October 9, 2025 • 21 mins
Have you ever noticed the remarkable pattern hidden within the opening chapters of John's Gospel? Like an intricate tapestry, John weaves together days and events that mirror Genesis creation week, revealing Jesus as the divine Bridegroom of new creation.
From the very first words—"In the beginning"—John invites us beyond mere history into divine revelation. As Pastor Harry meticulously unpacks each day mentioned in chapter one, a stunning pattern emerges. John the Baptist's testimony on day one echoes Genesis' first light. The revelation of Jesus as the Lamb of God on day two parallels the separation of waters. The first disciples follow on day three when faith begins to sprout, just as vegetation appeared in Genesis. Day four brings Nathanael's confession and Jesus' promise about heaven opening—mirroring the creation of celestial bodies that governed creation.
All this builds toward the wedding at Cana, which falls precisely on the seventh day of John's new creation week. While Genesis culminated in rest, John's account peaks with celebration as Jesus transforms water into wine. This is no coincidence but divine inspiration at work. The pattern reveals Scripture's grand narrative: creation begins with a wedding in Eden and culminates with the marriage supper of the Lamb. Between these bookends, we find ourselves in the betrothal period, sealed by the Spirit as Christ's bride-in-waiting.
The fingerprint of God is unmistakable in this divine pattern spanning from Genesis to Revelation. It reminds us that the miracle isn't in the jars but in Jesus—the Bridegroom who turns our empty vessels into vessels of joy. As we await the final wedding feast, may we live as those betrothed to Christ, walking in faithful love and anticipating the day when water becomes wine and purification becomes celebration.
Subscribe to The Takeaway to continue our journey through John's Gospel as we explore the wedding at Cana in greater depth next week!
Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
In this episode of the Takeaway, we pause to look
back before we move forward.
The Gospel of John has beenleading us step by step through
the first chapter, and hiddenwithin its structure is a
pattern too perfect to bechanced.
From the very first words, inthe beginning, John invites us
to see more than history.
He invites us to see God'sfingerprint, the story of
creation retold and renewed inChrist.
(00:31):
Just as Genesis began, withlight, separation, life and a
letting, John sets before us anew creation week that will
culminate in joy with thebridegroom.
Today, Pastor Harry will walkus through that pattern, day by
day, showing how God himself haswoven his eternal plan into the
very fabric of his word.
This is not the start ofchapter 2, but a bridge, a
(00:52):
moment to stand in awe of divineinspiration and to see how the
story of Jesus reveals theauthor of life himself.
Join Pastor Harry now as heopens the scriptures and helps
us behold the bridegroom of thenew creation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Hello and welcome again to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're not jumping straight intonew material, we're taking a
careful look back.
Over the past several episodeswe've been walking together
through John chapter one.
Now many of you have sent inthoughtful questions about why
John opens his gospel the waythat he does and what the
sequence of days really means.
(01:31):
Rather than answer eachquestion one by one, we're
devoting this whole episode to adeep dive into chapter 1.
This way we can see the fullpicture together and allow the
Spirit to show us the divinepattern John intended.
Now, today, before we move intochapter 2, we're going to pause
and review why?
Because John has left us withsomething extraordinary, a
(01:53):
pattern woven into the verystructure of his gospel, a
pattern that mirrors Genesisitself.
This isn't just backgroundinformation, it's the
fingerprint of God on his word.
John marks off days one afteranother, until he brings us to a
climatic moment, a weddingfeast.
(02:13):
That pattern is no accident.
It is divine inspirationshowing us that in Christ, god
is beginning the week again,inaugurating a new creation that
will end in eternal joy withthe bridegroom.
So today's episode is aboutconnection.
It's about seeing how John 1flows seamlessly into John 2,
(02:36):
how the days of testimony andcalling parallel the days of
creation, and how all of itpoints us forward to the great
wedding feast in heaven.
This is not the start of ourand how all of it points us
forward to the great weddingfeast in heaven.
This is not the start of ourteaching in chapter 2.
It's the bridge between whatwe've studied and where we're
going.
So, if you can open your Bibleand follow along, we're going to
(02:57):
start by looking at John 1, 1-5.
John opens with Genesis,genesis's first phrase in the
beginning.
We see this in Genesis 1 and inJohn 1.1.
In Genesis, god speaks creationinto being.
In John, the word himself isthe one by whom all things were
(03:17):
made.
In Genesis dawns the lightbreaking into darkness.
John proclaims the light shinesin the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it.
We see that in John 1.5.
So John wants us to read hisgospel as far more than a
collection of stories.
It is the spirit-inspiredaccount of God beginning the
(03:39):
week again in Christ.
Just as Genesis opened with thedawn of creation, john opens
with the dawn of a new creation.
