He Turns Water Into Wine? Why?

Prepare to have your foundations shaken and your perceptions shattered. For too long, the miraculous transformation at Cana has been relegated to a charming Sunday school story, a gentle testament to Jesus's power. But what if we told you it was far more?

What if this seemingly simple act of turning water into wine was, in fact, a prophetic declaration so radical, so utterly offensive to the religious sensibilities of its day—and perhaps even ours—that it demands a complete re-evaluation of everything you thought you knew about God's plan for humanity?

“This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11)

Six Jars of Clay

This isn't just about a wedding feast running dry. This is about the audacious, unyielding heart of a Father who refuses to settle for the mundane, the ritualistic, or the spiritually dead.

This is about a divine intervention that exposes the futility of human effort and the breathtaking, scandalous Grace that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, the unbelieving into the unwavering, and the rebellious into the redeemed.

Some will find in these pages a torrent of joy, a confirmation of a loving God and Savior who saves the best for last, who relentlessly pursues and radically transforms. Others will recoil in righteous indignation, their carefully constructed theological frameworks crumbling under the weight of a truth too raw, too confronting, too free.

Are you ready to confront the real meaning of Cana? Are you prepared to see how six humble jars of clay—and two skeptical brothers—became the living, breathing embodiment of God's most glorious, most controversial, and most eternally significant work?

Brace yourself. The water is about to become wine, and nothing will ever be the same.

The Prophetic Declaration at Cana and the Radical Transformation of James and Jude

“Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’” (John 2:7-10)

The Wedding at Cana—More Than a Miracle

There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

And Jesus was there.

His mother was there.

His disciples were there.

And—though Scripture doesn’t explicitly say it—His half-brothers were almost certainly there: James, Jude, Joseph, and Simon.

Imagine being James or Jude in that moment.

You’ve grown up in the same household as Jesus—watching Him for 30 years:

- Never sinning
- Always obedient
- Perfectly loving
- Completely different from you

You’ve watched your mother, Mary, treat Him with a reverence that confused you as a child and irritated you as you grew older.

Why does she look at Him like that?

Why does she speak to Him differently than to us?

Why does she believe He’s… more?

And now, at this wedding, she’s doing it again.

The wine has run out—a social catastrophe in first-century Jewish culture, a disgrace to the host family.

And Mary turns to Jesus and says simply:

John 2:3 - “They have no wine.”

Not a request. A statement. An expectation.

She knows who He is. She’s always known.

But James and Jude? They’re skeptical. Embarrassed, even.

John 7:5 - “For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”

They don’t believe. Not yet.

But they’re about to witness something that will begin a process—a long, crushing, transformative process—that will turn them from water into wine.

From skeptics into apostles.

From half-brothers who mocked Him into martyrs who died for Him.

But first, we must understand what JESUS was thinking in this moment.

Because what happened at Cana was not just a miracle to save a wedding.

It was a PROPHETIC DECLARATION of the Father’s eternal plan.

It was the first public sign of what Jesus came to do:

Turn water into wine.

Turn dead humanity into living spirits.

Turn ordinary clay jars into vessels of glory.

Turn six days of labor into eternal rest.

Turn the old creation into the new creation.

Restore EDEN—the DELIGHT and PLEASURE of God—where He fellowships with His image-bearers in spirit and truth forever.

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JESUS’ PERSPECTIVE—“What Has This to Do With Us?”

The Exchange

John 2:3-4 - “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’”

This response sounds harsh to modern ears.

“Woman” (Greek: gynai) was actually a respectful address, but it was formal, not intimate.

Jesus is creating distance. Establishing boundaries.

Why?

What Jesus Was Thinking: “My Hour Has Not Yet Come”

Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of “His hour”:

John 7:30 - “So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

John 8:20 - “These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

John 12:23 - “And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’”

John 13:1 - “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father…”

John 17:1 - “Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.’”

