his prayer:

“Oh, Sovereign Lord, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you!” —Jeremiah 32:17

“You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt which have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day. ” —Jeremiah 32:20

Job, after being confronted and questioned by God responded similarly:

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted; you asked, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know.” —Job 42:2-3

Indeed, Jesus speaking to the father of the boy with an evil spirit appears taken aback when the man asked if there was anything Jesus could do to help them:

“Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him? And he said, “From childhood.”

“It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

“Then Jesus said to him, “If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” —Mark 9:21-24

Later in Mark Jesus tells us:

“Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.” —Mark 10:27

The miracles of Jesus prompted Nicodemus to want to learn more. Approaching Jesus at night, he desired to talk with Him alone without the constant interruptions of the public fanfare. While others were perhaps resting, sleeping, or at their leisure, Nicodemus pursued further knowledge.

Take It to Heart

Miracles show us the fingerprints of God, spurring us to seek Him. One of the ways we can do this is by pursuing further knowledge of God through His Word of. We are called to be zealous in this pursuit:

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.” —2 Timothy 2:15

“Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.” —Oswald Chambers

Further Reflections

“Here was Nicodemus, a judicious, sensible, inquisitive man, one who had all the reason and opportunity imaginable to examine them, so fully satisfied that they were real miracles that he was influenced by them to go contrary to the stream of those of his own rank.” —Matthew Henry

“If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” —John 10:37-38

“Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people. He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.” —John 2:23-25

Beware of putting your emphasis on the praise of man rather than on the praise of God! It is an easy trap to fall into, often catching us unawares in its vice, tightly turning our motives into pleasing a creature in lieu of our Creator. We are to live our lives for an audience of One. We all live coram Deo–before the face of God–whether we choose to believe it or not. Our opinions and biases do not alter the truth.

Jesus did not entrust Himself to men because He knew them. He was aware of the weakness of some and the wickedness of others. He knew their natures, their dispositions, their intentions, and their affections. He knew them better than they knew themselves. His knowledge came not from others information but by His own omniscience.

As believers, our actions should always be conforming to what God desires of and for us. I am reminded of Peter and John’s words to the religious leaders of their day after being warned not to speak again in the name of Jesus:

And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied,  “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” —Acts 4:19-20

Contrast Peter and John’s actions with those of some of the leaders who desired man’s praises over God’s:

“Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” —John 12:42-43

Take It to Heart

Think for a moment, do you care more about what others think of you than what God thinks?

Fear of man will control us if we do not choose to have the fear of God control us. Proverbs tells us:

“Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and more instruction.” —Proverbs 1:7

Jesus said:

“I do not accept praise from people, but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?” —John 5:41-44

Further Reflections

And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” —Hebrews 4:13

“Be thoroughly acquainted with your temptations and the things that may corrupt you.” —Richard Baxter

“Men who fear God face life fearlessly.” —Richard Halverson

“To inoculate me from the praise of man, God baptized me into the criticism of man, until I died to the control of man.” —Francis Frangipane

“So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.” —John 2:22

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, is it not? As they recalled their Master’s words, the disciples were finally ready to believe the Scriptures and what Jesus had spoken to them. While Jesus had plainly told them what was going to happen, they had not grasped it–they simply needed the light of the resurrection to point them to the truth of it all. The disciples were able to understand the meaning of what Christ did as they reflected upon the Scriptures. God’s Word and God’s work go hand in hand.

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” —C. H. Spurgeon

In the book of Luke we find Jesus chiding the disciples for their lack of understanding:

“So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures. —Luke 24:25-27

Unbeknownst to them at that time, the crown always comes by way of the cross. We would do well to remember that in our own lives as well. Paul tells us:

“Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” —2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Considering the harsh travails Paul endured, it is amazing that he could deem them “light and momentary,” yet Paul’s fixed vision of the goal kept his mind in proper perspective. While the torture he endured was supremely difficult, it was nothing in comparison to the glory that he would later receive. We might easily dismiss this if he had not written a considerable amount about what he suffered for the sake of Christ:

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

“Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.” —2 Corinthians 11:23-29

Despite all of this, we are told in Acts how Paul continued to preach God’s good news, encouraging and strengthening new Christians!

