John 2: 1-12

(John 2: 1-12)

『And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 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.  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.  After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 』

Many church people think that the power of God was manifest in Jesus' first sign. People tell stories such as Mary's faith and obedience of servants. Making wine from water was Jesus' first sign. The Bible says three things about the wedding feast. The wedding feast of Ghana, the wedding feast given by a king for his son (Matthew 22), and the marriage feast of the Lamb from Revelation. All three wedding feasts focus on the wedding feast of the Lamb. Ghana's wedding feast is a model for explaining the Lamb's wedding feast. The Bible explains: How is the wedding feast prepared? The Bible says: It is not perfect for wine to run out before the wedding party is over. A wedding feast without Jesus Christ is not a full wedding feast. The Bible explains what it takes to be a perfect marriage feast.

Following the Jewish ceremony, there were six water jars at the banquet hall of the wedding feast. The Jews always had to wash their hands with water when they went out and returned home, because the surrounding area is desert. This was the tradition of the elders in the synagogue. Water is the word of God. Wine is also God's word. There is a difference between water and wine. Jesus told them to fill the six jars with water. Water is the word of God without Jesus Christ revealed. That is, the Old Testament law (the law of wrath). Although the gospel has not yet appeared, but when the law (the law of wrath) fills the hearts of men, it becomes an elementary teacher who leads the law to Christ.
John 5: 39-40 speaks of eternal life.『 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 』

The law (the law of wrath) tells us about Jesus Christ. This law leads to Jesus Christ, and people do not find Jesus Christ. There are six water jars. "Water filled the jar" means "people to keep the law perfectly." In other words, if you try to keep the law completely, you will meet Christ. At that time, the Jews, while keeping the law, did not find Jesus Christ. The Jews had to realize that they were sinners when they tried to keep the law. Thus the law leads to Jesus. This means that water has become wine. Water is the Old Testament law, but wine symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant. Luke (22:20) says:『 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 』

On the last Passover, Jesus said "the new covenant of blood." The new covenant is not the law, but the amazing new covenant of God who is forgiven by Jesus Christ. The law cannot be a perfect wedding feast, but the new covenant of Jesus Christ, is a perfect wedding feast. To enter the marriage feast of the Lamb promised by God, there must be a new covenant with Jesus Christ. The new covenant is as in Romans 6: 3, where the sinner repents and is united with Jesus who died on the cross.

"Woman, my hour is not yet come," refers to the marriage feast without Jesus Christ. It is not a perfect wedding feast, but the Law(the fullness of the water) leads to the realization of sin, and lead to Jesus Christ. The perfect wedding feast (the new covenant), means the symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ. Many people say, "Believe in Jesus Christ, and keep the law with your holy heart, and come to the righteousness of God." Believing in Jesus Christ and keeping the law cannot coexist. Jesus died by law. Those who are united with Jesus on the cross are dead to the law.

『 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 』

(Galatians 3: 22-23) If we do not realize that we are in the net of the law, we are foolish virgins. Ten virgins were holding lanterns for the bridegroom because the bridegroom was coming late, they were dozing. The five foolish girls awoke to the news that the bridegroom was coming, and there was no oil. The foolish virgins said, "Lend me your oil." The wise virgin said, "We also lack oil, go to the seller and buy it." So they went to buy. When they came back, the door was closed. The five foolish virgins asked to open the door, and Jesus answered and said, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you”.

The foolish five virgins know Jesus, but Jesus does not know the foolish five virgins. In order to enter heaven, it is not that I know Jesus, but that Jesus needs to know me. Although the Israelites offered sacrifices to God in the wilderness for 40 years, God reproved through the prophet Amos, "I never received it."

『 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 』 (Matthew 10: 32-33)

 The foolish five virgins recognized Jesus before the people. But Jesus did not know. The reason why Jesus returns to the air is that He comes to take those who wait for him. So Jesus knows who to take. The foolish five virgins are not the ones to be taken. There is no focus on what the foolish virgin is thinking and what Jesus is saying. "Awake" means to remove the cover of the law and to know Jesus Christ. The Bible still points to the Jews under the Law. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians (4: 4).

『 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 』

The reason Jesus came to the world was to redeem those under the law. The Jews, however, are still under the law and deny what Jesus did. There is no way to be saved, except to repent and  free from the net of the law, and be united with Jesus Christ, who died on the cross.