The Perfect Bridegroom

Lesson #27

In Lesson #26 we questioned why Jesus chose to use the stone jars that were used to hold water for ceremonial washing. Water from these jars was not used for drinking but for bathing. By using these jars Jesus was drawing focus to the current method of covering ones sins and then drew attention to himself with a miracle. From this point forward Jesus needed to convince the Jews that he was replacing their ritual of animal sacrifice with the sacrifice of himself.

Our lesson today will come from John 2:6 – 11. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water” (v7). The servants filled the six stone water jars, each holding twenty or thirty gallons, to the top. Jesus then told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. When the servant drew from the water jar was it then wine or was it still water that turned to wine on the way to the head steward. All we know is that the servants filled the jars with water and the head steward tasted wine. Between those two events the miracle took place.

After tasting the wine the head steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” (v 10). The first miracle that Jesus did was to complete what the bridegroom could not do and provide even better wine than the wine first served.

The shortcomings of this bridegroom represent the shortcomings of all grooms on this earth. As husbands fall short of what we ought to be, Jesus steps up and plays the role of the perfect and all providing Bridegroom for his bride, the great assembly of all those who trust in him.

From this wedding account we see Jesus as the obedient Son, the coming perfect sacrifice for our sin, and the perfect Bridegroom who would meet our needs forever. “In this way [Jesus] revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him” (v 11).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for your demonstration of obedience by coming to be the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Thank you for setting an example of a perfect Bridegroom that can meet all our needs. Father, as I continue to study, help me fully understand what Paul wrote about in Romans 7:4; “So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.” What an awesome plan you are unfolding before us.