As we have been studying “lost tidbits” of the Easter story, today we turn our attention to the wine, from the Last Supper to the coming Kingdom. This sermon is aimed to show us that the resurrection is not the final fulfillment of God’s work of salvation.
An Odd Way To Introduce Yourself | John 2:1-11
Almost everyone is aware of Jesus’ first (and possibly most famous) miracle of turning the water into wine. But wouldn’t you agree that this is an odd way to introduce yourself, especially as One who is coming as the fulfillment of all righteousness.
And not only did Jesus turn water into wine, but He produced about 150 gallons of the best wine. An overflowing amount of an overwhelmingly good wine.
Was this miracle simple an accident of circumstance, or was it a strategic message to those who had understanding into the plans and purposes of God?
Wine and Prophecy At The Last Supper | Matthew 26:26-29
At the Last Supper, a meal that took place the night before the planned Passover (Jn. 13:1, 18:28), Jesus not only refused the wine (Mt. 26:27), but He claimed the wine to be my blood of the new testament (Mt. 26:28), and made an unusual promise: that He would not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom (Mt. 26:29).
This promised abstinence would add to the forward look of wine when used in a Christian context. It would tell the followers of Jesus that until Jesus drinks wine with His followers, the Promised Kingdom has not come.
Wine, and More Wine At The Crucifixion…or was there?
There are five different occasions during the crucifixion story in which wine is mentioned in the Scripture, at least according to common understandings (which can be commonly wrong).
In Mark 15:23, they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. The myrrh was used as a sedative and given as a compassionate gesture to the one being crucified (or to make it easier for the executioner to do his job). Jesus did not drink it. Commentaries tend to say He did not drink it because He did not want to reduce the suffering, but could it be because He pledged not to drink wine?
In Matthew 27:34, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Here it is vinegar and gall rather than wine and myrrh (as in Mark 15:23), but still, he would not drink.
In Luke 23:36 the soldiers were offering him vinegar, and this was connected to their mocking of Him. It is not stated but implied that He did not drink.
Fourth, in Matthew 27:48, someone (in compassion?) took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. Whether or not He drank is left to interpretation.
Finally, in John 19:29-30, there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. Here Jesus clearly drinks the vinegar.
I do not believe all these are the same event. In fact, they are likely five different occasions, when studied closely. Furthermore, I do not think that Jesus drank the fruit of the vine any time after the Last Supper. The reason the Bible calls the drink offered to Jesus vinegar is because it was not wine. There was (and is) cheap wine (John 2:10), which is the fruit of the vine (Mt. 26:29), but vinegar was likely a grain-based fermented drink. Thus, Jesus kept His promise.
Wine As A Symbol Of Life, More Abundantly
Amos 9:13-15 gives a fabulous prophetic description of the future and makes two references to wine. This means that the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the fulfillment of Jesus’ ministry is pictured in sweet wine (John 2:1-11, Amos 9:13), and that from the Last Supper onward, Jesus refrained from wine to show that the best is yet to come.
Our Experience With The Resurrected Lord
You and I “serve a risen Savior,” but we do so by faith and not by sight. We believe and trust in the work of Jesus on the cross and the victory of Jesus in the resurrection. The wine narrative is encouraging to us because it lets us know that Jesus is true to His word, and because we see that there is more to come. Our current salvation experience is only part of the gift given to us. The best is yet to come!
To the Jews Jesus gave a picture of a future blessing (John 2), a picture of a delayed blessing (Mt 26:29), a commitment to His Word (Mk. 15:23), and the evidence of the resurrection to show that He will fulfill all future blessings. And to us He gives the current blessing of a restored relationship with Him.
I am personally glad that Jesus’ fulfilled promise of not drinking wine tells me that even with the resurrection there is more to come.
