(John 2:10)
�And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.�
Some have supposed, because of the comment that the good wine would be given first to be followed by the bad, that this was fermented wine which Jesus produced by miracle.
Logic, folks. Logic. If this analogy has to do with fermented wine, with the thought being that the guests would be so inebriated that they would not be able to ascertain the bad wine after a night of heavy drinking, how could the governor of the feast have been in such a state as to realize that this wine was better than the wine at the beginning of the feast.
After all, the reasoning of those who would use this logic is that the governor should have been �feeling no pain� at this point. He would not have been able to figure out that this was better wine because his sensibilities had been dulled by a night of drinking alcohol.
But, such was not the case because this man was immediately able to notice that the wine which Jesus had made by miracle was better than the wine which had come before. Remembering that the same word is used for fermented wine as is used for sweet wine, it is fairly easy to see that this wine was what we would call simple grape juice.
Those who would search for Scriptural license for alcoholic beverages must search for other passages to try to bolster their claim. This passage does not teach that Jesus favored fermented wine. This passage shows quite the opposite picture of the miracle at the wedding in Cana.
One thing of which we can be certain is that this man, the governor of the feast was ready with testimony after tasting the water made into wine. �And saith unto him��
I am a person who rarely reads novels. I just don�t. There is nothing wrong with reading novels. Actually, it is a good thing for one�s mind to do that sort of thinking as it will exercise our minds in ways that we might not consider by simply reading other types of literature.
That being said, I just finished reading a Stephen King book, �The Colorado Kid� (Hard Case Crime Books, 2005). The three primary figures in the book were the employees of a small New England newspaper. Their job was to report the news.
That is simply what the governor of the feast was doing in today�s text verse. He was reporting the news as he�d seen, or rather experienced in this case, that news to be.
I have begun reading the local newspaper on line every day. This does not include all of the stories on the paper, of course. But it does include those which are of interest to the majority of readers.
That is the type of report which was being made by the governor of the feast. It was a report of the interesting. He thought that the fact that the good wine had been saved to the last, since he didn�t know of the miracle of Jesus, was out of the ordinary. Interesting.
That is, of course, all that we are asked to do in our witness to the world at large of the great truth that Jesus died in time so that others could live in eternity. We simply report the facts of the incident as we have experienced them in our own conversion. �Folks, this is simply interesting. This actually happened to me!�
The governor of the feast was impressed by the better wine at the ending of the feast rather than at the beginning. He thought this fact to be incredible because it was so different than that which would normally be expected.
Isn�t it incredible that the Lord of Glory decided to die on the Cross of Calvary so that we could be offered salvation from our sins, a promised home in Heaven, and peace with God? Almost all religions teach that there is something that we must do, some penance, some sort of self abuse, some set of religious duties we must perform. But the Bible tells us simply that Jesus Christ died in time so that we might live in eternity.
He, Jesus, loved us, each of us, so much that He laid aside the outward glory of His eternal Godhood. He moved from the throne of the universe to be born into a stable in a dusty world far from the palaces of the powerful. He put aside the command which was rightfully His and allowed others to beat Him and crucify Him on Golgotha.
If all of this were not incredible enough, He did it for me! He did it for you. He did it for all who would trust His substitutionary death and accept His freely offered gift of salvation.
This great love is not in the tradition of humanity. ��Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine��
I do not like contemporary church services. I�m not saying that there is anything wrong with them. I just do not like them. Of course, that has more to do with my cultural upbringing than it does with the worship conducted in these services.
I just think, feel actually, how things ought to be done.
That was the surprise of the governor of the feast in our text verse. He figured that he knew the way things ought to be done. You just have to start out with the best wine and then work your way down the list toward the worst; this the governor surmised what the proper way that things ought to be done.
The story is told of a big city political operative who was out trying to get the votes of the rural population. �I can�t vote for your guy,� one of the people told him. �I�ve been a life long Republican. My father was a life long Republican. My grandfather was a life long Republican. We will never vote for a Democrat; it is our family�s tradition.�
�Well,� said the big city politico, �What would you do if your grandfather were an idiot? What would you do if your father was an idiot? What would you do if your entire family history were idiots? Would you continue to vote for only Republicans?�
�If that were the case,� the country boy said, �I�d probably not vote Republican. After all, if idiocy ran that far back in the family we�d probably all be Democrats.�
Sometimes tradition gets in the way of examining of the facts. Tradition told Jonah that he could not witness to the nation at Nineveh. God told Jonah something different. Jonah argued with God and tried to shirk his duty to God. Jonah continued to do this until God made a specially prepared fish which looked at Jonah as specially prepared fish food.
