May it please almighty God to
bless us together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let's turn to the Gospel of John
and the second chapter and we'll just read the last clause in
verse 10. That's the second chapter of
the Gospel of John and the last clause in verse 10. Thou hast kept the good wine
until now. This short account of the marriage
in Cana of Galilee was a quite remarkable occasion. It occurred
in fact as we read in the third day, that's the third day after
Jesus was baptized. In the previous chapter there's
the account of what happened on the first day and also the
second day and this is the third day. So we find Jesus on the
third day at this marriage of Cana and Galilee and we're told
and the mother of Jesus was there. So although it doesn't actually
say so we can assume that was either a relative or Mary or
at least a close friend and she was therefore at this marriage.
And then we are we're told also that not only Jesus was there
but his disciples and of course at that time there weren't 12
disciples there were only five disciples which Jesus had called. There was Jesus and these five
disciples called to this marriage supper and obviously the disciples
they only just become disciples and therefore it was very short
notice to be invited to this wedding and the case came therefore
that they wanted wine they either hadn't got any or they'd run
out of wine but whatever it was they had a need for wine. And
the mother of Jesus spoke to Jesus and said, they have no
wine. We might think, well, that wasn't
an unusual thing for a mother perhaps to address her son. And
obviously she had some idea of the power and wisdom and blessing
that the Lord had given to his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet we find that Jesus responds
in what we might think appears to be quite a harsh way. He says,
woman, he doesn't say mother, he doesn't say Mary, he says
woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. But we must of course remember
that here was the Son of God and obviously there was a situation
where it shouldn't appear that perhaps he was favourite to anyone
or perhaps he listened more so perhaps to his mother than anyone
else and therefore the Lord really kindly rebukes her in this way
and it's good that it is so because As we know, the Roman Catholic
Church, of course, they really worship the Lord's Mother Mary,
whereas, of course, she was only a normal woman, a sinner saved
by grace. We know nothing more than that,
although wonderfully favored to be the mother of Jesus, the
Son of God. But then she responds and she
says not to the Lord, she doesn't respond to the Lord, But she
says to the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Clear word of instruction. Obviously
she was aware that if he gave instructions, it was important
that these instructions were carried out. And therefore she
said to them, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And then we're
told in a word, set their six water pots of stone onto the
manor for the purifying of the Jews containing two or three
firkins apiece. Now we're not sure of course
exactly what a firkin is but we can be fairly sure that these
were quite large stone jars because the Jews were keen on purifying
and keen on using quite a lot of water to purify so we can
assume they were quite large stone jars. Jesus gave them a
very simple instruction. He said, fill the water pots
with water. They heard his voice, they heard
his instruction and therefore they did fill them up with water
and they filled them up to the brim. You know it's good therefore
we receive a gracious instruction from our God and we obey it.
They didn't kind of half fill them and think well that'll be
enough. They filled them up to the brim and then the Lord spoke
and said to them immediately draw out. He didn't say well
now just wait and have a look and just see what I've done and
whether what's occurred is good or bad. He had just instructed
them, draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast,
and they bear it. So we have two instructions by
the Lord given to these servants, and on both occasions they were
obeyed carefully and rightly. There was no argument, there
was no discussion, they very simply did that which the Lord
spoke to them. Again for us today it's good
to realize that the Lord does sometimes give us instructions
and sometimes we may perhaps think well I believe that could
be dealt with in a different way, in a better way, and therefore
I think I'll pursue the avenue. Well these servants they did
what the Lord spoke to them. We have these lessons in the
Word of God for our instruction and for our direction, that we
should therefore not try and improve on the words that the
Lord Jesus speaks, or not try and think perhaps there's a different
way which might be more suitable to us. We should always acknowledge
that what God says, what God speaks, is good and right and
we should be willing and desire to be willing to follow what
he says. And so we come down to the situation
of the ruler. 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 that set forth good wine, and when men are well
drunk, than that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine
until now. And clearly it was good wine. And it was wonderful, was it
not, that the Lord Jesus had granted this miracle. And as
we read in the next verse, this beginning of miracles did Jesus
in Cana and Galilee, and manifested forth his glory and his disciples
believed on him. How wonderful and how significant
that occasion was to think that there were these new disciples
that had left all and had been given that grace to follow the
Lord Jesus Christ. And just on this third day, the
Lord clearly showed to them the wonderful power that he had. and it was set forth in this