“The hour” = the cross, His death, His glorification, the completion of His mission.

So when Mary approaches Him at the wedding, Jesus is thinking:

“My hour—the hour of my crucifixion, resurrection, and glorification—has not yet come. Why are you pushing me to reveal myself publicly before the Father’s appointed time?”

But there’s something deeper here.

What Jesus Saw: The Father’s Heart

John 5:19 - “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.’”

This is the KEY to understanding Jesus’ entire ministry:

Jesus never acted independently. He only did what He SAW THE FATHER DOING.

So when Mary said, “They have no wine,” Jesus wasn’t just thinking about a wedding problem.

He was looking to the Father:

“Father, what are You doing here? What is Your heart in this moment?”

And what did Jesus see?

The Father’s Heart: The New Creation

Jesus saw the Father’s eternal plan—the restoration of EDEN:

1. Humanity Without the Spirit = Water

Water = life-sustaining but not life-GIVING

Humans in their natural state:

- Alive physically
- Dead spiritually
- Created in God’s image
- But fallen, broken, separated from God
- Capable of natural life
- Incapable of spiritual life

John 3:6 - “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Flesh produces flesh. Water produces water.

But the Father wants WINE—transformed, glorified, spirit-filled image-bearers.

2. The Six Days of Human History

Jesus saw SIX STONE WATERPOTS.

Why six?

Genesis 1 - God created the world in SIX DAYS, then rested on the seventh.

The six waterpots = the six days (6,000 years) of human history under the curse.

Jewish tradition teaches:

- 2,000 years of chaos (Adam to Abraham)

- 2,000 years of Torah (Abraham to Messiah)

- 2,000 years of Messiah

- Then the 7th millennium—the Sabbath rest, the Messianic Kingdom

Jesus sees the six waterpots and understands:

“These represent the six days—six millennia—during which the Father is working to transform humanity from water into wine.”

3. The Stone Jars = Clay Vessels (Humanity)

John 2:6 - “Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each.”

Stone waterpots = vessels for ceremonial washing, ritual purification

But stone is essentially clay—created from the earth.

Genesis 2:7 - “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 - “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”

Jesus sees these vessels and thinks:

“These are clay jars—like humanity. Formed from the earth. Empty. Waiting to be filled. Designed for purification but unable to purify themselves.”

They need something POURED INTO THEM that they cannot produce.

4. The Water = Dead, Spiritless Humanity

The waterpots are full of WATER.

Water = natural life, but not spiritual life

Water = humanity in the flesh, without the Spirit

Water = created in God’s image, but not yet transformed into His likeness

This is humanity under the first Adam:

- Alive
- But spiritually dead
- Capable of religion (ceremonial washing)
- But incapable of true worship (spirit and truth)

5. The Wine = Transformed, Spirit-Filled Humanity

Jesus sees the Father’s ultimate goal:

WINE—humanity transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ.

Wine = JOY (Psalm 104:15 - “wine which makes man’s heart glad”)

Wine = CELEBRATION (used at feasts, weddings)

Wine = COVENANT (used at Passover)

Wine = THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (Matthew 26:28 - “This is My blood of the covenant”)

Wine = THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:13-15 - mockers said they were “full of sweet wine,” but
Peter said, “These men are not drunk…but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel…‘I will pour forth of My Spirit.”)

Wine = TRANSFORMATION (water cannot become wine without supernatural intervention)

Jesus sees the Father’s heart:

“I want worshipers who worship Me in SPIRIT and TRUTH.”

“I want image-bearers filled with My Spirit.”

“I want dead water transformed into living wine.”

“I want clay vessels filled with the treasure of My glory.”

“I want EDEN RESTORED—where I dwell with My people in perfect delight, joy, and fellowship forever.”

Jesus’ Decision: “Fill the Waterpots with Water”

John 2:5-7 - “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim.”

Jesus makes a decision:

“I will do what I see the Father doing.”

