Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I can't speak from personal knowledge of ceremonial cleansing practices at the time, but perhaps the wine vessels that had already been fully drained through use would have been considered unsuitable for immediate re-filling and re-use without undergoing some type of ritual procedure that could not be immediately performed in order to allow them to be used for that purpose, whereas the containers that Jesus used (even if they may have been larger than standard wine containers) were "clean", since they were designed to hold water intended for ceremonial purification, and thus did not present that problem.

In addition (or alternatively), perhaps the large quantity of wine produced from the water placed in the water jugs was purposely intended by Jesus to evoke associations with Old Testament references (as in passages such as Psalm 104:15 and Proverbs 3:10) to wine as a symbol of God's blessing, which in the case of Cana would have been a large amount of such blessing through the first manifestation of Jesus' power.

Also, Genesis 49:8-12 (Jacob's blessing of his son Judah, from whom Jesus was descended) speaks of an abundance of grapes and wine, and Amos 9:13-15 refers to new wine dripping from the mountains when God would bring the Israelites back from their exile, which perhaps again could be construed as foreshadowings of Christ's action.

April 22 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe Supporter

Shortly after His baptism, Christ inaugurated His ministry by performing His first miracle. Prompted by His mother, Jesus turned water into wine. The gospel teaching of Jesus is often compared to new wine (Matt 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37, 38). 

Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, its intention was more than to supply an immediate need. This was a symbol for things to come to which He hinted by saying “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). 

The water represented baptism into His death - the wine represented the shedding of His blood for our sins. The ceremonial water pots at the wedding reception represented the past with its customs and traditions which have been replaced by a new and better beverage. The water to fill the jars was brought by human hands, but the word of God alone could create life giving wine. All this pointed to the Savior’s death.

By His word, Christ supplied plenty of wine for the feast - as plentiful as His grace is to wash away the World sin.

April 22 2020 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ben Jones Supporter Retired Professional Photographer

Purely from a physical standpoint, and especially since the spiritual aspect has already been covered, the recently emptied wine casks would have had a considerate amount of sediment in the bottom of them which would have spoiled the fresh wine. The sediment comes from the skins, seeds and jetsam and flotsam found on the grapes which settles to the bottom as the wine ferments. 

Also had the old wines casks been used rather than the water pots perhaps some of the guests may have thought that the wine casks had not been completely emptied or the parents of the bride had some additional casks hidden away that no one knew about. 

Lastly the touch of the Master's hand can take something that is as common and plain as water and make it something exiting. Lets face it water is about as boring a drink as there is. Clear in color with little to no taste, but wine is pretty, tastes good (some anyway!) and "wine maketh merry" (Ecc 10:19.)

April 24 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Brother Paul Supporter Paul's message in Eph 2 was to believers:

Greetings

Notice the following: John 2:10, ‘You have kept the good wine until now!’

Question: Would you put good wine in old wine sacks or used jugs? NO.

As we see in Matthew 9:17 and Mark 2:22, regarding the topic of what wine is stored in, we see Jesus used a metaphor to illustrate the incompatibility of the old Jewish laws and traditions with the new message of grace and freedom that he brought. In this example He compared the old religious system to old wine skins that would burst if filled with new wine. 

In John 2, the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, He used the pots used for purification purposes, they would have been spotlessly clean, and cleanliness was paramount for the Jews. To have used jugs that had other wine in them could have contaminated the wine. This was the ‘best wine’ from pure water stored in spotlessly clean vessels.

Jugs of best wine would have certainly not be enough; wedding feasts at the time of Jesus went on for a week sometimes longer.

You may like to read my reply to Jack Gutknecht in the following thread, it gives details of what a wedding feast was like at that time in Cana and how Jesus took the procedures and culture of the day to show us what he was really explaining. Don’t be misled by the title of the thread.

How should the church address a couple who is living together? (ebible.com)

In His Love

Brother Paul

July 15 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report