A New Renewal

John 2 -The first miracle of Jesus is not by chance that is because of New Wine. The New Wine represents a new renewal of God's Presence in His People, evidenced by the joy and spontaneity of love for God and His Word.

The meetings, the Church is typified by a wedding, but the wine has long run out. It is a cultural shame. It is a real scandal. To run out of wine is a signal of poverty and recklessness.

But how many of us run our ministries, continue our meetings long after the wine has run out. We are so far away from true conscience that the world, has become scandalized by our lack of "wine" in our feast/ meeting.

 We feel no shame, yet the world feels shame for us.

Yet Jesus appears. He awaits His Time. Mary is symbolic of the prophet, who senses that Jesus' appearence

as a signal of opportunity. How many prophets have their homes full of the glory yet their church, to where they belong is devoid of the "wine"? Devoid because of feasting without counting the cost!

How many there were so content with emptiness? The master of the feast became ashamed. Shame is what we should feel, not the shame of defeat, but the realization of our poverty.

Jesus calls for 6 Waterpots- The number of Man

Jesus calls for 6 waterpots...6 vessels...6 number of man. Jesus could have done the miracle without human collaboration. But God chose man to show him His Covenant, and through man redeem creation. Jesus will always call for our cooperation.

Jesus then asked for water! Water is symbolic of His Word. He said to fill the waterpots, pots made for water. Our lives made for His Word. They had to be almost overflowing. John 15 tells us that the disciples were made clean by the washing of the water of the Word. God by His Spirit only moved at the Word.

Modern day example shows us that in 1949 some small group in Barvas, Hebrides, stood on God's Word, for 5 months. One night in extraordinary faith and boldness the small group claimed manifestation of the Word and Glory came and shook the barn where they were. Almost the whole island was swept in 4 years with salvation.

So when Jesus knows that the pots are full, He gives the command. Then the very water turned into new wine. Jesus when He came, came to overturn the shame of a temple with no glory, teaching with no inspiration, and living with no integrity.

I believe that we must allow Jesus the right into our feast, and provide something that is lacking: His Glory!

It is said at the end of John 2 that Jesus showed all His Glory, to His Disciples. When the New wine comes, Jesus is revealed for Who He is.

By Russell Durose

radurose@aol.com