Kingdom Incarnate Part 3
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Incarnate,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
We continue in our series ‘Kingdom Incarnate’, which endeavors to teach us to ‘see’ and ‘know’ Jesus in the gospels. This week, we will be looking at John Chapter 2 and discuss the miracle at the wedding in Cana.
John 2:6–11 (NIV)
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
In John 2:6-11, Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana, turning water into wine. This wasn’t just about helping the wedding hosts—it was a powerful message about who He is and what He came to do.
The jars Jesus used were important. They weren’t just random containers but large stone jars meant for ceremonial washing. In Jewish tradition, people used these jars to wash themselves as part of religious rituals to be “clean” before God. These rituals were part of the old system, showing people their need for God’s forgiveness. But these practices couldn’t truly cleanse a person’s heart—they were outward actions pointing to something greater.
When Jesus turned the water in these jars into wine, He sent a clear message: the old system of religious rituals was being replaced with something new. The water, symbolizing purification and tradition, became wine—a symbol of joy, celebration, and God’s promises. In Jewish culture, wine often represented abundance, happiness, and the great feast of God’s Kingdom that was yet to come. By turning water into wine, Jesus showed that He was bringing the joy and fulfillment that the old ways couldn’t provide.
The fact that Jesus made the best wine and in such a large quantity also points to His mission. Unlike the old rituals that often felt like a burden, Jesus brought overflowing grace and new life. He wasn’t just offering small changes—He was bringing complete transformation. Once tied to rules and tradition, the jars became a picture of His power to make all things new.
It’s no accident that this miracle happened at a wedding. Weddings are about love, joy, and relationship, and Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. This miracle pointed forward to a greater celebration—the time when all who follow Him will join in a heavenly banquet with God, full of joy and peace.
Through this act, Jesus showed that He didn’t come just to patch up old ways or add to the law. He came to bring something completely new—grace, abundance, and lasting joy. Where the old system left people tired and empty, Jesus brought life and hope that would never run out.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
