WATER To WINE—Declaring God's Anointed-IV—John 2:1-12
Attention:
On Stage—Feb. 9, 1964—The Beatles were introduced to America on CBS’s variety show ‘The Ed Sullivan Show. Before they even played, the audience filled with young girls began wildly screaming & passing out in delight & awe & Thus began what was known as ‘the British Invasion’(influx of British musical influence) bringing British Rock & Roll to America & changing the secular American musical landscape.
Someone of vastly more importance(Jesus) was heralded on a vastly smaller stage.
Jesus turned water to wine in order to initiate/call attention to/set apart His public ministry.
Jesus is set apart as God’s Anointed.
Declaring God’s Anointed can/may be accomplished thru particular signs.
Why turn water into wine?
*Where is Jesus set apart as God’s Anointed?
6 stages for heralding God’s Anointed.
Previously we found that God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of....
1. INSIGNIFICANCE(:1)
2. PRESSURE(:1-3)
3. DESIRE(:4)
4. TRUST(:5)
5—God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of...
SUPPLY(:6-8)
Explanation:(:6-8)Overabundance/Unlimited/Solution
:6—“Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.”
We don’t know if the house was located at a place where the “waterpots" remained. We don’t know if the “waterpots" were brought in specifically for the wedding celebration. The Jews had a custom of purification that required washing/rinsing one’s hands ceremonially before entrance & after certain activities.
One metrhtav =approx. 9 gal. or 39.6 liters. Therefore 2-3 metrhtai = 39.6*2=79.2 l to 39.6*3=118.8 l. or 18-27 gals....
Thus totaling ~=~108-188gal.
“Waterpots”(See :7)—udria—1) A vessel for holding water; 2) A water jar, a water pot. Strong—A water-jar, i.e. Receptacle for family supply. Used 3X.
“Stone”—liyinov—Adj.—1) Of stone. Strong—Stony, i.e. Made of stone. Used 3X.
“According to the manner”—kata—Prep.—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; prepositionally--Down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).
“Purification”—kayarismov—1) A cleansing, purification, a ritual purgation or washing. Strong—from kayarizw[ To cleanse (literally or figuratively)]; A washing off, i.e. ceremonially--Ablution, morally--Expiation. Used 7X.
“Jews”—Ioudaiov—Adj.—1) Jewish, belonging to the Jewish nation; 2) Jewish as respects to birth, origin, religion. Strong—Judaean, i.e. belonging to Jehudah.
“Containing”—cwrew—1) To leave space(which may be filled or occupied by another), to make room, give place, yield—1a) To retire, 1b) metaph.—To betake one's self, turn one's self; 2) to go forward, advance, proceed, succeed; 3) To have space or room for receiving or holding something. Cwrew always emphasizes the idea of separation, change of place, & does not, like e.g. poreuomai, note the external & perceptible motion. Strong—from cwra[Room, i.e. A space of territory(more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants)]; To be in(give) space, i.e. intransitively--To pass, enter, or transitively--To hold, admit (literally or figuratively).
“Two/Twenty”—duo—Strong— primary numeral; “Two.”
“Three/Thirty”—treiv—a primary (plural)number; “Three.”
“Gallons/Firkins/Measures”—metrhthv—1) A measurer, the name of a utensil known as a amphora, which is a species of measure used for liquids & containing somewhat less than nine English gallons or about 40 l.. Strong—A measurer, i.e. specifically--A certain standard measure of capacity for liquids. Used 1X.
“The word metrhthv, from metrew, to measure, simply means "measurer," an amphora for measuring liquids”—RWP
:7—“Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.”
Jesus took over the responsibility/authority & handled the situation Himself by telling the servants to “fill” the ceremonial “waterpots" “with water.”
The servants obeyed Jesus. The servants “filled” the “waterpots" as full as possible...like an infinity pool...Nothing could be added. This was to bolster the fact that nothing would have been added to the pots in the manner of a ruse...
But more likely, it was to express the fullness & abundance of God’s favor in Christ!
“Fill”2X—gemizw—Strong—To fill entirely. Used 9X.
“Water”—udwr—1) Water. Strong—from the base of uetov[ from a primary uw(to rain); Rain, especially a shower]; Water(as if rainy) literally or figuratively.
“Brim”—anw—Adverb—1) Up, upwards, above, on high; 2) of the quarters of the heaven--Northward; 3) of countries--Inland, up from the coast; 4) of time--Formerly. Strong—Upward or on the top. Used 9X.
:8—“And He said to them, “Draw some out now, & take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.”
Jesus gave the servants further instructions after they followed His first instructions. The servants were to draw out the water from the waterpots they had just filled up. Or...the servants drew out of the well used to fill the waterpots.