And what is the Father doing?

The Father is in the process of FILLING HUMANITY with something they don’t have—preparing them for transformation.

“Fill the waterpots with water” = the Father filling humanity with the WORD (the water of the Word)

Ephesians 5:26 - “So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.”

The word must come FIRST. The water must fill the vessels.

THEN comes the transformation.

Jesus commands: “Fill them TO THE BRIM.”

Not halfway. Not partially. COMPLETELY FULL.

This represents the Father’s COMPLETE work—He doesn’t do anything halfway.

The Transformation: “Draw Some Out Now”

John 2:8 - “And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him.”

Jesus doesn’t announce the miracle.

He simply says, “Draw some out.”

The servants obey.

And when they draw it out—IT’S WINE.

Not gradually becoming wine. Not partially wine. COMPLETELY WINE.

The transformation happened INSTANTLY, SUPERNATURALLY, COMPLETELY.

This is what the Father does:

John 3:6-8 - “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The transformation is:

- Supernatural (only God can do it)

- Mysterious (we don’t understand how it happens)

- Complete (you are BORN AGAIN, not partially regenerated)

- Irreversible (wine cannot become water again)

The Headwaiter’s Response: “You Have Kept the Good Wine Until Now”

John 2:9-10 - “When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’”

This is PROPHETIC.

The headwaiter unknowingly declares God’s plan:

“You have kept the GOOD WINE until NOW.”

Translation:

“God has been saving the BEST—His new creation, the Church, the Bride, the glorified saints—for the LAST DAYS.”

The first wine (the old covenant, the law, the flesh) was good.

But the LAST WINE (the new covenant, Grace, the Spirit) is BETTER.

Hebrews 8:6 - “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”

The GOOD WINE is:

- The New Covenant
- The Holy Spirit poured out
- Humanity transformed into Christ’s image
- The Bride made ready
- EDEN RESTORED

Jesus’ Internal Understanding: This Is My Mission

As Jesus performed this miracle, He understood:

“This is what I came to do.”

“This is what the Father sent Me for.”

“Not just to turn water into wine at a wedding.”

“But to turn WATER (dead humanity) into WINE (living spirits) across 6,000 years of history.”

“To pour out My blood as the NEW WINE of the covenant.”

“To send the Holy Spirit to indwell believers.”

“To transform clay vessels into vessels of glory.”

“To restore EDEN—where the Father fellowships with His image-bearers in spirit and truth.”

This miracle was a PROPHETIC DECLARATION:

“I, YHWH, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, declare that I will do what no man can do: turn water into wine, turn dead flesh into living spirits, turn ordinary clay jars into vessels of My glory—all by FAITH working through Grace.”

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JAMES AND JUDE—Growing Up With the Messiah

Imagine Being Jesus’ Half-Brother

James, Jude, Joseph (Joses), and Simon (Matthew 13:55-56) grew up in the same household as Jesus.

What was that like?

You Watch Him Never Sin

Every child sins. Every sibling fights. Every teenager rebels.

But not Jesus.

Never.

1 Peter 2:22 - “Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.”

Hebrews 4:15 - “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

James and Jude watched Jesus:

- Never lie
- Never disobey Mary or Joseph
- Never lose His temper unjustly
- Never speak harshly without cause
- Never act selfishly
- Never sin—EVER

How maddening would that be?

You get in trouble—Jesus doesn’t.

You make mistakes—Jesus doesn’t.

You fail—Jesus doesn’t.

And worse—Mary treats Him DIFFERENTLY.

She knows.

She’s always known.

You Watch Mary’s Special Treatment

Luke 1:26-38 - Mary was visited by an angel, told she would bear the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior.

Luke 2:19 - “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Mary KNEW who Jesus was.

She told the boys, surely.

But James and Jude didn’t believe her.

How could they?

This was their brother. They played with Him. They ate with Him. They saw Him work in Joseph’s carpenter shop.

