The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the

order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he

blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of

heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine

enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:18-20

Jesus as High Priest• Be it Melchizedek or a contemporary

high priest, both are resource-limited in sacrifice and offering.

• Jesus demonstrated His superiority as High Priest:– Originator of unlimited supply of wine– Originator of unlimited supply of bread– Originator of unlimited blood atonement

"The days are coming," declares the LORD,

"when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman

and the planter by the one treading grapes.

New wine will drip from the mountains

and flow from all the hills.

I will bring back my exiled people Israel;

they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.

They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;

they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Amos 9:13-14

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.

He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

Genesis 49:10-11

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah;

for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.

As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:4-5

Jesus is Joy• In addition to His perfect rule,

righteousness, and authority, Jesus represents:– Abundance– Blessing– Cause for Celebration

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus is New Creation• Jesus’ new wine represents:– New creation– New spiritual life– Superiority to the old

• It also represents:– Our inability to do it ourselves– Lack of a prerequisite to do it ourselves

Transformation• What similarities does Jesus’

transformation of water into wine bear with marriage?

• Another demonstration of God’s economy – the simple to the sublime.

• Accomplished mission + a wedding gift.

On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,

a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples,

the sheet that covers all nations;

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the

tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people

from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 25:6-8

Hidden in Christ• Matthew 22:1-14– Parable of the wedding banquet

The Glimpse• Read:– John 15:1-8– Matthew 13:36-43

• The new contents of the stone jars represents Christ’s completed work.– Us!

Water and Stone• John 4:1-14– Jesus is the source of the raw material in our

life for this miraculous conversion.

• Stone is considered a substance of purity.

• Stone also temporarily conceals the nature of the miracle Christ performed.– Outward cleansing vs. inward

transformation!

Future Expectation of Joy• Jesus’ declared abstinence.– Matthew 26:27-29

• New creation.– Hebrews 12:26-27– Revelation 21

Application• How are you mining the Bible for the

depths of its meaning?

• How is God transforming your simple raw materials into the miraculous?

• What trusting act are you holding back?

• Is your wine aging? Are you enjoying it?