In the belly of that great fish Jonah thought that it might be O. K. if he went against his social and religious traditions just one time. He decided to follow God�s plan. The interesting fact is that Jonah seemed never to agree with God. But, Jonah had the good sense, not to mention good faith, to do what God had said even when he did not understand. Jonah did what God said even when Jonah was violently opposed to God�s program.
That, my friends, is faith to the nth degree.
Charles Simpson, a noted charismatic teacher, once mentioned that having a dog which would fetch sticks was not having a trained dog. This was only having a dog which had learned a trick. �A trained dog,� Simpson noted, �Is one who will want to go and fetch that stick you�ve tossed. But, the dog waits until he is told to do so. That is a trained dog.�
When our religious training has taught us to follow some sort of church ritual, it is faith that overrides our training and accepts the fact that, �Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.� (Acts 16:31)
The point is that unless our tradition lines up with the Words of Scripture, our tradition is in error. God�s Words are the only words we must follow. God wants us to follow His Script; if we �ad lib� our doctrines we will being showing disrespect to the Writer of the Sacred Play.
The governor looked at the situation and didn�t understand. He saw only the way things seem to have been done. He thought that the bridegroom had violated the accepted plan for providing refreshment to the guests. The governor did not understand that the plan might have been overridden by Jesus.
My son had a cook out last night for his six year old daughter. It was her birthday; she wanted a party that was outside. We roasted hot dogs over a fire. Then we began to put some marshmallows over the fire. There was one little girl there, I would guess about three years old, who didn�t want a �burned� marshmallow. She wanted one that had not been cooked.
In a sense, this little girl overrode her mother�s plan to roast the marshmallow. The reason was simple; this little girl knew what she wanted
It is the same with Jesus. Our religious tradition may tell us something. But, when Jesus tells us something else, we had better be prepared to accept His Words. What He wants will lead to life eternal. What we, or our traditions, might want may lead us to eternal damnation.
Remember, the dictates of the Bible are not debatable. God�s Words are not override able. God did not issue �Ten Suggestions.� We are the subject and God is the Sovereign. He is a Sovereign of love; the ways to which He calls us are the ways that are simply the best for us. He is the Wise Father Who warns us not to pick up the stray kitty; that kitty might be a skunk and we do not know it!
What this governor of the feast did know was that this was the way things shall be done.
The governor might not have understood the miracle; he may not have even known of the miracle. The governor might not have believed it was right to serve the better wine at the last of the feast. The governor of the feast might not have understood that the bridegroom was probably as perplexed as was he. But, the governor of the feast did know that this was the way things were!
If you do not want to accept Jesus, and His sacrifice, as an atonement for sin, well, you don�t have to do so. But, it is best that you do fully understand that this is the only way you can have salvation from your sins, a home in Heaven, and peace with God.
Whether you might appreciate it or not, that is the way things really are.
Notice, also, the testing. ��and when men have well drunk��
Once again, as we stated above, the term �drunk� here does not mean inebriated.
The term is used as the past tense of drink. This means that after they people had already had plenty to drink they were served the good wine, fresh grape juice, which Jesus had miraculously prepared.
Remember also, as a corollary of this observation, that the word translated as �wine� may refer to either an alcoholic beverage or fresh grape juice. The meaning is only that the drink is from the fruit of the vineyard.
With these thoughts in mind we continue.
The people had been filled with sustenance. They had already been drinking wine, and partaking of food, for almost all of the wedding feast when the miracle of the water made into wine occurred.
The same could be said of many who approach true Christianity. They have had their fill of philosophy and have found the experience to be unfulfilling to the soul. They have had their fill of religion and have found that the emptiness of existence still attached to their soul�s quest for fulfillment. They have had their fill of disinterest and are now ready to study the truths of life rather than continue on with a view of a meaninglessness of existence.
To those such as these listed above, I can say that the Wine of the Spirit is the only Substance which can fill your soul. At the cookout my son had for his daughter�s sixth birthday, we all had hot dogs and marshmallows. But, we were all looking forward, as well, to the cake and ice cream.
Natural urges are like that. They fill us yet, somehow, leave us looking for the next course in the meal of life. The Spirit of God can fill our soul�s longings and satisfy us in the fellowship of Christ.
The governor of this feast, as were the rest of the assembled guests, was also filled with sensibility.
As was said of the Apostles and those waiting in the Upper Room in Acts 2:15, these men were not drunken as ye might suppose. The governor of the feast certainly had his sensibilities about him. He knew that there was now served the best wine of the entire event. He even made comment on that fact.
About their religion, the Mormons ask that one accept the �burning in his belly� as a confirmation of their doctrine. Folks, we need to keep our sensibilities about us in the things of God. Emotionalism is not the answer to our soul�s needs. A �feeling� may be produced by heartburn. A feeling may be produced by eating some bad pizza. A feeling may be produced by our own wants and hopes acting upon our emotional wants. A feeling can often be, and often is when the subject is the religious trust of the soul, produced by Satan, the deceiver.
