Wine
This is the classic communion reading, but there is more here than initially meets the eye:
Matthew 26:27-29 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus began a fast at the last supper that He continues to observe to this day. Just like Daniel fasted wine for a meeting with Heaven, Jesus is fasting wine until He meets with His beloved on earth again face to face. Both sides of the veil are supposed to be CONTENDING for its removal...an open heaven when Jesus splits the sky and comes home!
Wine was an important part of Jesus' ministry. His very first miracle was turning water into wine:
John 2:1-10 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. ” 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. 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!”
Jesus likes wine. In fact, wine is going to be served at the wedding feast when the entire family of God is finally back together face to face and the veil between heaven and earth is removed!
Isaiah 25:6-9 And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord ; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
This is when REAL life begins...when God is face to face with mankind. That is what God called "very good" in Genesis 1:31...and God doesn't change. Forever God's desires is to be face to face with His beloved family.
When Jesus came to earth, the infinitely and dizzyingly vast and unknowable God...unapproachable because of His infinite perfection and beauty...took on the flesh of a man and became knowable to the "less than infinite capacity" of people like me. Jesus revealed God in the form of a man. He said if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father! Jesus marked the beginning of His public revelation of God's heart at a party!...and when the party ran out of wine, Jesus' first miracle was to make some more so the party could keep going. Jesus marked the beginning of His revelation of the nature of the infinite and only God by demonstrating He is about being together with people in a joyful setting. When Jesus was getting ready to leave, He marked the occasion with one last get-together, A meal and a glass of wine with His good friends...His beloved family. The nature of the God of all creation is intimate and joyful...but there is more...
God's nature is also INTENSE. He is a jealous consuming fire who really wants His beloved family with Him.
Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Jesus has desire:
John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Right now, Jesus is intense in His desire to be back with His family. He is nearing the end of a 2,000 year fast of wine...one of the symbols that marked His earthly ministry of fellowship. Jesus is unwilling to live without me...unwilling to live without you. Jesus is so intent on getting His family back that He was willing to lay down His divine privilege to forever become a man....always God, but always man...the ultimate of sacrifices:
Philippians 2:5-11 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is the God who made us....the one who gave it all to keep us. We were made for fellowship with Him...not in servitude...but in joyful communion. What kind of God chooses to mark His final night with those He has entrusted His kingdom to with a meal and a glass of wine, and a washing of their feet? Our God! Then, as He pours the last glass of wine He will drink He says "ok guys, I am putting my enjoyment on hold until I see you again...I am setting aside the fullness of life until we are together again." Who is this King?!
Jesus didn't demand they fast anything...He said "I am setting this aside until we are together." This is our God.
Even at the cross, Jesus honored this fast. Twice, men, either in mocking or mercy, tried to get Him to drink. Drinking wine would have lessened the pain, but Jesus refused, each time after he tasted it, he would not drink:
Matthew 27:34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
John 19:28-30 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
Jesus talked about "spiritual violence" when referring to John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:11-12 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
John was "violent in spirit"...actively putting aside the comforts and cares of the rest of the world to make way for the coming of Jesus. This was prophesied...a voice crying in the wilderness in spiritual violence. And it worked. John didn't need to go find an audience. The zeal burning in Him attracted the world around Him. The world came out to see John! To go see John was at least a days journey of walking from just about anywhere! Pharisees, and governmental people, and everyday people, like some of Jesus' disciples, came out to find out why John was so zealous.
Heaven loves the spiritually violent...all those who say "there is something invisible worth waiting for...worth living for" they are burning for heaven...and heaven marks them. Those who say "I see it with my heart, and I am willing to forgo permissible things to reach for the invisible" share God's jealous heart:
Mark 1:6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
John was the one guy contending in an all out fast for the arrival of Jesus. He drank no wine, preferring to contend...put other things on hold...until the Messiah came in power:
Luke 7:33-35 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Matthew 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Jesus demonstrated by His own life that real life...the joyful fellowship of God and man...is only possible when God is face to face with man...when we're apart, life isn't really happening. God is so serious about "very good" being restored that He is fasting a simple pleasure like wine until He is home.
How am I contending? The spiritually-violent hasten heaven's arrival by force!
