John 2:6–10 What God has prepared for those who love Him!

God is saving the best for the last! When Jesus returns or God calls us home we will know in full  what He has prepared for those who love Him!

Praise be to our Almighty Godhead!!!!

God's people are now His living temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), and we look forward to the new Jerusalem in heaven, where there will be no temple, "for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb" (Revelation 21:22). Perfect reconciliation with God will be complete because we will be in the glorious presence of Jesus. God's people will finally be brought out of exile and captivity in a world of sin and be home with Him forever! First5

Let us go forth from here,
blessed and renewed
in the Spirit of Shalom
in the Spirit of  Integrity
in the Spirit of Illumination
in the Spirit of Transformation
with hopes lifted heavenward
with hearts loving the earth
in the name of our creating, liberating, nurturing God.
Amen 

Sabbath Moments 

John 2:6–10

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 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. 10 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!” The New King James Version

Large stone pots were used for storing water for ritual purification. Examples have been unearthed in Palestine from this period. The jars were cut from single blocks of stone; stone was used because it did not convey ritual impurity. 

All six jars would have held 120–180 gallons. Large quantities of water were needed for ritual purification. They filled them to the brim making it impossible for the miracle to have been a deception. The use of the jars for a purpose other than ritual purification would have rendered the jars temporarily unclean and unusable for ritual purposes. The head steward denotes an honorary position, a person primarily tasked with regulating the distribution of the wine. 

Over the course of a feast, diluting wine with water was a common practice to make it go further. As the week progressed, the guests would have been less attuned to the decreasing quality of the beverage. Faithlife Study Bible

Jewish tradition required several kinds of ceremonial washings. Strict Jews washed their hands before a meal, between courses, and after the meal. This “purifying” extended not only to washing hands, but also to washing cups and vessels. 

Because the roads were not paved and people wore sandals, water was needed for foot washing. At a large Jewish wedding, a large amount of water would have been required. 

At a Jewish wedding, one of the guests served as a governor of the feast, similar to a master of ceremonies at a banquet. Our modern equivalent is probably a head waiter. This person was responsible for seating the guests and the correct running of the feast. 

Usually the better wine was served first. Then, after the guests’ palates were dulled, the everyday wine was served. But this wine was so good that the master of the feast was surprised to see it being served late in the celebration. The NKJV Study Bible

Mark 7:3–4 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.