Mine hour. John 2:1-2. Those who followed Him didn't remember that He told them what would happen in the future. Strangely, they did not pay attention to some of the most important things He said. How strange is the mind of men to forget such significant things like this! Even now, we may forget when we focus on our own things, not on Him. Undoubtedly, the cross was in His thoughts during the years before it happened. May I never carelessly forget the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, when God laid on Him the iniquities of us all so that we might be forgiven. The impact of what He did in that “hour” is reflected in my daily behavior.
His hour was always before Him, even when doubting people asked for a sign. The illustration of the temple showed He was Lord over time as well. The fact that a human body is the dwelling place of the Holy God escaped those people then, but it is revealed to us in God's Word. His hour was always before Him when, for some who put their faith in Him, He forgave their sins. That hour was present when He told Zacchaeus it was lost; He came to save. His hour was before Him when, in grace, He healed the blind and when He drove the covetous merchants from the temple. The Father's will was always on His mind.
To perform this miracle, Jesus used what was available. He didn't miraculously keep everyone's cup full of wine, as that would have led to drunkenness. Large water jars, each filled to the brim, held 20 to 30 gallons apiece. The total water in the six jars was nearly 180 gallons. The water was filled completely, leaving no room for the idea that wine could have already been poured in. Good wine was created instantly by Jesus, and everyone at the wedding could testify to that miracle. Not only was there far more than enough for the celebration, but there was also enough to sell and profit from for the newlyweds.
The meaning of the miracle and its purpose was to show the disciples that Jesus was the God of creation. He created the wine instantly, without needing a history of vines. There were no vines to plant or prune. No seasons for the fruit to ripen gradually. To produce that much wine, a large vineyard would be necessary. In an instant, He was revealed as the Creator, as God in the flesh, as the God of glory—and also as a foreshadowing of the joy Christ has as the Bridegroom and His bride, the Church.
The disciples understood! The message was loud and clear. They now knew without a doubt who Jesus was. Their faith in Him grew stronger. Their submission to Him was with complete confidence. The evidence was clear, tangible, and testified to by someone who had not even seen what had happened. "Thou hast kept the good wine until now." The One who is our Savior and Lord has left unmistakable proof of who He is, not only through this miracle but in all the miracles He performed while on earth—and in the ones He is doing today in our lives. "In Him, we live and move and have our being." To not believe in Him would be to deliberately close our eyes to His power in creation, to keep all things in order, and to ensure we fit into this creation. But more than that, we believe in Him because of what He has done and continues to do daily through the riches of His grace. He has brought us to Himself and His banquet house to be part of Him forever.
Words of power might not always be many because authority isn't always loud or verbose. While we marvel at them, calm commands that are out of the ordinary can make us respond without questions, depending on who they come from. Clearly spoken explanations are given, but once, when coming from the Lord, I dare not ignore them, even if they are unusual. Words spoken by the Lord have changed everything. By His word, all things came into existence.
How foolish it would be for me to hesitate in bringing water to fill the pots when all things exist because of Him. When He commands me to make disciples of all nations, why would I hold back except for my stubborn self-will? Those servants simply did as He instructed to meet the situation, and blessings came to many when they filled the pots with water.
I read that older people should teach faithful men, so who am I to think I can wait a few more years? I see young men ready to bear burdens, and I know they need help from those with the experience to share. May God, in grace, enable me to assist those who serve by passing on a few things I’ve learned when I obey my Lord. They, in turn, may help others and take what truth they have learned from God, who will save others through what they say.