"The next there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled, he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples." (John 2:1-12 NLT)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
As some of you might already know, this portion of Scripture is pretty near and dear to my heart; as it was the Scripture used by Pastor Mike at our wedding, while my wife and I were knelt at the alter, getting ready to partake of Communion, and Mike was going to give an alter call. His message was about the transformation made in our lives, after we accepted Christ, being represented by the water being turned into wine.
Not sure if we ever really knew exactly how many hands went up that day, but we knew of two that had, because it was shared with us later. But one thing for sure, I was so glad that we asked for an alter call to be performed at the wedding! This is something I had learned from a book that I had read, "God's Smuggler," by Brother Andrew. In his book, he tells about certain places where it was forbidden to gather for church, so they had many weddings and funerals, as a cover to gather for fellowship.
My basic thought was, since we are having a wedding, and we will be in a church (a place where many of those present would usually not go into), why not give a message and have an alter call? It just seemed like the right thing to do! Besides that, this mighty miraculous sign Jesus did, happened during a wedding celebration, so it all made perfect sense.
If you are keeping tack, this third day, is what appears to be the third day after Jesus was baptized by John. Which, if I am not mistaken, is or can be, an illustration of Jesus dying on the cross, and then three days later, being risen from the dead. It is without a doubt, the most significant part of the transformation that takes place in our lives. Yes, the forgiveness of sins by His death on the cross is vitally important, but the fact that He rose from the dead, that is what brings us new life!
We can debate whatever we want to, and can disagree on whatever we want; but if Jesus had not risen from the grave, it would all be for not...
"And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone else in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died." (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NLT)
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