Image: Butterfly bush, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 2017
Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on John 2:1-11.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus
in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed
on him (John 2:11).
This
is the capstone to the account of Jesus turning water into wine. John the
apostle says, “This beginning of miracles [semeion]
did Jesus in Cana of Galilee…” This is the first miracle of Jesus that John
records in his Gospel. We do not know whether this means this was his first
public miracle or his first in this particular place. Jesus, of course, did
many miraculous things in the course of his ministry that are not recorded in
the Gospels (cf. John 20:30; 21:25).
Matthew’s
Gospel describes Jesus healing many early in his ministry (cf. Matt 4:23-24).
The first miracle Matthew specifically describes is his healing of a leper
(Matt 8:1-4). The first miracle Mark’s Gospel describes is the casting out of
an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23-26). In Luke’s Gospel, the first direct miracle
described is also an exorcism (Luke 4:33-35).
None
of the other Gospels describe the miracle of turning water into wine. We are
indebted to John’s record alone for this precious memory of our Lord’s
particular work on this occasion.
John
says that through this miracle Christ “manifested forth his glory.” This remind
us of the purpose of miracles: to manifest Christ’s glory. The purpose of any
authentic miracle is to point men toward Christ and his glory.
Finally,
John adds: “and his disciples believed on him.” Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip,
and Nathaniel were already following Jesus. Why does John tell us that they
believed on him? This reminds us that discipleship is a slow but sure process.
Thus,
Calvin comments on this verse:
The forbearance of Christ is great in
reckoning as disciples those whose faith is so small. And indeed this doctrine
extends generally to us all; for the faith which is now full grown had at first
its infancy, nor is it so perfect in any as not to make it necessary that all
to a man should progress in believing.
He
adds:
Let those who have obtained the first-fruits
of faith labor always to make progress.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
No comments:
Post a Comment