He’s just… Jesus. Our brother.

But Mary treated Him like He was more.

And that created resentment.

You Watch Him Claim Authority

At 12 years old, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Luke 2:46-49 - “Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’ And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’”

James and Jude were probably there.

They heard Jesus correct Mary.

They heard Him call God “My Father.”

They heard Him claim He HAD TO BE in the temple.

And they thought: “Who does He think He is?”

The Breaking Point: Jesus Begins His Ministry

For 30 years, Jesus lived quietly in Nazareth.

Working as a carpenter.

Supporting the family (especially after Joseph died).

Being a good son, a good brother.

But then—at 30—everything changed.

Jesus was baptized by John.

Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days.

Jesus returned and began preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus started calling disciples.

Jesus started performing miracles.

And James and Jude thought:

“He’s lost His mind. He’s going to get Himself killed. And He’s bringing shame on our family.”

Mark 3:20-21 - “And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ’He has lost His senses.’”

“His own people” = His family, including James and Jude.

They tried to take custody of Him—essentially, to stop Him from embarrassing the family further.

Mark 3:31-35 - “Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, ‘Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.’ Answering them, He said, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, ‘Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.’”

Jesus essentially said:

“My REAL family is those who do the will of God—not My biological family who doesn’t believe in Me.”

This must have CRUSHED James and Jude.

Publicly dismissed. Publicly rebuked.

John 7:3-5 - “Therefore His brothers said to Him, ‘Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”

His brothers MOCKED Him.

“If You’re really the Messiah, stop hiding in Galilee. Go to Jerusalem. Show Yourself. Prove it.”

They said this sarcastically—not believing He was the Messiah, but daring Him to expose Himself and be rejected.

James and Jude were WATER:

- Ordinary
- Unbelieving
- Proud
- Mocking
- Dead spiritually

They needed to be transformed into WINE.

But first, they needed to be CRUSHED.

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THE CRUSHING OF JAMES AND JUDE—The Cross

They Watched Him Die

Jesus was arrested. Tried. Beaten. Crucified.

Where were James and Jude?

Scripture doesn’t explicitly say. But tradition suggests they were there—watching from a distance, like most of Jesus’ followers.

John 19:25-27 records that Jesus’ MOTHER was at the cross. If Mary was there, it’s likely some of Jesus’ brothers were nearby.

And they watched:

- Jesus mocked by the crowds

- Jesus beaten by the soldiers

- Jesus nailed to the cross

- Jesus crying out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

- Jesus saying, “It is finished”

- Jesus dying

And in that moment—everything James and Jude believed was CRUSHED.

If Jesus was just their brother—a good man, a prophet, maybe even a zealot trying to start a revolution—then His death was simply tragic.

But something was gnawing at them.

What if Mary was RIGHT?

What if the prophets were RIGHT?

What if Jesus really WAS who He claimed to be?

And if He was—and He just DIED—then what does that mean?

Isaiah 53:3-5 - “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”

Did James and Jude connect the dots as they watched Jesus die?

Did they remember Isaiah 53?

Did they remember the Passover lamb?

Did they remember Jesus saying, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”?

We don’t know exactly when it clicked.

But we know THIS: The cross CRUSHED their unbelief.

The Resurrection: Water Becoming Wine

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 - “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”

“He appeared to JAMES.”

This is HUGE.

Jesus made a SPECIAL APPEARANCE to James—separate from the twelve, separate from the five hundred.

Why?

Because James was His BROTHER.

Because James had MOCKED Him.

Because James had tried to TAKE CUSTODY of Him.

Because James had NOT BELIEVED.

And Jesus—in His Grace, love, and mercy—appeared to James personally.

We don’t know what Jesus said to James in that moment.

But we know the result:

James was TRANSFORMED.

Water became wine.

Unbelief became faith.

Mockery became worship.

Skepticism became service.

