The Point of the Gospel--The First Miracle

Water Into Wine {John}

(John does not write about the temptation in the desert. He records the first miracle.) On the third day after Jesus’ baptism, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Mary, Jesus, and his disciples had been invited. Jesus’ mother told him that their host ran out of wine. Jesus answered that as his time hadn’t yet come she shouldn’t involve him, but she told the servants to follow his directions.

Nearby stood six stone water jars used by Jews for ceremonial washing. Jesus told the servants to fill them with water then draw out a sample and give it to the master of the banquet (caterer or wedding planner?). The master tasted the water that Jesus had turned into wine and said to the bridegroom, “Everyone serves the best wine first then the cheaper when the guests have already had too much to notice, but you have saved the best till now.”

Jesus Heals

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing. Crowds of people brought the sick to him. It amazed them that he taught with such authority, unlike the teachers of the law.

Personal Thought: Partly this was because Jesus also healed and cast out demons. Also, I assume the teachers ensured people knew that what they taught came from God or His prophets while Jesus taught in a more personal, immediate (close to God) manner.

Demons and Leprosy

Jesus drove out many demons but wouldn’t let them speak and tell who he was. He healed a man with leprosy, warned him to remain quiet about it, and told him to show the priest how he’d been healed and offer the sacrifices Moses commanded for such cleansing. {Mark} Instead, the man spread the story widely. Jesus could no longer go into a town. He stayed outside in unpopulated places. {Luke} Yet the stories about him spread. He went out to the villages to preach.

Jesus often went off by himself to pray. Personal Thought: Jesus did this throughout his ministry, an example of how important it is to our well-being.

Monday—more on relationship minefields and forgiveness.