The eternal word enters thedarkness to bring light, life
and hope.
John invites us to see Jesusnot only as a teacher or miracle
(03:59):
worker, but as the verybeginning of God's new world.
Worker, but as the verybeginning of God's new world,
the one through whom everythingis remade.
To read John rightly is to seethat in Christ, god is writing
creation's story again, and thistime the ending is not rest
(04:24):
alone, but eternal joy in hispresence.
This is where we turn next.
John has marked out the daysfor us in chapter one, each with
its own echo of Genesis.
And now, before the wedding inCana, we're going to slow down
and look at each of these daysone by one, as we do.
You'll see the pattern.
John wants us to notice A newcreation week unfolding in
Christ, culminating in joy, restand revelation of the
(04:48):
bridegroom.
Now, starting on day one inGenesis, creation begins with
this statement In the beginningGod Before light, before form,
before life, there is God.
Revelation begins not with thecreated world, but with the
creator himself, and then Godspeaks.
This is in Genesis 1-3.
(05:12):
Now, in John's Gospel, thefirst day is marked by John the
Baptist's testimony.
The priests and the Levitesquestion him who are you?
Are you the Christ, elijah, theprophet?
We see this in John 1, 19 to 21.
But then John strips away allillusions.
He is none of those.
He is only the voice of onecrying in the wilderness Make
(05:34):
straight the way of the Lord.
John 1, 23.
Day one is about identity andanticipation.
Just as Genesis day one beginswith God revealing himself as
the source of light, john's dayone begins with John pointing to
the coming light.
Creation started when God madehimself known and new creation
begins the same way Now.
(05:56):
Looking at day two, on thesecond day, john the Baptist
sees Jesus and declares beholdthe Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world.
John 1 29.
He testifies that he saw theSpirit descend from heaven and
remain on Jesus in verse 32.
The separation is clear.
John is the witness, jesus isthe Lamb In Genesis.
(06:19):
Day two is the day ofseparation.
God made the expanse andseparated the waters that were
under the expanse from thewaters that were above.
Genesis 1-7.
Just as creation requiredseparation, john's witness
separates Jesus from all others.
He is not just another prophetor rabbi.
He is the lamb who will takeaway sin, the creator.
(06:42):
Separation in Genesis makesroom for life.
John's proclamation separatesthe savor from all others,
making room for salvation.
And notice this.
John bears witness that Jesuswas baptized and the Spirit
descended on him John 1, 32-33.
Jesus' baptism itself is apicture of separation.
(07:02):
He goes down into the water andrises again, symbolizing the
divide between the old and thenew, the cleansing of sin he
will accomplish and the life ofthe Spirit resting on him.
Just as God separated thewaters to prepare a space for
creation, jesus' baptismforeshadows the separation
(07:22):
between sin and righteousness,death and life, preparing the
way for the new creation and forus who follow him.
Baptism continues this pattern.
When we go down into the waterand come back up again, we are
declaring that the old life hasbeen buried and the new life has
begun Romans 6.4.
Just as Genesis' day two madespace for creation to flourish,
(07:46):
baptism marks the beginning ofnew creation, life in Christ.
Now, on the third day, johnagain points to Jesus.
Two of his disciples hear himand follow Jesus.
When they ask Rabbi, where areyou staying?
He answers come and you willsee.
In John 1, 38, 39.
The first steps of discipleshipare taken.
Faith begins to sprout InGenesis.
(08:09):
Day three is when God gathersthe wooders, reveals dry ground
and commands the earth to bringforth vegetation and life begins
to appear in Genesis 1, 11, and12.
Just as seeds sprout from thesoil, seeds of faith sprout in
the hearts of these disciples.
Day three in Genesis gives theworld its first taste of life.
Day three in John giveshumanity its first taste of
(08:32):
eternal life through followingJesus.
Now, on the fourth day, jesuscalls Philip, who in turn brings
Nathanael.
Nathanael is skeptical untilJesus reveals his knowledge of
him.
Before Philip called you, whenyou were under the fig tree, I
saw you, and this is in John 1,48.
Nathaniel confesses Rabbi, youare the son of God, you are the
(08:54):
king of Israel, in verse 49.
Jesus then promises somethinggreater you will see heaven
opened and the angels of Godascending and descending on the
son of man in verse 51.
These words deliberately recallJacob's dream in Genesis 28,
where Jacob saw a ladder set upon the earth, with its top
reaching to heaven and angelsascending and descending on it.
(09:14):
In that vision, god revealedthe place where heaven touched
earth.
Now Jesus declares that hehimself is that place.
He is the true ladder, theliving bridge, the meeting point
between heaven and earth, themeeting point between heaven and
earth, the fulfillment of thetemple itself In Genesis.