very simple illustration of changing this water into wine. Now the
Lord graciously has carried out this miracle at this marriage
at Cana in Galilee. Surely that should be a word
of instruction to us to think that the Lord's first miracle
was carried out at a marriage. There could have been many many
other ways, many other things, but the Lord in his wisdom and
graciousness and kindness exerted his power on this marriage day
and therefore we can conclude that God indeed, his blessing
rests upon the marriage bond and the rightness of it And although
we live in a day when many people cast aside marriage as irrelevant
and they can carry on in their own way and please themselves,
no one else is to be considered. Let us always remember, let us
always testify the word of God clearly sets before us the right
way, the ordinance of marriage. And so we have this gracious
and wonderful example before us. It might indeed be important
to us, especially our young people may think perhaps, well, marriage
is not very important. And so many people today, of
course, they live together without getting married. They think it's
all right. And they think they've only got
themselves to please and do that, which is pleasing to them. And
they can put these things just on a trial and see if they work
out and if they don't, well, they just forget about it and
go somewhere else and commence another relationship. And the
world at large accepts these situations. The word of God clearly
directs us to the wonderful example we have way back in the Garden
of Eden. with Adam and Eve, one man and
one woman. Therefore, we should realize
that these things are true and these things are important. It
may not always, of course, pander to the natural mind, especially
in a day and age in which we live. And yet here we have on
this occasion God's gracious presence at this wedding He could
have said, well, of course, I'm not coming to the wedding. Of
course, I've only been revealed really as the son of God since
the time of my baptism, when the greatest father said, this
is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him. And
here is a gracious situation which you and I today needs to
follow. So let us remember, all our young
people and our older ones, that this is a gracious and important
element in the lives of people today, which is totally, or I
say totally, for the most part disregarded. And yet you see
it is an ordinance which emanates from Almighty God. Let us not
therefore pass it over. Well, we have the evidence then
that the Lord graciously granted that this water should be turned
into wine, and not just ordinary wine. It was the very best wine,
so therefore there could be really no other conclusion that this
came by the power of God. The servants at least knew very
well that they put water into these jars and nothing else and
yet when they drew it out it wasn't any more water it was
the best wine. Therefore it's a wonderful example
of what the Lord can do and it was a wonderful testimony that
these servants as we read but the servants which drew the water
knew they knew what had occurred it wasn't something some magical
thing which had just occurred by some magician. No, this was
the power of Almighty God. Therefore the servants were on
hand to testify that it was so. It wasn't done in a corner. It
was clearly done so that it was evident this was a miracle. Nobody could turn water into
wine. and yet how wonderful it was
that this occurred. We should indeed truly be thankful
that it was so. We have therefore an evidence
that the Lord graciously blessed this. You may think, well, this
is all very good, but what's the actual relevance apart from
the truth of obeying God's Word to us today? Because we're told
by Thou has kept the good wine until now. Well, there are a
number of things. Firstly, we learn that God can
do great things and use very simple means. He used here this wonderful truth,
this wonderful illustration of turning water into wine. And as we think of that, We may
perhaps ponder it and consider, well, sometimes the Lord is gracious,
and sometimes the Lord sets before us his word, the word of truth
in his word, or sometimes through the preaching of the word. And
sometimes it may appear to be very simple, and we may think,
well, that's just too straightforward, that's just too simple. I really
want something a bit more wonderful, I really want something a bit
more positive, to confirm to me that there is a God, confirm
to me that I need a God, confirm to me that God is with me. Well
we should not therefore be left to think that there should be
something very great Very wonderful, because the Lord can take simple
things, simple words in the Word of God, and they can be, you
might say, expanded in our minds and hearts as we meditate upon
them. So therefore, never turn away
from the simple truths of the Gospel. The gospel is simple
and what a blessing it is for every true believer because on
the face of it, it is so simple to realize that the Holy Spirit
convinces of sin and the Holy Spirit directs us to the Savior
to seek for forgiveness and to seek for mercy. That really is
the crux of the gospel. It is really very simple. And yet you see, so often people
are unwilling to believe the simple truth of the gospel. They
want something more complicated. They want something they're able
to boast about, that they understand this wonderful position and this
wonderful interpretation. which they now are able to understand. Well, the Lord does bless, but
do not turn away from the simplicity which is in the great truth of
God. Do not look for things beyond
that. The Lord tells us, in this way,
the church of God is led, here a little and there a little. line upon line, line upon line,
