When The Water Turns into Wine
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Aug 11, 2020
- 18 min read
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Do you remember the first time that you heard about God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I do not remember the first time that I heard, but I do remember always being drawn to God. I also remember that I started seeking Him when I was just 13 years old. Have you already started seeking? How old were you when you began your search?
I asked God to forgive me of my sin and to come into my life when I was 13. I did not know much at all about Christ, but I had attended a summer bible school event at a local church some years before and remembered the stories of Jesus; how that He came to save us. I clearly remember how I recalled the gentle and pitiful story of His life, death, and that He had been resurrected.
I am not even sure that I ever heard that I needed to repent! I am sure that I never had heard about my need to be cleansed from sin. Yet, by His goodness, even as a child, I had remorse. Not so much for who I was at the time, but for who I was not. I had godly sorrow because I realized that I did not know Him, yet I felt as if I had been closer to Him for some reason than anyone that I knew. So began my search…
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Did I find God right away? Well, I am sure that He heard my cry of repentance but (knowing what I know now), I would not say that I had “found” Him at that point in time. Did I search for Him with my whole heart? Well, yes, I believed so at the time. From the time of my repentance, every time God was mentioned, I was all ears and very interested. Some time I would dwell on what I did know of Him. This is because I was still repentant that I did not have that ‘relationship’ with Him that I knew deep inside was possible.
You see, searching with “my whole heart” meant different things at different times throughout my life to me, but I was very far from understanding what was in my heart for many years. Another thing that I now realize is that I did not know and understand my heart well enough to really conclude that I did in fact search with all that was in me. Here is why:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Only God truly knows our heart…
Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Good news though! -If we continue searching for Him in His Word, He will show us what is truly in our heart so that it can be dealt with.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As my search continued, The Lord continued to shed more and more light on the path that led me straight back to Him. Next, I met my wife, Lynn. Looking back on it now and the way that we met, it seems nothing short of a miracle that we did meet. Why was this event so important? Lynn knew God fearing people. One person in particular, her uncle Chalmer, was called of God to preach the Truth of The Gospel of Christ. God used him to help with that thirst to know more of The Lord; that He had placed there to draw me closer.
As I listened, I heard things that I had never heard before, yet they sounded as if they were the things that I always knew! Although some of these things seemed contrary to what the other people I had heard preach in the past, I knew that this was The True Gospel, without a doubt. It was almost like déjà vu. Please note that I am not calling myself a prophet here, but I do believe that His chosen people know Him before we are even born…
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
I was now a young man with children and had ‘lived a little’. I called out to God, asking for forgiveness again, was baptized, and began reading and following along in the scripture. I had a stronger, newfound zeal for learning of and serving My Lord. Many times I just scratched the surface of God’s Word, but I was so in love with what I had learned of Him.
Psalms 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
As the next few years went by Lynn and I had a couple more children, we both continued going to church and hearing God’s Word. The unfortunate thing that I noticed was that I did not seem to be growing in Christ. What do I mean by this? My conscience started working like it is supposed to – and I am not sure that it ever did work that well in the past! I did not ‘feel’ as close to God as what I had ‘felt’ in the beginning. (Be careful about emotions – right when you think that you can trust them, you might find yourself in a place that you never intended to be! Emotions are of the flesh, and the flesh wars against the Spirit.) Today I understand the hills and valleys of serving Our Lord, but this was different.
I began watching others in what I now believe was a subconscious attempt to ease my conscience by justifying who I really was in the sight of God, by excusing others. You know – “if they can do it, then so can I”. When that no longer worked, I found myself trying to find fault with those that I felt were close to God. Surely if they had a great relationship with Him, then so did I, right?... wrong!
This eventually turned into my belief that others not only did not care, but I also became bitter and angry with certain people that I felt were ‘supposed’ to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, I knew the scripture:
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
But my focus was very self-centered, the more that I focused on what I was lacking, the more that I watched every move that other church members made. It is probably true that I did not even understand what they were doing half of the time, because satan was there doing his thing also, I’m sure. At the time, I was more interested in a pity party for myself, but I was sure that others were to blame for my condition.
By this time, Lynn and I had also gone through a great deal of ‘life’ struggles, and I had a hard time understanding how this could happen to a Child of God. I blamed others. I just felt betrayed and alone with no people that I could really trust, and so I also dwelled on this scripture a lot:
Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
I could not see the fact that this scripture was meant to warn believers, rather than condemn them that we love. I also forgot about this one very important truth:
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
It was satan that had lured me away from the flock, and he was determined to push me as far away from hearing the Truth as possible. What was his ultimate goal? -To get me to deny the Truth. I thank my God and Savior that I just could not ever allow that thought to persuade me. It was clear (as mud) to me: I had fallen away from Christ, but He was definitely NOT the one to blame! Was I not converted? That was too fearful of a thought to dwell on!