Day four is when God creates thesun, the moon, the stars, to
(09:36):
give light to Mark's seasons,and we see this in Genesis 1, 14
and 18.
Lights in the heavens point toGod's order and rule.
In John, the true light isrevealed.
The son of man is the ladderbetween heaven and earth.
Just as creation was governedby the lights in the heavens,
new creation will be governed bythe light of the world.
(09:56):
Now, before the wedding in Canaever begins, john shows us the
corridor between realms is nolonger a vision or a symbol.
It is a person.
The feast can arrive becausethe bridegroom has arrived.
Now, after day four, john'sgospel gives us a two-day gap
(10:16):
between the wedding at Cana.
Jesus and his new disciplestravel together.
While scripture doesn't detailevery step of these days, the
Genesis pattern fills in themeaning.
On day five of creation, godfilled the seas with fish and
the skies with birds.
On day six, he created land,animals and, finally, mankind in
(10:37):
his image.
These are the days when theworld comes alive and during
these days, in John's gospel,jesus is walking with his
disciples, men who will becomethe foundation of the new
humanity.
Now, finally, on the seventh day, john tells us.
(11:13):
On the third day there was awedding at Cana in Galilee, john
2.1.
Now, counting forward, thismakes the wedding fall on the
seventh day of John's newcreation week.
In Genesis, the seventh day iswhen God rested from his work in
Genesis 2, 2 and 3.
The week reaches its completionin Sabbath.
(11:37):
Rest In John.
The new creation week reachesits climax not with ordinary
rest, but with a wedding feast.
Six stone jars of water forpurification are transformed
into overflowing wine.
Six stone jars of water forpurification are transformed
into overflowing wine.
The old order of cleansinggives way to the new joy of the
kingdom.
The master of the feastdeclares you have kept the good
(11:57):
wine until now.
We're going to see this in John2.10.
And John tells us this thefirst of his signs Jesus did at
Cana, in Galilee, and manifestedhis glory, and his disciples
believed in him.
Now creation's first week endswith rest.
New creation's first week endswith rejoicing at the wedding of
(12:20):
the true bridegroom.
The God who began with letthere be light now begins again
with behold the bridegroom.
In Genesis 2, god forms a bridefor Adam.
The first marriage is thecapstone of creation.
The pattern is established.
God's design for man and womenpoints beyond itself to
(12:42):
something greater.
Ephesians 5 reveals thatmarriage ultimately points to
Christ and the church.
This mystery is profound and Iam saying that it refers to
Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5, verse 32.
Earthly marriage is a shadow.
The reality is Christ, wholoves the church and gave
himself up to make her holy andspotless.
(13:05):
Ephesians 5, 25-27.
John the Baptist echoes thiswhen he says the friend of the
bridegroom rejoices greatly atthe bridegroom's voice in John 3
, 29.
Jesus is that bridegroom and inRevelation we see the
fulfillment.
The marriage of the Lamb hascome and His bride has made
(13:25):
herself ready in Revelation 19,7.
The new Jerusalem descends as abride adorned for her husband.
From Eden to Revelation thestory runs straight.
Creation begins with a weddingand ends with a wedding feast.
Scripture moves from wedding towedding.
Eden prefigures, cana previewsthe marriage.
(13:48):
Supper fulfills the Bible'sgrand thread is the bridegroom.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Who will have his bride, are you enjoying today's
episode?
We'd love to hear from you.
Use the text us link in theepisode description to share
your questions or reflections.
It's anonymous unless youchoose to give your name.
Your input helps shape futureepisodes and blesses our whole
community.
Now here's something to reflecton.
Which day in John's newcreation week speaks most to you
(14:17):
right now?
The call to follow therevelation of light, the journey
of walking with Jesus, or thejoy of the wedding feast?
Take a moment to think about itand, if you'd like, share your
reflections with us through thelink.
And now here again is PastorHarry to finish his message In 2
Corinthians 11-2,.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Paul says I betrothed you to one husband to present
you as a pure virgin to Christ.
We live in that betrothalseason now.
The pledge has been given Inhim.
You also, when you heard theword of truth, were sealed with
the promised Holy Spirit who isthe guarantee of our inheritance
Ephesians 1, 13, 14.
(14:58):
Jesus himself promises I go toprepare a place for you.
I will come again and will takeyou to myself.
John 14, 2 and 3.
And in the meantime, he issanctifying his bride, having
cleansed her by the washing ofwater with the word Ephesians 5,
26.
(15:19):
Why does this matter?
The time between Cana and theconsummation is the church's
betrothal, a spirit-filledseason of faith, faithfulness
and formation.