James went from trying to stop Jesus to leading the Jerusalem church.

And Jude? The same transformation occurred.

Jude 1:1 - “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.”

Notice: Jude doesn’t call himself “brother of JESUS.”

He calls himself “bond-servant of Jesus Christ.”

Why?

Because to call yourself “brother of Jesus” when you once mocked Him would be PRESUMPTUOUS.

But to call yourself “bond-servant” is HUMBLE.

Jude knows:

“I don’t deserve to be called His brother. I mocked Him. I didn’t believe. But by Grace, I am His servant.”

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THE TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE—James and Jude as Wine

James: From Skeptic to Leader of the Jerusalem Church

Acts 15 - James presides over the Jerusalem Council, making the decision about Gentile inclusion.

Acts 21:18 - Paul reports to James and the elders.

Galatians 1:19 - Paul calls James “the Lord’s brother,” and lists him among the apostles.

Galatians 2:9 - Paul calls James one of the “pillars” of the church, along with Peter and John.

James wrote the Book of James—one of the earliest New Testament letters, full of practical wisdom about living faith.

But here’s the stunning transformation:

James’ Theology: Faith Working Through Love

James 2:17 - “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

This sounds like James is teaching works-based salvation—but he’s not.

James is teaching that TRUE FAITH (the faith that saves) PRODUCES WORKS.

He’s saying: “If your faith doesn’t CHANGE YOU, it’s not real faith.”

Why does James emphasize this?

Because James LIVED IT.

James had HEAD KNOWLEDGE about Jesus for 30 years.

But it didn’t TRANSFORM him until he BELIEVED.

James 1:22 - “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

James was a HEARER for 30 years.

He heard Jesus teach. He watched Jesus live. He saw Jesus love.

But he didn’t BELIEVE until the resurrection.

And once he believed, he became a DOER.

James’ Humility: “A Bond-Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”

James 1:1 - “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.”

James doesn’t call himself “the brother of Jesus.”

He calls himself “a bond-servant.”

This is HUMILITY.

This is the wine of transformation.

James knows:

“I don’t deserve to be called His brother. I mocked Him. But by Grace, I am His servant.”

James’ Martyrdom: The Wine Poured Out

Church historian Josephus and early church father Hegesippus record:

James was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple by the Pharisees (c. AD 62), then stoned, then clubbed to death.

As he was dying, James prayed:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The same words Jesus spoke on the cross.

James—who once mocked Jesus—now DIES LIKE JESUS, PRAYING FOR HIS MURDERERS.

Water became wine.

Jude: From Doubter to Defender of the Faith

Jude wrote the Book of Jude—a short, fiery letter defending the Gospel against false teachers.

Jude’s Humility: “A Bond-Servant of Jesus Christ”

Jude 1 - “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.”

Like James, Jude doesn’t flaunt his relationship to Jesus.

He calls himself “bond-servant.”

This is HUMILITY.

Jude’s Passion: “Contend Earnestly for the Faith”

Jude 3 - “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Jude—who once DIDN’T BELIEVE—now tells believers to FIGHT FOR THE FAITH.

Jude—who once MOCKED Jesus—now DEFENDS Jesus against false teachers.

This is transformation.

Jude’s Doxology: All Glory to God

Jude 24-25 - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Jude ends his letter with a doxology that declares:

GOD is able to:

- Keep you from stumbling (we can’t keep ourselves)

- Make you stand (we can’t stand on our own)

- Present you blameless (we can’t make ourselves blameless)

- With great joy (this is HIS doing, not ours)

TO HIM be:

- Glory
- Majesty
- Dominion
- Authority
- Forever

Jude learned:

“I can’t save myself. I can’t keep myself. I can’t present myself blameless.”

“But GOD CAN—and HE WILL—by Grace.”

Jude’s Martyrdom: The Wine Poured Out

Church tradition records:

Jude was martyred in Persia (modern-day Iran), either crucified or killed with arrows, while preaching the Gospel.