“After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” —Acts 14:21-22

Take It to Heart

“Christians shouldn’t be surprised when, in seeking to do God’s will, we find ourselves trapped in painful, frightening, difficult, or impossible situations. Life is hard–especially for Christians.” —Robert J. Morgan

“Never shall you come into such a position that Christ cannot aid you. No pinch shall ever arrive in your spiritual affairs in which Jesus Christ shall not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus … ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’” —C. H. Spurgeon

Further Reflections

“To trust too much upon feeling, disturbs our peace as soon as it is gone; but to rely on the word of God, preserves a settled assurance.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

“So then the Jewish leaders responded, “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?”

“Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”

Then the Jewish leaders said to him, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?” —John 2:18-21

Do you not find it interesting that in our verses for today, the creatures demand proof of the Creator’s authority? The Jews were always looking for a miraculous sign. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians:

“Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” —1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Christ answers their demand by telling them of a sign that was to come–a prophecy of His own death and resurrection. Partially in mercy, using figurative language to those who would refuse to believe so that the clearer words would not be held against them, He shows His pristine knowledge of His sufferings and resurrection. Indeed, this was a charge that the unbelieving Jews brought forth in Jesus’ conviction:

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” —Matthew 26:59-61

I am reminded of Jesus’ parting words in Matthew given in the Great Commission: “Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” —Matthew 28:18

Take It to Heart

Paul tells us that while our vision and understanding remain clouded, one day we will see clearly as our partial knowledge will be displaced by a completed sight and understanding. This will occur when our now becomes then:

“For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.” —1 Corinthians 13:12

Sadly, the brilliance of man sometimes causes him to miss the mark in regard to fully appreciating and apprehending the wisdom and plan of God because he chooses to lean on his own understanding. God’s thoughts and plans, being far superior to human thoughts and ways, are those that even the most brilliant of minds cannot conceive. God’s compassion, love and mercy far exceed our fleshly ability to comprehend. The narrow way is found only through self-effacing faith not through self-confident erudition. The prophet Isaiah tells us:

“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,” says the Lord, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Further Reflections

“And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.” —Matthew 13:14

“The saddest condition a man can be in is to sit under the most living ordinances with a dead, stupid, untouched heart.” —Matthew Henry

“After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days. Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

He found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables. So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will devour me.” —John 2:12-17

When Jesus was on earth, He was passionate about His Father’s house–and He is still passionate today. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

“And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” —2 Corinthians 6:16

As believer’s, our bodies are the dwelling place of God! Let’s just think about that briefly. Our bodies carry within us the very Spirit of the living God; Jesus is therefore just as zealous about our temples as He was about the physical dwelling place of God. This message may step on a few of our toes if we are willing to put our feet out there.

As believer’s, we must continually be reminding ourselves of the purpose of life–which is not happiness or health but holiness. Peter tells us:

“Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” —1 Peter 1:14-16

Zeal for the Right Things

Our lives may be consumed and wasted by our distractions, interests, and desires–some of which may even be right, noble, and worthy. However, God intends for us to be constantly moving towards holiness as He prunes things that are perhaps good in order for the better to bloom forth. Obedience and a relinquishment of our will to Him are required in this process as well as a firm grasp of His Word, a fervent prayer life and the constant listening to His “still small voice.” He alone equips and enables us to grow in Christlikeness as we willingly and humbly submit to His leading.

“The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God … God has only one intended destiny for mankind–holiness. His only goal is to produce saints … He did not come to save us out of pity–He came to save us because He created us to be holy … Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God … Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.” —Oswald Chambers

Take It to Heart

I wonder if, like Jesus, zeal for our Father’s house consumes us. Are we willing to “make whips” to consciously drive out sin in our lives? Are we concerned about our personal holiness?

Paul sets forth for us a wonderful illustration in 1 Corinthians:

“Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be qualified.” —1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Further Reflections

“Ask me not where I live or what I like to eat…Ask me what I am living for and what I think is keeping me from living fully for that.” —Thomas Merton

“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives.” —Charles Spurgeon

While I regarded God as a tyrant I thought my sin a trifle; But when I knew Him to be my Father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against Him. When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good.” —C. H. Spurgeon

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” —A.W. Tozer

“Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.” —John 2:11

“Firsts” are special are they not? The first tooth, the first step, the first day of school, the first date, the first time to drive a car, the first child, the first grandchild. “Firsts” make quite an impact on our lives perhaps because they generally come as the fruition to what most of us disdain–waiting. Indeed, “firsts” carry with them a sense of wonder, awe, and amazement as waiting turns into reality.

