The Best Wine: The Blood of Jesus that Cleans our Sins
John 2:9b –12 (NIVUK)
He did not realise 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.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
What did the master of the banquet say to the bridegroom about the taste of the wine? See v10.
‘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.’ (10)
The water Jesus turned into wine tasted the best even compared to their choice wine. This best wine represents the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross (Luke 22:20, Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24). His blood is better than the water for ceremonial washing (6) because it cleans our sins. This cleansing/forgiveness enables us to have a relationship with God and experience God. This experiential relationship with God and Jesus Christ is called ‘eternal life’ (John 17:3, What is Eternal Life (TikTok video)).
Wine has to do with ‘joy’ in Psalm 104:15.
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
The Joy the world offers may run out but God’s joy lasts forever and he saves his best blessings for last [1].
Relevant verses are John 6:53–56 (NIVUK).
53 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
References
[1] Gengel, Kenneth O. Holman New Testament Commentary (John).
