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Guided Bible Studies for Hungry ChristiansThe Word on the Mountain
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We have now arrived to the destination of our study concerning the promise of filling to those who hunger and thirst for the LORD GOD. In simple terms... Bread of Righteousness = Word of God (Milk and Meat describe the different levels of teachings within His Word) Water of the LORD God = Will of God Wine of Jesus Christ = Works of God
The term "bread" in the Word of God symbolizes doctrine and teachings of a belief system. To know whether the word "bread" is speaking of the typological righteous Word of God, rather than the leavened and corrupted bread of the Pharisees, the character, nature and context must be examined to understand deeply. “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it]. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it]. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (John 2:1-11 AV)521. There was no wine at the marriage in Cana of Galilee that Jesus Christ and his disciples had been called to come. 522. After his mother told her son Jesus Christ that they had no wine, he questioned her request by pointing out that his hour was not yet come. 523. His mother instructed her servants to do anything that Jesus Christ instructed them to do. 524. Six stone pots were set up to be filled with water for purification according to Jewish tradition. Each pot had a small amount of water inside. 525. Jesus instructed the servants to fill the waterpots with water. The servants complied by filling the pots to the brim. 526. Jesus ordered them to draw from the water filled waterpots, and take the liquid to the governor of the feast to taste. 527. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water, he found that it was a very good wine. 528. The ruler called the bridegroom and praised him for keeping the best wine for the end, rather than dispersing it in the beginning. 529. The changing of water into wine was the beginning of miracles accomplished by Jesus Christ. 530. When Jesus Christ performed the miracle of water into wine, his glory was manifested, and his disciples believed on him. Jesus Christ makes the water into wine. The Word of God does the Will of God which results in the Work of God. You will see this over and over in this study of wine. It is Jesus Christ, that replaces the purification traditions of the Jews, and becomes the full "to the brim" purification of his followers. It is Jesus Christ who provides the best wine, the best works of the LORD God, coming at the end of His Time. It was not the beginnings of the plan set into motion through the chosen people of God, but rather through the complete implementation of His Divine Plan through His Son being made man that the Will of God was manifested completely by the Word of God. At that moment, miracle of miracles was begun, as Jesus Christ provided the new and good wine for his followers to drink, which ultimately brings glory to both him and His Father, as the Works of God are accomplished. “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:32-34 AV)531. The soldiers came to hasten the death of the condemned who were being crucified, by breaking their legs. 532. When the soldiers came to Jesus Christ, they found that he was dead already, from his crucifixion upon the cross. They did not break his legs because he was already dead. 533. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and both blood and water came out of the wound. The time had arrived that Jesus Christ had spoken about to his mother at his first miracle done at the marriage in Cana. The water made into wine was a miracle reflecting the pattern of greater miracles to come, as the Word of God was sacrificed according to the Will of God. The mixture of water and blood made the wine of the fully realized Divine Plan of salvation. At the moment of his death, both the water and blood gushed forth, making the wine implementing the Works of God and manifesting glory upon Him as salvation was given to those that He called closer to Him through His Son. “And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old [wine] straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” (Luke 5:33-39 av)534. The old wine (Work of God through the establishment of His Law) was put into the old bottles (Jews). 535. If the new wine (Work of God through the establishment of sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ for salvation of His People, the defeat of death, and resurrection of life eternal), is placed into the old bottles (Jews), then they would break, and the precious wine run out and bring death to them. 536. But if the new wine (Jesus Christ) is put into the new bottles (The Gentiles), then both are preserved in eternal togetherness. 537. No one who drinks of their old wine of adherence to the law of God desires the new wine of faith in Jesus Christ, because he thinks his old is better. The Jew is mistaken. “And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.” (Luke 7:31-35 av)538. John the Baptist did not eat the doctrine of Jesus Christ, nor drink the new wine of salvation. Regardless, the people said he was possessed by a devil. 