Jude—who once mocked Jesus—now DIES FOR Jesus.

Water became wine.

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THE SIX JARS AND THE SIX DAYS

The Prophetic Meaning of the Six Waterpots

John 2:6 - “Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each.”

Six waterpots = the six days of creation, the six millennia of human history.

The Six Days of Creation and the Six Millennia

Genesis 1 - God created in six days, rested on the seventh.

Psalm 90:4 - “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by.”

2 Peter 3:8 - “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”

Jewish tradition teaches that human history follows the creation week:

- Day 1 (1,000 years) = Adam to Noah (chaos, sin entering)

- Day 2 (1,000 years) = Noah to Abraham (judgment, scattering)

- Day 3 (1,000 years) = Abraham to David (covenant, promise)

- Day 4 (1,000 years) = David to Jesus (kingdom, law, prophets)

- Day 5 (1,000 years) = Jesus to present (Church age, Gospel spreading)

- Day 6 (1,000 years) = Persecution and Tribulation ( the coming Great Tribulation)

- Day 7 (eternity) = Millennial Kingdom (completion of human history under Christ’s rule)

Day 8? Eternal Sabbath rest in the New Heaven and New Earth

The six waterpots represent:

SIX DAYS—six millennia—during which God is transforming humanity from WATER into WINE.

Each Jar: A Millennium of Transformation

Jar 1: Adam to Noah (Chaos to Flood)

Humanity was created in God’s image but has fallen.

Water = natural life, but spiritually dead.

Genesis 6:3 - “Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh.’”

The first jar begins filling—God begins the long process of transformation.

Jar 2: Noah to Abraham (Scattering to Covenant)

God establishes a covenant with Abraham.

Genesis 12:3 - “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

The promise of blessing to all nations—the wine is coming.

Jar 3: Abraham to David (Promise to Kingdom)

The nation of Israel forms.

The Law is given.

The kingdom is established under David.

But still—only water. No Spirit. Just external law-keeping.

Jar 4: David to Jesus (Kingdom to Messiah)

The prophets speak of the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 53 - The suffering servant who will bear our sins.

Joel 2:28 - “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind.”

The promise of WINE—the Spirit poured out.

Jar 5: Jesus to Present (Cross to Church Age)

Jesus dies, rises, and ascends.

The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost.

Acts 2:17 - ”‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind.’”

The transformation begins in earnest—believers are being changed from water to wine.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Jar 6: Persecution and Tribulation (Final Transformation)

The sixth day—the final millennium before Jesus’ 1000-year Sabbath reign on the earth.

Revelation 20:4 - “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them…and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

The sixth jar is filled completely.

The transformation is almost COMPLETE.

The Seventh Day: Millennial Kingdom (Final Transformation) All believers—from all ages—are glorified, reigning with Christ, dwelling in the restored Eden.

Eternal Rest

After the six days (six jars, six millennia), comes the SEVENTH DAY—HIS REST, our REST IS IN the Lord of the Sabbath.

Hebrews 4:9-10 - “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”

Revelation 21:3-4 - “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’”

The seventh day = EDEN RESTORED.

God dwelling with humanity forever in delight, pleasure, joy, and perfect fellowship.

Water has become wine.

Clay jars have become vessels of glory.

The dead have become alive.

The natural has become spiritual.

Flesh has become spirit.

The first creation has become the new creation.

ALL BY FAITH WORKING THROUGH Grace.

ALL BY THE POWER OF GOD.

ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

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SPIRIT WORSHIPERS—The Father’s Desire

John 4:23-24 - “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The Father Seeks Spirit Worshipers

This is what the Father has ALWAYS wanted:

Worshipers who worship Him:

- In SPIRIT (by the Holy Spirit, from regenerated spirits)

- In TRUTH (according to reality, not ritual; in Christ, who IS the truth)

Water-worshipers worship:

- In the FLESH (external rituals, ceremonies)

- In RELIGION (man-made rules, traditions)

- With DEAD HEARTS (going through motions)

Wine-worshipers worship:

- In the SPIRIT (alive, regenerated, indwelt by the Spirit)

- In TRUTH (knowing Christ, who is the Truth)

- With TRANSFORMED HEARTS (genuine, joyful, from the inside out)

The Transformation Required

You cannot worship in spirit and truth AS WATER.

You must be TRANSFORMED into WINE.

John 3:3-6 - “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’”

Born of WATER = natural birth (water = amniotic fluid)

Born of the SPIRIT = supernatural birth (Spirit = Holy Spirit regenerating)

You must be BORN AGAIN—transformed from water into wine.

What Jesus Accomplished at Cana Was a Declaration

Jesus was declaring:

“I, YHWH, will turn humanity from WATER into WINE.”

“I will take clay vessels and fill them with My Spirit.”

“I will take dead, spiritless people and make them ALIVE.”

“I will transform worshipers-in-flesh into worshipers-in-spirit.”

“I will restore EDEN—where the Father delights in His image-bearers who worship Him in spirit and truth.”

“And I will do this over SIX DAYS (six millennia), completing the work, and then entering the SEVENTH DAY—eternal rest, eternal fellowship, eternal delight.”

This is the Father’s plan.

This is Jesus’ mission.

This is the Holy Spirit’s work.

This is Grace.

This is EDEN RESTORED.

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The Good Wine Saved for Last

John 2:10 - “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

The Prophetic Declaration

The headwaiter unknowingly prophesied:

“You have kept the GOOD WINE until NOW.”

God saved the BEST for LAST:

The first wine (old covenant):

- Law
- External obedience
- Ritual purity
- Water (ceremonial washing)

The good wine (new covenant):

- Grace
- Internal transformation
- True holiness
- Wine (Spirit-filled life)

Hebrews 9:10 - The old covenant was “imposed until a time of reformation”—until the GOOD WINE came.

The GOOD WINE is:

- Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom bringing wine to the wedding)

- The Holy Spirit (poured out at Pentecost)

- The Church (the Bride transformed from water to wine)

- The New Covenant (written on hearts, not stone)

- The Gospel of Grace (salvation by faith, not works)

- EDEN RESTORED (God dwelling with His people forever)

James and Jude: Living Examples

James and Jude were WATER:

- Unbelieving
- Mocking
- Dead spiritually
- Ordinary

James and Jude became WINE:

- Believing
- Worshiping
- Alive in the Spirit
- Transformed

How?

BY FAITH WORKING THROUGH Grace.

By the Father’s power.

By the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

By Jesus’ death, resurrection, and appearing to them.

They went from:

- Skeptics to apostles
- Mockers to martyrs
- Brothers who rejected Him to servants who died for Him
- Water to wine

And if God can do this for JAMES AND JUDE—who grew up with Jesus and STILL didn’t believe until the resurrection—He can do it for ANYONE.

The Delight and Pleasure of God

This is EDEN:

God’s DELIGHT in transformed image-bearers who worship Him in spirit and truth.

God’s PLEASURE in fellowship with His glorified saints.

God’s JOY in dwelling with His Bride forever.

Zephaniah 3:17 - “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

This is what the Father has wanted from the beginning:

To DELIGHT in His creation.

To take PLEASURE in His image-bearers.

To REJOICE over His children.

And He is accomplishing this—over six days, six millennia—transforming water into wine, clay jars into vessels of glory, dead humanity into living spirits.

ALL BY Grace.

ALL BY FAITH.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY.

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John 2:11 - “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”

Jude 24-25 - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

James 1:17 - “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

The Father is transforming water into wine.

The sixth jar is nearly full.

The GOOD WINE is being revealed.

EDEN is being restored.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

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