precept upon precept, precept upon precept. That's quite clear,
isn't it? It's like this, line upon line,
just simple, just water, nothing else, nothing complicated. And you see the Lord takes that
and changes it into the best wine. The Lord can take the simple
truths of the Word of God. The simple truths set forth in
the preaching of the Word. Never despise the day of small
things. Never despise the simple truth
of the Gospel. Never despise the simple proclamation
of the Gospel. I'll tell you why. Sheep and lambs. Lambs, when they're born, they
need very simple food. If they have too much rich food,
you find that the rich food often scours them. And sometimes it's
so severe that the lamb dies. necessary, therefore, that lands
have very simple food. And then as they progress, as
they grow, they can then partake of more sophisticated food and
more difficult food to digest. And then, of course, when they're
full-grown sheep, they can eat very much more and very much
stronger food. That really is the same in a
Christian's life. What a blessing it is if the
Lord does give us simple food to be able to digest. By that
I mean this, simple food that you and I can understand. Don't go trying to understand
all the Word of God at once. Seek unto God that he will teach
you in this way, line upon line, a little truth that you and I
can understand, that you and I can absorb, that is made a
blessing to us. And so it might seem on the face
of it just to be water with not much body in it, but you see
the Lord can come The Lord can put his hand to it. The Lord
can widen this perspective and lead us into all truth as it
is in Jesus. So therefore, if the Spirit of
God does direct us to these wonderful things, the wonderful truth of
salvation, and as the Holy Spirit takes us back in time to the
many prophecies which perhaps we never understood, perhaps
we passed over, and yet now the Lord comes and blesses us and
shows us something of the depth that is contained in what on
the surface we may have thought was such a simple truth. The Lord blesses us, therefore
what's the result really? We can say the Lord's kept the
good wine until now. You see, there is a time, a set
time to favour Zion. And the Lord will make us truly
hungry and thirsty for the truth of God's word. And he will feed
us with that which is suitable, that which is convenient for
us. He won't overload us. so that we have food that we
can't digest, so that we're given food that we can't understand.
Because there are many things in the Word of God which we can't
understand. We need the Lord to open our
minds. We need the Lord to come alongside
us and grant us that spiritual understanding so that it is here
a little and there a little. You know, the psalmist speaks
about having this good wine well refined. Refining wine takes
quite a time. Yes, it's tipped from one barrel
to another and left to mature. And that is so also in the life
of the true Christian. Yes, there is a refining. We
have to lose a lot, which perhaps we thought was good, but we realize
in the eyes of Almighty God, it does not really benefit our
souls. It may be something which is
quite superficial and a no true benefit. And so may we be thankful
if the Lord is taking us in hand and has given us this water which has changed into wine.
And as we therefore sought for the blessing of the Lord to then
draw out these servants, they drew out from these water pots,
they drew out the wine. And then the governor partook
of this wine. He didn't know, of course, that
it was initially just water. He just assumed that it was that
which had been provided for by the bridegroom. But it's a wonderful
favour to know that the Lord deals with us in love. He doesn't, therefore, overwork
us. He might say he doesn't overfeed
us. You know, if you and I were sat
down and told to write an essay on the whole Bible, well, we
wouldn't make much progress from the very beginning. In actual
fact, we probably would never make a great deal of progress,
because there is such a depth in the Word of God, and the Bible
describes it like this, a depth which captures beneath. We see
just the surface. God has a wonderful depth in
his Word, and that wonderful depth leads us to Christ, leads
us to the Holy Spirit, leads us to the Father. And as the
Holy Spirit comes in and widens our understanding, we see a wonderful
glory in the great truths of Scripture, a wonderful glory
in the Trinity, a wonderful glory in the unity which exists. Because there's no separation,
it all works together for good. what a blessing that is and surely
that strengthens our faith and therefore we come we find but
thou has kept the good wine until now yes the Lord doesn't dish
out the good wine in the beginning but the Lord does bring it into
our life into our spiritual life so that we can rejoice in God's
work now this began with a very simple request. A very simple
request that Mary gave to these servants when she said to them,
whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And they may have thought,
well, fancy being asked to do this. Fancy being asked. to just fill up these water pots
with water. We're going to be ridiculed when
we bring this to the governor. What a foolish suggestion. And
yet you see, they were blessed with faith to believe that that
which they had been told to do was right and proper. And again,
they were willing to do it. gain in our lives. We may perhaps
sometimes question things that God may instruct us to do. We may think, well, this is an
impossible situation. How is any good going to come
out of this? How is it going to be a good
result? These servants didn't know, but
what they did have was faith to believe that what they were
told to do, they should do. And also to notice they didn't
do it half-heartedly. It wasn't done in half measures.
