---

Are you made of stone or clay?

---

I have always been fascinated with the first miracle. Many have downplayed the miraculous transformation of water to wine and have called it grape juice. Their justification is the simple statement, “Why would Jesus make wine when it has intoxicating abilities?” Except this does an injustice to Christ. He is not responsible for our misuse of anything, nor is He limited to making things that will never be a hindrance to mankind. The Curse of sin and death brought the twisting to all things good and made them corrupt if used corruptly. With that premise, Christ could have easily made pure wine through and through. The wine would not need to have been watered down unless you want to downplay the miracle. For when the wine is watered down to a state of grape juice, the significance of the miracle is also watered down.

Timing and Service

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

John 2:1-5

Jesus did not go to the wedding hoping His turn would come. He was not looking for ways to prove Himself. Instead, He showed up to honor the couple to be wed. When the situation presented itself, He did not jump in to volunteer His abilities but told His mother the time had not come.

The Vessels

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:6-7

Numbers, when mentioned, are extremely important in the Bible. The Hebrew language is complex and beautifully layered. While the New Testament is written in Greek, the culture remained Jewish. The significance of this miracle comes to light with its Hebrew parallels.

First, the six water pots of stone. They were pure and big enough to hold twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Numbers. The number six is the Hebrew letter Vav. Vav paints the picture of a tent peg or hook; it connects all of creation. The letters for the twenty and thirty are Kaf and Lamed. Kaf is the picture of a hand raised to Heaven in praise, and the Lamed is a picture of a shepherd staff rendering heart knowledge.

One thing one almost misses is that the pots were empty. Jesus commanded they be filled with water to the brim. So, six pots of stone filled with water to the brim are turned into wine. The beauty of this alone is indescribable. Man is made on the sixth day. The pots were not made of clay after the style of man but of stone after the pattern of God. Bricks and clay are associated with human frailty, whereas stone shows the majestic workings of Christ. Jesus commanded the stone pots, made after the pattern –or will, if you’ll have it – of God to be filled with water. Follow me on this.

The significant beauty we often miss

When we receive Christ, we are born again of the will of God alone – hence stone and not clay. We are filled with the Living Water, never to thirst again. Yet, through the Living Water comes the Wine. The wine of the New Covenant is a symbol of His blood, the abundant life and grace given. When we abide in the Vine, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and brings fruit. This fruit brings forth wine. The stone pots show Christ filling those who believe in Him with the Living Water and transforming them into His precious blood and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. For what fruit does a vine make if not grapes? What do grapes make when crushed and tried in the winepress of affliction? We are squeezed and the wine of our fruit is used by Jesus to bless others.

Now, six times twenty or thirty comes to one hundred and twenty or one hundred and eighty. We do not know the final amount of wine; however, that is not my aim. The Hebrew letter for one hundred is Kof/Qof. It is a picture of a monkey, meaning mimic. Together, filled with the spirit of God, we are to follow the example of Christ.

And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 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. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

John 2:8-10

When we allow Him to use us, the world recognizes the pure goodness of our fruit. They give honor to the bridegroom. He has come to bring wine. We do not want to be diluted in our worship and fruitful labor for Him. Why should we limit Him with our opinion of the size of the box He fits into.

The pots were made of stone, not clay. Let us not point out the failings of our brothers and sisters but call them to a higher standard by uplifting them in righteousness. Do not dwell in the flesh and produce fruits of self-righteousness. Let Him turn you to stone, pure and undefiled, cut from the Rock and not made from the dust of the earth.

May we uplift our family… and live a fruitful life patterned after our Bridegroom.