II Peter 3:11-13 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Matthew 26:27-29 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus began a fast at the last supper that He continues to observe to this day. Just like Daniel fasted wine for a meeting with Heaven, Jesus is fasting wine until He meets with His beloved on earth again face to face. Both sides of the veil are supposed to be CONTENDING for its removal...an open heaven when Jesus splits the sky and comes home!
Wine was an important part of Jesus' ministry. His very first miracle was turning water into wine:
John 2:1-10 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. ” 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. 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!”
Jesus likes wine. In fact, wine is going to be served at the wedding feast when the entire family of God is finally back together face to face and the veil between heaven and earth is removed!
Isaiah 25:6-9 And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord ; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
This is when REAL life begins...when God is face to face with mankind. That is what God called "very good" in Genesis 1:31...and God doesn't change. Forever God's desires is to be face to face with His beloved family.
When Jesus came to earth, the infinitely and dizzyingly vast and unknowable God...unapproachable because of His infinite perfection and beauty...took on the flesh of a man and became knowable to the "less than infinite capacity" of people like me. Jesus revealed God in the form of a man. He said if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father! Jesus marked the beginning of His public revelation of God's heart at a party!...and when the party ran out of wine, Jesus' first miracle was to make some more so the party could keep going. Jesus marked the beginning of His revelation of the nature of the infinite and only God by demonstrating He is about being together with people in a joyful setting. When Jesus was getting ready to leave, He marked the occasion with one last get-together, A meal and a glass of wine with His good friends...His beloved family. The nature of the God of all creation is intimate and joyful...but there is more...
God's nature is also INTENSE. He is a jealous consuming fire who really wants His beloved family with Him.
Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Jesus has desire:
John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Right now, Jesus is intense in His desire to be back with His family. He is nearing the end of a 2,000 year fast of wine...one of the symbols that marked His earthly ministry of fellowship. Jesus is unwilling to live without me...unwilling to live without you. Jesus is so intent on getting His family back that He was willing to lay down His divine privilege to forever become a man....always God, but always man...the ultimate of sacrifices:
Philippians 2:5-11 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is the God who made us....the one who gave it all to keep us. We were made for fellowship with Him...not in servitude...but in joyful communion. What kind of God chooses to mark His final night with those He has entrusted His kingdom to with a meal and a glass of wine, and a washing of their feet? Our God! Then, as He pours the last glass of wine He will drink He says "ok guys, I am putting my enjoyment on hold until I see you again...I am setting aside the fullness of life until we are together again." Who is this King?!
Jesus didn't demand they fast anything...He said "I am setting this aside until we are together." This is our God.
Even at the cross, Jesus honored this fast. Twice, men, either in mocking or mercy, tried to get Him to drink. Drinking wine would have lessened the pain, but Jesus refused, each time after he tasted it, he would not drink:
Matthew 27:34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
John 19:28-30 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
Jesus talked about "spiritual violence" when referring to John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:11-12 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
John was "violent in spirit"...actively putting aside the comforts and cares of the rest of the world to make way for the coming of Jesus. This was prophesied...a voice crying in the wilderness in spiritual violence. And it worked. John didn't need to go find an audience. The zeal burning in Him attracted the world around Him. The world came out to see John! To go see John was at least a days journey of walking from just about anywhere! Pharisees, and governmental people, and everyday people, like some of Jesus' disciples, came out to find out why John was so zealous.
Heaven loves the spiritually violent...all those who say "there is something invisible worth waiting for...worth living for" they are burning for heaven...and heaven marks them. Those who say "I see it with my heart, and I am willing to forgo permissible things to reach for the invisible" share God's jealous heart:
Mark 1:6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
John was the one guy contending in an all out fast for the arrival of Jesus. He drank no wine, preferring to contend...put other things on hold...until the Messiah came in power:
Luke 7:33-35 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Matthew 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Jesus demonstrated by His own life that real life...the joyful fellowship of God and man...is only possible when God is face to face with man...when we're apart, life isn't really happening. God is so serious about "very good" being restored that He is fasting a simple pleasure like wine until He is home.
How am I contending? The spiritually-violent hasten heaven's arrival by force!
II Peter 3:11-13 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
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