It wasn't done carelessly. Because it was done, the water
pots were filled, and they were filled to the brim. So it couldn't
have been careless. if they were filled to the brim.
And so we see these servants, who as far as we know, on the
surface, had no knowledge who this person
was, who instructed them, but nonetheless, they were, we might
say, made willing in the day of God's power. What a blessing
for us today, in our lives, if you and I are made willing in
the day of God's power to do His bidding, even if it may seem
very foolish, even if it may seem of no value, let you see
they didn't discuss it, they willingly carried out the commands
of Almighty God and we should be very concerned to realize
that God never gives a false command. He never gives a wrong
command. Everything that Jesus says is
good and right. What a blessing that is, you
know, in our lives to realize that. If God has given us something
to do, we should follow that. and do it properly, and do it
wholeheartedly, and not do it half-heartedly. And you see,
they didn't then test it. No, they had faith to take it
to the governor. Naturally, we sometimes think,
well, we want to understand it. And of course, we know there
are examples in the world of God like Gideon, where he had a great
mission before him, and he prayed that the Lord would encourage
him in it by the fleece being wet and the fleece being dry.
But here was a different situation. In both cases faith was needed,
but we might say there was more faith needed here with these
servants to take what appeared to be water to the governor of
the feast and then to Perhaps stand back and wait for his comments. And probably they were surprised
at what he said. 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. Well, the Lord does give out
his good wine. And the good wine really centers
upon the blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And you see
that good wine may not always be given to us immediately. The
Lord may give us faith to believe that's a wonderful blessing,
but he may not give us initially that faith to understand the
glorious path that the son was called upon to walk in order
to do his father's bidding. We may therefore be, in that
way which I mentioned, here a little and there a little, and we must
not become impatient but also we must not become lukewarm because
we should recognize the Lord waits to be gracious the Lord
has a time to bless the Lord has a time to reveal to us more
and more our sin you know if the Lord was to reveal to us
all our sin you might say on day one of our conversion we
would be so concerned, we might say so baffled, we might say
so in a terrible state and we fall under that condemnation.
The Lord is gracious and therefore he leads us on slowly. He leads us in that way that
we see there first of all water he gives us faith then to believe
until that occasion which does come and it's like this he leads
us into his banqueting house and his banner over us is love
the love of Christ is rich and free surely that is in this situation
but thou has kept the good wine until now." It really means that
the good wine is very valuable. The good wine naturally is very
valuable. My friends, the good wine spiritually is also very
valuable. And to be led into all truth,
as it is in Jesus, is a wonderful blessing and a wonderful favor. And therefore, let us realize
the Lord does do great things in his way. There was a movement. He could, of course, have granted
that these stone jars could have just miraculously been filled
with wine, no water. But no, there was a need to demonstrate
that God had power to change water into wine. And in our lives
there is perhaps a need to understand God's power in our lives that
changes us. In the beginning of our spiritual
life there is a change, but you know that change becomes more
and more as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And what a blessing it is then
to be able to move on in our spiritual experience and look
back and be able to say, yes, oh, the graciousness of my God.