Jesus instructed them to take the freshly drawn water to the headwaiter. They obeyed Jesus & took the water to him.
What is important to gain here is that Jesus is the Agent & point of Supply! Overabundantly, Unlimitedly, bringing ultimate Solution.
“Draw...Out”—antlew—1) To draw out of a ship's bilge-water, to bale or pump out; 2) To draw water. Strong—from antlov(the hold of a ship); To bale up(properly--Bilge water), i.e. Dip water (with a bucket, pitcher, etc.). Used 4X.
“Take...Took”2X—ferw—1) To carry; 2) To bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigor of a thing, to bear patiently one's conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying); 3) To bring, bring to, bring forward. Strong—a primary verb (for which other & apparently not cognate ones are used in certain tenses only; namely, oiw; & enegkw); To "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally & figuratively).
“Master of the feast/Headwaiter”(See :9)—arcitriklinov—1) The superintendent of the dining room, a table master. The table master was to place in order the tables & the couches, arrange the courses, taste the food & wine beforehand, & so forth. Strong—Director of the entertainment Used 3X.
From—arch—(properly abstract) A commencement, or concretely--Chief(in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)—& a compound of:—treiv—a primary (plural)number; “Three”—&—klinw—a primary verb; To slant or slope, i.e. Incline or recline(literally or figuratively)—a dinner-bed, because composed of three couches.
Argumentation:
**Mat. 14:15-21; Mk. 6:34-44; Lk. 9:11-17; Jn. 6:5-14—All record the Feeding & Filling of the 5000, & again, later the 4000 men(+ women & children) & the overabundance indicated by the baskets filled with leftovers...
Mat. 14:15-21—“When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, & the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages & buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves & two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves & the two fish, & looking up to heaven, He blessed & broke & gave the loaves to the disciples; & the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate & were filled, & they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women & children.”
Jn. 6:11-14—“And Jesus took the loaves, & when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, & the disciples to those sitting down; & likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, & filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Mat. 15:32-38—“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself & said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days & have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, & a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves & the fish & gave thanks, broke them & gave them to His disciples; & the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate & were filled, & they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women & children.”
**Php. 4:15-20—“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving & receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once & again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all & abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God & Father be glory forever & ever. Amen."
2Cor. 8:10-14—“And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began & were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, & not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased & you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.”
Regardless of who give what, God supplies abundantly to ourselves & others...if we are obedient!
Neh. 9:14, 15—“You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And commanded them precepts, statutes & laws, By the hand of Moses Your servant. You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them.”
Deut. 8:3—“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, & fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”
**Ps. 84:10-12—“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun & shield; The LORD will give grace & glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
**Lk. 12:22-34—“Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, & the body is more than clothing. “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; & God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; & yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field & tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, & your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, & all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have & give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As with our Trust in God, so with God’s Supply...
**2Cor. 9:6-8—“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, & he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
Is your ‘want’ God’s will?...Does He SUPPLY?
Illustration:
Most mornings in warmer weather I take my Bible & maps & Bible apps to the carport on the east side of the house & sit facing east, looking over the church’s unimproved lot/I hang a towel from the carport edge to block the sun from my eyes/The back of the Dollar General store is to my SE & starts to get very busy—As I read, the Ekrich meat man arrives, so do the Pepsi, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, etc. guys, but especially the Dollar General truck, which is usually parked there overnight...waiting for DG to open/All of them eventually unload their contents for that particular store/Dollar General sells all of those products & more contained within those trucks but they do not produce them!/The store is totally dependent on others or rather another producing & delivering the goods!/The Christian & thus the Christian church does not produce his-her-their own supply, Christ is & must be the supplier!/SUPPLY
A local Concrete Co.— FBCC contracted with them to pour our newest sidewalks/We were ready & committed to pay them but they did it free of charge!!—We were not expecting it!/We were all blessed by it/SUPPLY
My College & Seminary/I was entirely blessed!—my parents & grants met the financial needs of both educational endeavors/SUPPLY
‘Pine straw’ for the church/Purchased from a local business which, in turn, purchases it from a ‘harvester’ elsewhere/SUPPLY
Application:
?Your SUPPLY a stage upon which Jesus is heralded?
?You set the Stage for heralding God’s Anointed?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
On Stage—Feb. 9, 1964—The Beatles introduced to America via ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.
Action:
God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of...
5. SUPPLY(:6-8)
1. INSIGNIFICANCE(:1)
2. PRESSURE(:1-3)
3. DESIRE(:4)
4. TRUST(:5)
Pts. 5 only! Presented 06/07/2015am to:
FBC Cbelle
209 Storrs Ave.(Ave. A) SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