539. Jesus Christ came eating and drinking of bread and wine, as he taught the new doctrine and did new Works according to His Father's Will. Regardless, he also was criticized, and accused of being a friend of publicans and sinners. 540. Wisdom is made righteous through the smallest of ideas. The nature of Jesus Christ, misunderstood and mocked by the Pharisees, becomes true and righteous as he focuses on the sinners to receive his new doctrine. 541. Peoples wrong expectations and self-focused judgments concerning the nature of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist deluded them with confusion and misunderstanding. Today, the same wrong expectations are placed on Jesus Christ, as people demand he come down from Heaven and serve them by providing lotto fortunes, game winnings, perfect lives, the solution to every natural life irritant with immediate entrance into Heaven without acceptance of His Way, Will or Word. “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37 av)542. A lawyer tried to justify his right to receive inheritance of eternal life to Jesus Christ, by directing focus to the real meaning of the word "neighbour". 543. Jesus Christ defines neighbour through the example of a certain Samaritan who had mercy upon a fallen man, attacked by the worldly wicked, and bound his wounds with oil and wine and took care of him. Just as today, when lawyers manipulate testimony with false direction, and guilty men focus on the precise meaning of "is" to divert attention away from their own sins, this certain lawyer tried to use his power with words and law to obtain eternal life. He was certain that his focus on the word "neighbour" would open a tiny crevice into the rules of God, which would allow him to creep into the promise of eternal life for the faithful forgiven. “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide [it] among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:14-20 av)544. Jesus Christ ate the Passover meal, then told his disciples that he would not eat anymore, or drink of the fruit of the vine anymore, until the kingdom of God shall come. 545. He offered them to drink of the cup of wine, to represent the new testament, the Work of God, written by his blood that he would shed for them upon the cross. Each time a Christian drinks from the cup of wine that is given in communion to represent the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the drinker is embracing the New Testament promise of salvation and eternal life according to God's Will and Word. This promise is founded on the righteous and holy Work of God, accomplished through the crucifixion of His Son Jesus Christ, and confirmed through the resurrection of Jesus as he overcame death and ascended to the right hand of his Father in the Kingdom of God and Heaven. “And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received [it] not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” (Mark 15:22-32 av)546. Jesus Christ was offered wine mingled with myrrh before his crucifixion. This perfumed myrrh mingled wine might well have made the endurance of pain of crucifixion on the cross more tolerable, but it also would have brought bitterness and anger. It is through understanding the nature of myrrh's bitterness, that we are able to see the last attempt to destroy the LORD God's Will to bring salvation to those He chooses. If Jesus Christ had drank of the wine mingled with myrrh, then his free act of sacrifice in accordance to his Father's Will, would be mingled with bitterness. His absolute commitment to submit himself to crucifixion, might have brought anger and bitterness to him as he completed the greatest Work for God and mankind. When he rejected this myrrh mixed wine, he was rejecting the assosiation of bitterness with His Father's Works. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Ephesians 5:15-20 av)547. Christians should not be drunk with wine in excess, but rather, filled with the Holy Spirit, and participating in the spiritual songs and praises that bring melody within their hearts and their focus on the LORD God. Christians that drink wine in excess, are Christians who do many works on their own. These works are without the Holy Spirit's guidance, and though the works may be beneficial, profitable, humane or charitable, they are not works of God. Christians do true works of God by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them and guide them to do the Works He Wills. The way a Christian allows the Holy Spirit to fill him and move him to His Works is by focusing on the LORD God with his heart, and singing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, melodies within. A praising soul gives the Holy Spirit complete control, and accomplishes the greatest of Works of God that glorifies Him! ConclusionBread of Righteousness = Word of God (Milk and Meat describe the different levels of teachings within His Word) Water of the LORD GOD's = Will of God Wine of Jesus Christ = Works of God Those who hunger and thirst will be filled with the Bread of Righteousness and the Water of the LORD God. |
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MLA Style Citation: About the Author Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad. |
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