These Words often resonated to me:
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
You know, they say that time heals wounds? Fast forward about a decade… Well, to some degree, I guess. Once I was able to begin seeing my own part in my life decisions, and less bitterness towards others, I, at some point realized that I was in the condition that I was in due to my own desires and actions. Every time that the I would think on the notion that my conversion had failed, all that I could do was tell Him that I was so sorry, and that I wished that I had not been so selfish and gullible as to not see what was going on around me. I wished that I had chosen to trust Him no matter what happened.
I was began to indulge in things that made me even more miserable than they did before I had heard the Truth. I thought that the only thing left for me was the peace that I could find in this world, at least until my time was up; I must be a lost cause, I thought. Maybe this would relieve some of the pain?
Ever wish that you could die, but there seems to be no way out? You cannot end your own life because you will hurt others that depend on you. You can’t live without God in your life anymore either. You also cannot force yourself to keep His commandments… you just have no way to escape yourself!
Here I was again – feeling sorry for myself. When would it end?
His Change of Plans
What? Lynn has been converted? Where did that come from? I didn’t even realize that she was searching for God! Yes, my wife had found God, and it was not only a miracle evident to her alone; but He began to radiate from within her. I began to watch her life fold up as if someone was packing up that old wardrobe that they no longer liked. It was obvious that she would never get those things back out to put them on again. Not only this, but she was finding new things to wear in her life with Christ Jesus, proverbially speaking. Things that I had never seen in her life before; some things that I did not even fully understand.
I was so very happy for her. I began to try to talk with her about God and express interest. Of course, after a while, I could only sacrifice so much time on this subject because it quickly turned to the reminder of that one sad fact of the matter: that I thought that I was lost.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Little did I understand that I had never truly “tasted”, because I had wanted to be converted so badly (and I felt that others had also expected to see that I was converted) in the past, that I had fooled myself into this belief that Christ had come into my heart. This was indeed His plan, but not His timing.
Fast forward a couple more years…
I hear a scripture that I had not heard in a long time. Was it true? Did I deceive myself? Why did I hear this again?
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
I dwelled on these thoughts: was I ever a “doer”? Of course I was! (Speaking of my past endeavor to serve God with all of my heart): I would try my hardest every day to do the right thing, to remember every scripture, and to do no evil. The reality though – I was not a “doer” completely. There were a lot of times that I said what I was supposed to say, what I wanted to feel, what I was expected to do according to His Word, but I did not always “do” His Word whole-heartedly.
Days continued, like scenes in a monotonous low-budget movie. Standing on the front porch in the dark again, praying to God, “Lord, I just cannot do this anymore! If I have overlooked something; if I was not really converted, if there is any possible way that you could ever forgive me, please HELP!” “I have no more to give. I do not care what happens to my life; my job, my belongings, my reputation. But I have no more strength to go on. I’ve even run out of energy to try to take care of my family. Please end this grief one way or another. Have mercy on me, if you will. If not, I understand, but there has to be an end?”
Psalms 38:21-22 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Luke 15:6-7 And when He cometh home, He calleth together His friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The day that the Water turned into Wine for me
I cannot remember if it was the next day, or the day after, but I do clearly remember praying all morning from the earliest time that I can remember that day. This was not normal for me, at all. I was also thanking and praising Him for many things on my hour-long trip to a meeting that day – again, like it was normal. There was a huge weight lifted and a sense of peace that I had never known. I don’t think that I fully recognized that until later that day when a certain event happened that blind-sided me: He brought to my attention that the things that I truly cared about were not the things that I expected to care about.
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME THAT GOD HAD MERCY ON MY SOUL AND HAS DELIVERED ME FROM DEATH!
Scriptures that I had not heard or read for years came back to me, flooding my entire being! I had to look them up to see if I remembered them correctly. I began reading again. The difference is that these were much more than ‘words’ to me now, I was part of them. They made sense, almost as if I had written them myself. They were no longer a story about God, but they are now a real, living testament of who we really are, being Christ and the Church as one.
Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. AMEN!
The picture is now clear as daylight to me… The Lord had His hand over me since the time when I was born into this world. He was there when I first repented at the young age of 13. He knew that I had no clue as to the depth of the sin that was in me. It had to be drawn out into the light, through and by His Word. Not so He could see it, but that so I could see it. I needed to understand what it was that I was to give up in this life, if I were going to make a sold-out choice to trust and obey Him throughout eternity.
He kept me on track with His beautiful plan for my life, and I know that He will continue to do so. Even when I didn’t “feel” like it was appropriate for me to try to serve, or name the name of Christ, I still possessed a heart that desired Him. I walked through all of the possible scenarios that my life might encounter to find what it was that had no value to me at every turn. I was therefore able to truly count the costs of what I was to lose. It was not a fair trade off, but He graciously took my worthless treasures and turned them into a peace that only a true disciple can know.
Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Not only that, but I needed to understand that I could not serve Him in or through my own strength, but by faith in His Word.
Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
I now know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that I have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. I know that He is real. I know that we fellowship with each other, and I know that I can trust Him in all things.
Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
What is the miracle of the water turning into wine?
Let’s consider the steps that the bible teaches that all must go through to be saved:
1. To be drawn of God
2. To believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and our salvation from the hell that we deserve
3. To seek God through repentance (decision to do things His way, and not our own)
4. To be converted by the hand of God, receiving His gift of the Holy Spirit that will lead and guide us into all Truth – giving us the ability to perform His Will
Some may find a couple of steps to happen in a slightly different order. Some might progress through all steps relatively quickly. Others like me though…
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.
Have you ever read about the first miracle that Jesus did in Galilee? Where He turned the water into wine at the marriage supper? Ever wonder why this was the first miracle that He performed?
What is the difference between water and wine? Well you can definitely taste the difference, right? We all know what water tastes like, but every wine tastes different, doesn’t it? Water is usually also much easier to find than fine wine, correct?
Did you know that God’s Word is referred to as “Water”?
Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
Where can you find the Word of God? If we are talking about the text, you can find it in The Holy Bible.
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Be careful though…
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
We can see here that anyone can find a bible and read it. If they do, you might say that “they have drunk the water”. Is that enough?
Just like God’s Word: we can all read the same exact words from the bible text, but there is a true wine that the Spirit of God extracts from these letters. This is the wine that God intended to save us. Beware though because there are also thousands of cheap knock-offs wines out there!
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Many people read the Word of God, go to church and hear the scriptures read, some of you are even here right now as we share His Words. What if you had never tasted a real, quality wine before and someone gave you a really good tasting glass of juice? If they told you that it was wine, would it not be possible to fool you?
I do believe that this first miracle that Jesus performed in Galilee was a representation of the very first miracle that He performs in a true believer at conversion. Why do I say this? Because the “water of The Word” that we read turns into Wine when the Spirit of God comes into our heart. Water satisfies for a while, but wine is much more potent!
Let’s take another look at the process:
(We must read/hear God’s Word for these steps 1-3)
1. To be drawn of God
2. To believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and our salvation from the hell that we deserve
3. To seek God through repentance (decision to do things His way, and not our own)
4. To be converted by the hand of God, receiving His gift of the Holy Spirit that will lead and guide us into all Truth – giving us the ability to perform His Will (We must possess God’s Spirit which will transform His Word into the wine to be “guided into all Truth”)
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Just like how our taste buds respond to the difference between water and wine, our heart and mind respond to the difference between the letter of the Word and the Truth of The Word of God! Listen how the ruler of the feast knew the difference immediately, once he tasted that the wine was “good”…
John 2:9-10 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.
Once The Lord intervened with the water that they had, it became much more to them that drank it! What is another difference between water and wine? Water is very good to quench a thirst. Once we have done so, we typically stop drinking it, right? Eventually you get thirsty again, but that subsides again with a few gulps.
The difference is that great wine can be so good that you may find it hard to get enough! You might even call this wine “living water”. This is what happens when you read the Word of God with the googles of His Spirit that only He can give. You may have to have patience, just keep seeking and never give up on the Truth:
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Psalms 119:103-104 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
This is the difference that I have found since my conversion: the water has truly turned into wine for me and it is a living miracle that continues to grow and grow! I know that if He did it for me, He can do it for others also!
1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Praise His Name, I have tasted, and He is everything that His Word says that He is and more! He has set me free. I no longer “war” against my flesh, I simply yield to God’s Word as it comes to me from that secret hiding place that He has created deep within me.
It is important to note here that we can read, listen, and pray, but we must seek Him with all of our heart if He is to be found. Why did He turn the Water into Wine at a wedding? Because this signifies the gift that He is giving to His church as His bride to be.
Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
I finally met my Lord and Savior in reality. It took God drawing me my entire life and me searching to find Him through the now obvious clues that He left along the way, but I would not change the prefect way that He did it for the world.
I made a wish to be with God throughout eternity when I was 13. The water did finally turn into wine for me at the age 47 years old. This was 34 years later. Seems like a long time doesn’t it? Some (like satan) may even say “a waste of a life”, but I do not feel that way at all. This is just the beginning of eternity!
It is clear that we are only here on earth to make a choice of whether we want to serve God, or ourselves. Every wonder, then, why we live to be 30, 60, or even 90 years old? What is time to God, he creates it! What is time to us?
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
One thing that I do continue to learn about this “earthly” life as I get older is that it really isn’t that long at all.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Keep searching my friends -trust and obey is the Truth you will find.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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