~ John’s Gospel Opens And Ends With
a Feast ~
The Gospel
of John opens with a wedding banquet in Cana of Galilee. This was the start of Jesus’ earthly
ministry. John closes his Gospel account
with a special banquet which included an anointing. This time it was in the town of Bethany at
the home of Mary and Martha. Both events
are pictures of something bigger.
The Start of John’s
Gospel (A Wedding in Cana) ~ This banquet occasion is the first recorded miracle of
Jesus Christ where Mary came to her Son with an unusual request. “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana
of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. … When the master of the feast
had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from
(but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called
the bridegroom. … This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:1, 9, 11, read
verses 1-12).
don’t miss the big pictures: 1. Not
to be overlooked is that this scene is a picture of a future wedding at the
marriage of Jesus Christ. In a future
day the Lamb of God will be united with His church in a great marriage
feast.
2. Also note that Messiah’s
first miracle was turning water into wine—Moses’ first miracle was turning
water into blood. What a contrast
between the Law handed down through Moses versus “grace and truth” coming to us
through the Savior. “For the law was
given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
The End of John’s Gospel (Jesus at Bethany for supper) ~ The
scene is a dinner party for the Messiah at the home of three siblings: Lazarus,
Mary, and Martha. “Then,
six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had
been dead, whom He had raised from
the dead. There they made Him a supper;
and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him”
(John 12:1-2, read through verse 8).
don’t miss the big picture: Lazarus had been raised from the dead (John
11) by the Messiah and is in full fellowship with his Savior. In the future all Christians will be
resurrected from the dead and will be in full fellowship with their
Savior. In the three individuals you
have three pictures; 1. fellowship with Christ (Lazarus), 2. growing in
knowledge of the Savior (Mary), and 3. serving our Lord (Martha). All three elements are critical for effective
Christian growth.
So what is
your reaction? Do you know the Messiah,
the Savior—Jesus Christ? Are you in
communion with the One who died for you?
Are you growing in your knowledge of Him? Are you serving Him? If not, maybe you do not understand the
continual abundance that is available through Him. Your life on earth can be a never-ending
abundant feast regardless of your circumstances.
closing note: In a prior post entitled “2 Priests”
(May 7, 2013) we noted that the Gospel of Luke opens and closes with a priest.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
