MANIFEST YOUR GLORY

The First of Jesus' Signs

John 2 describes the first miracle that Jesus did at the wedding at Cana. Having read this story and heard countless sermons on it, this morning I read a phrase at the end of the story that jumped out at me: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and MANIFESTED HIS GLORY. And his disciples believed in him” (v. 11). Because I love words, I love taking the time to drill down their meaning while praying to understand what it means to ask God to manifest His glory. Let’s look at a few in this verse.

First ἀρχή (archē):  The event consisting of the start of something. That which is first in either time or in rank and authority.

Sign σημεῖον (sēmeion):  A marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent; often with an emphasis on communicating a message. A sign, indicator, miracle. An event that signifies something. Generally refers to an object or occurrence that makes a particular insight or perception possible.

Did ποιέω (poieō):  To carry out or perform an action or course of action. Describes the act of making producing or creating.

Manifested φανερόω (phaneroō):  To cause to become clearly revealed to the mind, the senses, or judgment; disclosed; to be displayed; to make known.

Glory δόξα (doxa):  State of high honor. Refers to the honor which is accord to, or the splendor which characterizes, a person or thing. Meaning of the NT word is shaped by the Hebrew word כָּבוֹד (kābôd, “glory”) It is most relevant to the aesthetic beauty when it is used in connection with the ideas of brightness and majesty; divine glory. The concept of divine glory is imbued with a sense of radiance and majestic splendor, even where these ideas are not explicitly mentioned.

Disciples μαθητής (mathētēs):  A student who adheres to (and travels with) a teacher in a pedagogical relationship; especially used of students of spiritual leaders. In the NT, it is used for Jesus’ followers, most often “the Twelve” but also a wider group of followers. The word functions as a technical term for adherents of Jesus.

Believed πιστεύω (pisteuō):  To have faith; to put one’s trust in something on the basis of its truthfulness and reliability. Indicates a correct perception of the identity of Christ. The word carries strong implications of trust and is commonly associated with hope or the expectation that Christ will prove reliable.

After reading the definitions of these words, our understanding of the significance of Christ’s first miracle has grown. We no longer see this as a situation where the party ran out of wine and Jesus made some more. Now, after understanding the words John used to describe the miracle, we see the glory of God manifested to the disciples through Jesus’ actions.

The wedding feast wasn’t the focus … not even the best wine as the feast-master commented. No, the focus is the manifestation of glory which caused Jesus’ followers or disciples to have faith as He revealed Himself to them as the glory of God being manifest in their presence!

How often does God manifest His glory in our presence? Are we so fixated on circumstances and what we see in the natural that we miss the majestic splendor being revealed to us? I wonder if that’s why we have a hard time trusting God when life’s circumstances are not going in our favor.

Manifest Your glory, Lord, and help us see Your work in our lives as miraculously glorious as was the turning of water into wine … the transformation of the ordinary into extraordinary! Amen!