Our verse for today speaks of the performance of Jesus’ first miracle, revealing His glory to the disciples, opening their eyes to the finger-marks of God, prompting them to put their faith in Him. Transforming water into wine, Jesus sets forth a taste of what is to come for man–the transformation of the heart. There is nothing like experiencing a miracle to build faith and point us to the truth!

The Jews had been waiting for their promised Messiah just as God had waited on the “fullness of time” for His Son to be born. God’s timing is perfect–never late or early and rarely when we expect it. Everything was ready when Jesus arrived on the scene. God’s Son, in whom all the fullness of the deity dwelt in bodily form, came to make God the Father known to man. Glory and splendor are shown to His disciples as Jesus turns the water into wine without a word. When things too hard for mere man to do are accomplished–things beyond the bounds of human powers–our attention is grabbed.

Jesus was a “first” in Scripture. We find in Romans:

“Because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” —Romans 8:29

Paul states in Colossians:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” —Colossians 1:15-20

Take It to Heart

Christ both preceded the whole Creation and is Sovereign over all Creation. He is exalted as the firstborn among many, demonstrating to us a great pattern we are to follow: He came to do His Father’s will and to make His Father known; in like fashion, we too are to manifest Jesus.

Paul tells us:

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.” —2 Corinthians 4:7-10

The message of salvation and the results which the gospel produces are both divine and glorious. “To preach the gospel is really to unfold the heart of God, the person and work of Christ; and all this by the present energy of the Holy Ghost, from the exhaustless treasury of Holy Scripture.” —C. H. McIntosh, Notes on Numbers, 1869

Further Reflections

“God alone knows the depth and riches of His Godhead, and divine wisdom alone can declare His secrets.” —Thomas Aquinas

“Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.” —Athanasius of Alexandria

“Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.”

So they filled them up to the very top. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did.

When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” —John 2:6-10

How like Jesus to choose the jars which held the water used for the ritual and spiritual purifications as the receptacle of His first miracle–turning water into wine–between 120 and 180 gallons of wine to be a bit more specific. Indeed, nothing in Scripture is random. The servants simply were told to fill the jars with water–and fill them to the brim they did! Jesus Christ is in the business of giving abundantly out of His glorious storehouse, and His desire is for us to be prepared by faith to receive His fullness–no half jars of water would do! The psalmist states: “I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” —Psalm 81:10.

Paul also encourages us with these words:

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20-21

No uncertainty, with complete confidence, Jesus calmly goes about His first miracle. All done in quietness–without any ceremony, pomp or splendor; without any gawking spectators or fanfare, the miracle was performed suddenly with great dignity and magnanimity. He wills the thing and then proceeds to work it without a word.

This confidence reminds me of the confidence He exuded when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet:

“Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.” —John 13:3-5.

Jesus was well aware of His sovereign authority, His origin, and His coming destiny, yet He begins to wash the feet of His disciples, taking the very nature of a servant upon Him. While all things are certainly not under our human power, as believers, we know where we come from and where we are going and that we carry, through the blood of Jesus, the high rank of children of the King. Having this confidence in Him, equipped with the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to serve freely as well–no service beneath us. We should no longer be wallowing in insecurity, desperately desirous of our works to be in the limelight, constantly drawing attention to ourselves and craving affirmation to stroke our pride. We can work in quiet confidence, even producing our fruit anonymously, living out our lives for an audience of One. Nothing goes without His notice, nothing!

“And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” —Hebrews 4:13

Take It to Heart

What Jesus provides pales the world’s provisions. Nothing we are offered here satisfies or compares to what He holds out for His children. Just as the master of the banquet remarked on the miraculous choice wine, the products of miracles will always be the best of their kind. King David encourages us to: 
“Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!” —Psalm 34:8.

Further Reflections

“There are joys that are unearthly in their power and in their sweetness.” —Amy Carmichael

“Christ does great things and marvelous without noise, works manifest changes in a hidden way, without any hesitation or uncertainty in his own breast. With greatest assurance imaginable, though it was his first miracle, he recommends it to the master of the feast first. As he knew what he would do, so he knew what he could do. All was good, very good, even in the beginning.” —Matthew Henry

“I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” —John 10:10

“Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him.” —2 Chronicles 16:9