6 August 2010
Psalm 88; Judges 9:1-16,19-21; Acts 4:13-31; John 2:2-12
Gideon’s wicked son Abimelech presumed to power by buying men to do his bidding. He killed all his brothers (remember Gideon had many wives and concubines) and then declared himself king. One brother, Jotham, survived the slaughter and ascended Mt Gerizim to denounce Abimelech. Gerizim is the mountain from which blessings were spoken in Deuteronomy 27 and is considered by the Samaritans to be the holy mountain of God for that reason. Jotham knows well the fury and the violence of which Abimelech is capable and after denouncing him in this parable runs for his life.
The first sign Jesus gives is interesting. The water in the jars was not simply for washing, it was for ceremonial washing and when Jesus has the servants fill the jars He is, in essence, saying that now the time for ritual purification is complete and a new era has come, the era of rejoicing. The servants know that what they put into the jars was water and yet what they drew out was wine, the best wine served. God has indeed saved the best wine for last in Jesus. This sign was a sign only for his disciples and the servants involved, to have told this story would have brought embarrassment to the wedding party, exactly what the work was intended to avoid. Mary seems to have had an inkling that her son would do something here given her instruction to the servants even after Jesus deflects her request. The abundance of the provision of wine is also significant, this is a supply that will certainly not run out.
The only punishment given to the disciples was one they would not receive, they were forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus. The elders were limited in what they could do to the disciples as the man healed was a proof of the power of the Name. When the disciples returned to the others they all rejoiced and then prayed asking for greater boldness and even more works to be done in Jesus’ Name. This is a prayer the church should be continuing to pray night and day so that we might see great things done and the Name of Jesus lifted high in our day. We know this is a prayer the Lord will hear favorably.
O Lord, God of my salvation,
when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.
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