This Bible, all sixty-six God inspired and God preserved Books of It, is our guide to the spiritual realms. Whatever lines up with these Words will be of God. Whatever does not line up with these Words will not be of God no matter how much it might flatter our ego and cultural upbringing.
It is not without purpose that the Psalmist says, �Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.� (Psalms 119:105)
I could produce a fairly detailed report on what it would be like to travel from world to world in outer space. I have, after all, seen every episode of �Star Trek.� My report might be slightly flawed.
My problem in accurately describing life among the stars would be that I have never experience life among the stars. My only �experience� is flawed because it is tied into a fictional story.
Even at this, I know much more about what this life among the stars would be. There are telescopes which give pictures of the reality of the place. But, when it comes to the Spiritual realms the only picture we have which is not fiction, is the Words which God has inspired and preserved for us. Thus, our attempt to approach real spirituality must be grounded in this Book.
There is simply no other sensible, or even workable, answer to the fulfilling of our soul�s need in this situation. No one has gone before to send back a report. Jesus has come from Heaven, and spoken on earth, to give us our only glimpse of the real realities of eternity. The various writers of inspired Scripture have given us the Words which the Spirit had given them to give us our only glimpse of the wondrous works of God.
It is only sensible that we follow the Scripture and ignore the spurious clatter of those who have no understanding of that about which they purport to speak.
Also, the governor of the feast was filled with surprise. Something had happened which he did not expect. He was served good wine at a time he expected bad wine.
When we have been told all of our lives that we must work for salvation, it is a surprise to find that Jesus has already done all the work which is needed. We only need accept His work and the salvation comes as a free gift.
When we have been told all of our lives that we can never know if we are going to go to Heaven when we pass from this earth, it is a surprise to find that Jesus is the Guarantee from God that we may have eternal life. We don�t have to hope for eternal bliss. That blessing is a guaranteed gift from God. It is not of our hope; it is of His honor that we might know we are assured of an existence in Heaven when we leave this life.
Notice the suspected trick of the bridegroom. ��then that which is worse��
There was the matter of �playing the game� in social situations. The best wine would be served first, then after the party got going the second best, third best, etc. It was a gradual slide from best to worst.
It reminds me of the old illustration of putting a frog into a pot of boiling water. If you try it the frog will jump out. However, if you put the frog in room temperature water and then place it on the stove so that it heats up to boiling, the frog will stay there until he is cooked. He doesn�t seem to notice the gradual change from normal to life threatening!
There are a ton of implications in that frog story! Primarily, for the Christian, the further we drift from God, the easier it is to drift further.
As we drift further from God, we begin to pay the price. Our fellowship with Him is disrupted.
One of the best things about our salvation is not necessarily the idea of a home in Heaven. Don�t misunderstand; that a pretty good thing to consider! But, this is for later. For now we can have that fellowship with Him. We can approach the Throne of Grace; we are even encouraged to do so. �Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.� (Hebrews 4:16�
The rest of the world might just approach hard liquor when they have a problem. When they awaken in the morning the problem will still be there. Only, on top of the problem they will have a head ache!
We have the option, invitation really, to approach God with our problems. We can continue to talk with Him as He works to resolve our problems for us as the Father does for the sons and daughters. We can approach Him constantly and never get a head ache; we are heart blessed, instead!
All of this was included in the price which Jesus paid at the Cross of Calvary. His great salvation is even much more glorious than we often consider because He works through this to provide for the need.
We needed salvation. He provided that for us.
We needed a way to restore a relationship with the Creator. He provided that for us.
We needed to find purpose and meaning in this earthly life. He provided that for us.
We needed to find a way to feel real peace about the loss of loved ones from earthly life. He provided for that for us.
We needed the assurance that this short life was not all that there was. He provided that for us.
He provides for our every need if we will simply trust that His grace is sufficient!
To the surprise of the governor of the feast, there was a transformation of the expected. ��but thou hast kept the good wine��
The transformation was that the best wine followed the less than good wine. This was not expected to happen at a gathering such as this. This was a better thing to come rather than a continual degradation of the wines quality as was expected.
Culturalist�s will often denigrate the Christian message. They will allege that we talk too much about the negative. �You are always talking about sin,� they complain. But, the truth of the matter is that the Christian message is one about things getting better. Your soul is better after you�ve accepted Christ. Your life is better after you�ve accepted Christ. Your entire psyche will be better after you�ve accepted/
Your soul is better after salvation because it is no longer bound by the nature of sin. We are become free in Christ. We are free to be the noble creature which was originally created by the Lord. We do not have to wallow in sin and depravity. We can rise above even our own shortcomings.
