Faith and the Drink Offering

wedding-at-canaThink about Yeshua’s first public miracle, turning water into wine.  “When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’  ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’  His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ ” (John 2:3-5).  Mary’s faith was assurance, not even requesting what should be done, but making the situation known and alerting the servants to be ready.  Mary must have known that Yeshua already knew her heart and thoughts.  She considered this a need about which God had an interest.  Yeshua was fully aware of all scripture and Mary may have considered the following scriptures:

Yeshua was a priest in the order of Melchizedek ( Heb. 7:17), so He did what Melchizedek did.  “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.  He was priest of God Most High,..”. (Gen.14:18).

All through the Torah the offerings are to include a drink offering of wine.  Because Yeshua is the Lamb of God, it was fitting for God to supply wine with the offering.  “With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.” (Exodus 29:40).

This entire Psalm is about God’s loving-kindness to His people, so providing wine shows the deity of Yeshua.  “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.” (Ps. 104:14-15).

This wedding may have been of righteous people, they honored Mary and Yeshua and his disciples by inviting them, so Yeshua was fulfilling the promise of scripture.  “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Prov. 3:9-10).

This is prophecy about the coming Messiah, so it is only fitting for Yeshua to demonstrate who He was in the gift of wine.  “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1).

Surely the arrival of Yeshua, Messiah is foretold by Jeremiah, so the celebration must have the bounty of the Lord.  “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands; He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd;  For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.  They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds.  They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.  Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.  I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” (Jer. 31:10-13).

God was gracious to His people, as was Yeshua in providing wine.  “Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The Lord replied to them: ‘I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.’ ” (Joel 2:18-19).

God had let Israel reap the consequences of their rebellion, but then He had mercy on them. Yeshua is showing God’s mercy on the wedding party.  “He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance.  Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs; their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep. Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.  He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame.” (Ps. 78:62-66).

God hears faith and He responds to belief and does not respond to unbelief.  I see great faith in Mary and ample support in scripture that this provision of wine, in abundance, was the heart of our Loving God and fulfillment of scripture.

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