Whatsapp Chat on John's Seven Miracles of Jesus and their Significance

This is an excerpt from a Whatsapp discussion where a member asked why is the miracle of New Wine regarded as the first miracle when Peter’s miraculous fishing experience seemed to have happened earlier. Enjoy!

Joh 2:1-11
(1)  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
(2)  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
(3)  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
(4)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
(5)  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].
(6)  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
(7)  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
(8)  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it].
(9)  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,
(10)  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.
(11)  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

But Jesus caused Peter to catch much fishes that tore his nets, and there are thoughts this might have happened earlier because Peter started to follow Jesus after this, whereas in John, He was already a disciple.

Luk 5:1-8

(1)  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
(2)  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.
(3)  And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
(4)  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
(5)  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
(6)  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
(7)  And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
(8)  When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Whatever is the case, it is understandable based on the purpose of John's Gospel clearly stated out...



Joh 20:30-31 KJV 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.


Jesus did "many other" miracles

But John ended up telling us just 7 of them (some argue it's 8)
And with a reason

A Look at Genesis 1:1-3 Let there be Light

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Let's see this carefully

Gen 1:14  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.
Gen 1:17  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good.
Gen 1:19  And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Light was created twice?
No!
Light wasn't created until vs14!

Same way water (the sea, oceans) wasn't created until v10, but it was mentioned in "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." v2

The Light in v2-3 is the Light of the gospel of Christ

Prayer is not a Duty for "pastors"

Paul charged Timothy to admonish is church members,

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Ti 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1Ti 2:9  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

By the way
Today, 1Tim2:9 means more of moral conduct in dressing than it meant prayer to some christians.

The verse was FIRST about prayer

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Modest dressing is good but futile if you don't have a solid prayer life.

Have a prayer life without wrath and doubting first, then "in like manner also", be modest in dressing

So Paul charged Timothy to teach church members, not to raise a great music team,  not to build a bigger auditorium, not to raise a prayer department, but to first of all pray
To pray for all men, and by all men and women

The Publican and the Pharisee in Prayer

Luke 18:11-14 KJV

(11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

{This is a story people often use to teach that "no one is righteous" and that when you are asked to 'humble and accept yourself as a sinner" and you refuse, you are a called Pharisee. But is that really the point here?}

(12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
{That will mean it's teaching us not to fast or give. So will that be correct?}
(13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
(14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The point isn't that God wants us to come "as a sinner" and make a lifestyle out of that, everyday smiting our breast saying "God,I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner", just like he's not saying, "stop giving in church". We need to really see what is wrong in the right conducts.

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus {pros} with himself"

The word translated "with" there is "pros" which could be better translated as "by".

The Pharisee stood BY himself

He prayed BY himself

He stood BY his merit

He stood and prayed by his own works and credentials

Should we Speak in Tongues in a Mixed Gathering?

A brief chat:

Him: I don't believe we should allow tongues in our church services, because Bible said if you speak in tongues and one who is unbeliever comes in, how will he cope?

Me: No! What Paul actually said is that you should interpret your tongues for him, and not that you should not speak in tongues at all

Him: And when we cannot interpret, we shut up?

Me: No! You don't shut up! You keep speaking in tongues to yourself. He never said keep shut. Let me show you

1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Why You Must Develop a Speaking Mouth

Apology to faith people.
See this

Mat 17:20  ...If ye HAVE faith as a grain of mustard seed,... this mountain,

So you can HAVE FAITH and have a mountain at the same time...

But you cannot have a SPEAKING MOUTH and a mountain at the same time.

Matthew 17:20 KJV

(20)  And Jesus said unto them...for VERILY I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall SAY unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The Beauty and Peculiarity of the Book of Hebrews (2)

Hebrews 3:6 KJV
(6)  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Is this saying, I am not the House of Jesus anymore?
Is it saying it is until i finish my race before Jesus will start to live in me? That will in fact be ridiculous, because at the end of this life, we will see Him face to face, and not that that is when He will start to live in us.

So what 'end' is Heb3:6 saying?

The word 'end' there is the greek word 'telos'. It means
1. a set out point (a limit)
2. intended aim, purpose of a thing
3. a toll (just like toll  gates are sited at the END of a road)