And, the fact that we are now endowed with the promise of a home in Heaven ain�t a really bad fact, either!
We can be that noble creature because we are now allowed the access to God which was part of the original plan. Several years ago my wife and I met the President of the United States. I try to work that into the conversation from time to time! The truth is, however, that any Christian has better access than this. Any blood bought believer in Jesus Christ can go to the Throne of Glory and talk with the Creator of the universe.
We even have the invitation to do so!
It�s just too sad that most Christians do not understand their real worth. They live a sub Christian life because they fail to understand the privilege of communion with God. In doing this, they fail to realize their full potential.
Don�t let this happen to you!
There is also a better thing to comfort.
I was married to my wife, Linda, for over thirty years before her Homegoing on 15 May 2000. We had known each other, and been close friends, for several years before that. I was a shock to my system when she left.
At that time God seemed to impress a verse upon my. �But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, eve as others which have no hope.� (I Thessalonians 4:13) I couldn�t seem to grasp why He had sent that verse. �Sorrow not�� It almost seemed as though He were taunting me.
Then I looked more closely at the verse. �Sorrow not�as others which have no hope.� He never told me not to sorrow. As a matter of fact, the verse seemed to suggest that it would be good if I did sorrow. But, I was able to sorrow in a joyful way. I know that sounds strange. But, I was able to sorrow in the confidence that Linda had gone to her heavenly reward. I would see her again some day even as I would see the Lord.
The world at large, the unconverted, does not have that hope or that comfort. Christianity is surely a better thing that anything the world might offer!
The Christian message is also one which offers a better thing to complete.
Don�t misunderstand; I still accept and believe, and am thankful for, all of those good things which God offers to us in this life. He is a merciful God Who pours out His mercy upon us every day. Still, consider the words of Paul.
�For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to be only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.� (II Timothy 4:6-8)
�For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.� (Philippians 1:21)
W. V. Grant, an old time Pentecostal preacher, once said something to this effect. He said someone had asked him if he were afraid to go to Africa and preach revivals. Wasn�t he afraid of the lions and such? Grant replied that those beasts couldn�t kill him without God�s permission and, besides, his life was already forfeit because he had dedicated it to God.
Now, that�s the attitude of the Christian. Christ has completed the work of salvation on the Cross of Calvary. He has promised us that at the completion of our lives there will be a Heavenly mansion waiting!
The governor of the feast was interested in the time of his governorship. ��until now.�
That phrase, �until now,� denotes time. It is a time from behind, up unto the time where the event takes place. This is a time to peruse. We can examine what has gone before and made a reasonable guess at what might happen next. That is one of the things that bothered the governor of the feast in this situation. Since things had not already gone according to his conception of what ought to be, he was probably somewhat concerned as to what might happen next.
We have the luxury of knowing what will happen next. Oh, we can�t know to the minutest detail every single event. But we can consider the �big picture.� We can reasonably expect that the �slings and arrows of outrageous fortune� will assail us in this life from time to time. We can know of a certainty, unless the Lord returns, that some day we have that party in our honor which ends with the long limo ride to the cemetery. Death is one part of life in which all share the experience.
I had a minor exploratory operation last week. As I left the �procedure room� the doctor said, �Unless there is a problem, we�ll see you again in ten years.� If he does see me again in ten years it might have to be in Heaven. Our life can be, sometimes is, that fleeting.
The concept of time also means that we have time to plan. There is a popular advertisement running on television that depicts a person carrying a rather large egg with them wherever they go. The ad is challenging people to consider their �nest egg.� It is a plea for a retirement company.
Linda and I had always planned to move to Southwestern Missouri when we retired. Now she is gone to her reward. Our plan is not to be.
My son has a plan to move South in a few months. Since I am retired, I will probably move with him. That is our plan. But, in truth, do we really have any idea what we will be doing in six, or ten, months? Anything could happen to change that plan. We just don�t know. This is our plan. It may not be our reality.
Still, there is a more important preparation we need to make. We need to certain that our souls are right with God. Some day we will all move into the portals of eternity. Some will move to everlasting bliss. Some will move on to everlasting torment.
Have you planned for your eternal retirement? What would you do if God called your soul this very day? What would be your new address? Would it be a mansion in Heaven? Can you know what it would be?
While we are on this earth we still have time to produce the answer. We can do this because Jesus has already filled our moving van. He has it all gassed up and ready to travel to the portals of Heaven. He will even be the Driver as it is His purpose to give us the gift of salvation.
Why not get in that van right now? Simply accept Jesus as your Savior. Don�t take a chance on another single day. That day may never come. Accept Jesus as your Savior right now!