He's kept the good wine until now. I now understand more of
the glorious plan of salvation. I now understand more of the
great cost of my salvation. I now understand the great plan
of Almighty God in eternity past to redeem my soul. I now understand
that the blessed Saviour has called me out of darkness into
his glorious light, so that one day by his grace I shall be with
him in glory. And as these things are revealed
to us, it is indeed the best wine. And it's been perhaps in
our spiritual life, in our spiritual journey, here a little and there
a little, the Lord sees fit to give us what we need. Just like
the farmer, with the lambs, he knows what they need. They don't. They would so easily and readily
take everything and then suffer for it. Well, the Lord knows
what we need and therefore he limits that which he gives us. And what he gives us then is
truly received with thanksgiving and joy. We go on our way rejoicing
and truly thankful for it. I think sometimes of the Song
of Solomon, which of course has so many wonderful illustrations
in it, between the Church of Christ and the heavenly bridegroom,
the Lord Jesus Christ. And the fifth chapter, perhaps
in particular, is a very wonderful account. And we read there in
the first verse, The Lord says, I am coming to my garden, my
sister, my spouse. I've gathered my myrrh with my
spice. I've eaten my honeycomb with
my honey. I have drunk my wine with my
milk. Yea, eat, O friends, drink. Yea, drink abundantly, O belovedly. the wine of the kingdom. My friends,
God's wine is always good wine. It's always that which is satisfying. It's always that which is an
encouragement to us. So what a favour it is to realise
that the Lord comes to us. He comes to us. This wine was
brought to the governor. The governor didn't have to go
and get it. The Lord Jesus instructed these servants to take the wine
and they took the wine and they gave it to the governor and the
governor drank. Well what a blessing in our spiritual
life. The Lord comes and gives us that
spiritual drink. Perhaps we can Think of those
wonderful words in the 55th chapter of Isaiah, where the prophet
tells us, these are wonderful words. He says, ho, everyone
that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money,
come ye buy an each. Yea, he come buy wine and milk
without money. and without price. It is freely
given, the wine of the kingdom. O tonight, my friends, may we
dwell on the blessing of this great and glorious gift, and
may we be found amongst those who thirst, because
this is a gracious and glorious invitation. everyone that thirsteth. So if you and I are amongst those
who thirst, we're told, come to the waters. He that hath no money, come ye
by and eat, yea, come by wine and milk, without money and without
price. God sends for his blessing. And what a wonderful favourite
it is. You see, Christ's way produces
the best results. There was no doubt on this occasion
that what God had done was indeed for his honour and glory, because
here was a situation the government knew nothing about, the servants
knew, they knew that this was a miracle. And of course it's
recorded as we've already said in this 11th verse, this beginning
of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee. Again it's a very
wonderful and it's a very simple beginning. It's a beginning that
all of us can understand and it's a wonderful mercy therefore
if we can to know that this wine is wine which the again the prophet
Isaiah tells us It's a feast of fat things, a feast of wines
on the leaves, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the
leaves well refined. So tonight as we ponder these
things, as we ponder this very simple account, and it is a simple
account, but it's a good account. It may direct us to see the power
of God, to see the Compassion of the Saviour. They had need
of wine. The Lord didn't say anything
against them. He didn't say, well, you should
have made provision. No, the Lord knows our poverty. He knows how perhaps foolish
we are. Perhaps a bridegroom went for Gotham. We don't know. Perhaps sometimes we forget.
But nonetheless, we have a Saviour who is compassionate. and the
Lord graciously fulfilled the need. And my friends, our Savior
can fulfill our need, whatever that is. You may have a needs
tonight. Remember the Lord can very successfully
bring about a fulfillment of that need, perhaps in an unusual
way. All things are possible with
our God. But my friends, may all the needs
lead us in the end to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the vital
thing, isn't it? So that Christ is precious and
Christ becomes more precious in our little life. And then
we can, I'm sure, look ahead. I hope we can anyway. to the
marriage supper of the Lamb. Well, that'll be a glorious occasion,
won't it? That'll be an occasion where
there's no shortage of the good things of the Gospel, no shortage
of the heavenly wine. Yes, we shall indeed eat and
drink, O Beloved. There'll be that gracious invitation
from the Lord Himself. We will sit down with the whole
Church of God in that marriage supper of the Lamb. It's a day
to look forward to, it's a day to anticipate, the day indeed
will come, and to think that it will come in this way, as
the Apostle John was able to be shown it when he records it,
of course, in the seventh chapter of the book of the Revelation,
And this is what he says. He says this. After this, I beheld,
and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne
and before the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, clothed with white
robes, the righteousness of Christ, and palms in their hands, and
cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Praise to our God. And all the angels stood round
about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts,
and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
saying, Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered,
saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes
and whence came they and i said unto him sir thou knowest and
he said unto me these are they which came out of great tribulation
that's the whole church of god nobody's exempt and have washed
their robes again the whole church of god and it made them white
in the blood of the lamb therefore are they before the throne of
God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he that sitteth
on the throne shall dwell among them, and shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat. For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne
shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
water. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes. Well, what a glorious prospect
for the church of God and how true it is. But thou hast kept
the good wine until now. We may perhaps think, well, nor
gives us wine and good wine on this earth, but there will be
a time when by the grace of God, all this church will be gathered
together in glory to drink of this glorious wine of the gospel
eternally. Amen.