Sign of The Third Day
“AND ON THE THIRD DAY there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee…” John 2:1.
Everything about the wedding was symbolic and nothing occurred by accident.
God being a master strategist hid wisdom in things pertaining to man, even in nature.
The phrase THE THIRD DAY or THREE DAYS holds great significance to our Faith. Jesus used it Himself.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in THREE DAYS I will raise it up’,” John 2:19.
In addressing the Pharisees, Scribes and the Sadducees, He said
“But he answered and said unto them, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
‘For as Jonas was THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth’,”
The Old Testament was a shadow and until we begin to see it in the light of what it is and holds, we will continue to misinterpret the New Testament.
The process of extracting wine from vine is a rigorous one and takes years of which the people knew but this WINE was processed in a matter of seconds on the third day.
It was no coincidence that the OLD WINE ran out on the THIRD DAY that the NEW WINE comes in.
In ancient times, the ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of “treading,” which has prevailed in all ages.
It is this rigorous process of treading and crushing of the fruits that allows the wine to be pressed and squeezed out into barrels. God in His wisdom compressed the number of years of processing wine into THREE DAYS; for Jesus was to be bruised, wounded and crushed that the very JUICE OF GRACE be poured out to God as a sweet smelling savour.
For this is the kind of WINE that pleases the heart of the FATHER that it might be served to men!
The wine therefore is symbolic of the NEW TESTAMENT which came as a result of the shedding of His blood.
“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink ye all of it; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom’,” Matthew 26:27-29.
On the self–same day that the Old Testament was LAID TO REST, the New Testament SPRANG INTO EFFECT for God took away the first to ESTABLISH the Second.
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom…” Matthew 27:50–51.
“…He taketh away the FIRST that he may ESTABLISH THE SECOND.” Hebrews 10:9.
The first system was NOT established therefore it can be taken away, but the SECOND (New Testament) is ESTABLISHED and remains unmoveable and unshakeable.
It was impossible for the blood of animals to pave a way for all men to have access to Divine mysteries hidden behind the veil, (all that the Old Testament held dear).
The highest dread of the Old Testament was the Holy of Holies; even the high priest had to enter in there with caution else he is killed by the same God he renders service unto.
The place was so dreaded that whenever the high priest has to enter in, 12 bells were hung to the belt of his waist with a long rope reaching outside the holy place.
This was so done in the event that he is killed, the people outside would pull his body out. This was how dreaded the Holy of Holies was.
Through the blood of Jesus, we now have access into the very presence of God without fear.
The Holy of Holies was the SECRET PLACE. David in the book of psalms wrote:
“He that dwelleth in the SECRET PLACE of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1.
Paul having understood the mystery of what took place at Golgotha that rent the temple curtain into two from top to bottom wrote:
“Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
“For through him we both have ACCESS by one Spirit unto the Father,” Ephesians 1:18.
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,” Hebrews 10:19-22.
The SECRET place is not a place to be visited, but our DWELLING PLACE. The Psalmist under the Old Testament caught a glimpse of this truth and wrote it down alas this truth though written for us is yet to SINK DEEP in our hearts for we are the people of HIS SECRET PLACE!
When Jesus turned water into wine, not even the lord of the ceremony could fathom from where the wine came from but concluded saying:
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.” John 2:10.
In His wisdom, God kept the best for the last!
Excerpt from my book: “Understanding the New Testament“.
~ by Mark Cyril
Author, teacher, motivational and conference speaker, Pastor Mark Cyril is the international President of CYRIL MARK WORLD EVANGELISM – an independent ministry taking the message of the cross across the Nations turning many in their numbers to salvation through Jesus Christ. He is also the Senior Pastor of Revelation Apostolic Community; an apostolic and Prophetic Word based ministry in Abuja the capital city of Nigeria – West Africa.
Woooooooooooooow, this is phenomenal insight. Love it. Thanks Pastor.
AMEN!!! POWERFUL REVELATION AS USUAL☝Thank You My Brother