For nearly 2,000 years, in whatmany see as the fourth and
fifth millennia since creation,the bride has been gathered from
every tribe and tongue.
Just as God filled the worldwith life on day five and six,
(15:44):
he has been filling his churchwith living stones during this
age.
We wait, we watch and we walkwith the bridegroom.
Now, as we step back and lookat everything John has shown us,
the beauty of God's word takesour breath away.
Consider how seamlessly thestory holds together Creation in
(16:04):
Genesis 1-2.
The word speaks, light dawns, awedding seals the week, the new
creation in John 1-2.
The word arrives, light shines,heaven opens, a wedding crowns
the week and water becomes wine.
The consummation in Revelation19 and 21.
(16:24):
The feast begins, the brideappears, god dwells with his
people forever.
This cannot be coincidence.
It is not the clever work of ahuman writer.
No man could weave such perfectpatterns across centuries,
through different authors andspanning both covenants.
This is the unmistakablefingerprint of divine
(16:47):
inspiration.
One author, one plan, onebridegroom, one bride, one
unending day.
Only God himself could breatheout such a word.
John concludes could breatheout such a word.
John concludes.
This is the first of his signs.
Jesus did at Cana, in Galilee,and manifested his glory, and
(17:07):
his disciples believed in him.
In John 2, 11.
To behold Jesus in thesepatterns is to know him, not as
an idea, but as the livingbridegroom who turns our empty
jars into overflowing joy.
And here's our hope.
Some of us feel like emptyvessels cracked by sin, fear or
(17:28):
failure.
The miracle isn't in the jars,it's in Jesus.
He fills, he transforms, hesaves and he will bring His
bride to the wedding.
The same God who wrote creationinto being is writing your
story into his eternal feast.
(17:48):
So let's take this to heart.
See the pattern.
John's week leads to a wedding.
Jesus is the bridegroom of newcreation.
Now trust the transformation.
The gospel is purificationturned to celebration by grace,
not by our effort.
Live betrothed, Walk infaithful love, nourished by the
(18:13):
word and sealed by the spirit.
Anticipate the feast.
Aim your hope at the marriagesupper of the Lamb.
Endurance grows where joy isset before us and make Jesus
known, like the servants at Cana, simply do whatever he tells
you and watch him reveal hisglory.
(18:36):
This is not human invention.
This is God's eternal plan,written in his word, carried out
in his son and sealed by hisspirit.
Stand amazed, because theauthor of creation is the same
author of redemption and hisstory ends in joy.
(18:56):
Let's pray, father God, thankyou so much for your word.
Let's pray, father God, thankyou so much for your word.
Thank you for showing us yourdivine inspiration, your
fingerprint, your DNA inscripture, so that when we stop,
(19:16):
pause and reflect, we can seethat what we're reading is more
than just the thoughts comingfrom a single individual, a man,
but they're coming from aninspired Holy Spirit, your
Spirit in John, speaking truthand Spirit.
There is so much more to yourword than what we see on the
surface.
If we would just stop and pauseand reflect, we'll see
(19:39):
something so much deeper.
We'll see the truth of theSpirit at work in man.
How amazing are you, o God.
So we give praise and glory toyou.
Thank you for allowing us tosee this.
I pray for our listeners todaythat this revelation of your
word would open their eyes andtheir ears to know that this is
(19:59):
truly your inspired word spokento us for all eternity, that we
may be saved and be with you forall time.
Thank you, lord Jesus.
In your precious name we prayAmen.
Now, in our next episode, we'llstep into John, chapter 2, and
linger over the wedding at Canain greater depth.
We'll see how Jesus' firstmiracle not only revealed his
(20:22):
glory, but pointed forward tothe cross, the resurrection and
the joy of the coming feast.
Don't miss it.
It's the moment where waterbecomes wine and the bridegroom
makes himself known.
Now, as always, I want to thankyou for joining us today, and I
hope this episode has helpedyou take a step closer in your
relationship with Jesus and thatyou now have a deeper
understanding of just how muchGod loves you and wants you to
(20:43):
know him.
But before we go, I want toencourage you to send us any
questions or comments you mayhave using the text us link in
the episode description.
Your input helps us shapefuture episodes that speak
directly to your needs and helpyou grow in your faith.
It's our desire that thisministry be a tool to reach the
lost and equip the saints for alife that brings glory to God.
God bless and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
In this episode of the Takeaway, we pause to look
back before we move forward.
The Gospel of John has beenleading us step by step through
the first chapter, and hiddenwithin its structure is a
pattern too perfect to bechanced.
From the very first words, inthe beginning, John invites us
to see more than history.
He invites us to see God'sfingerprint, the story of
creation retold and renewed inChrist.
(00:31):
Just as Genesis began, withlight, separation, life and a
letting, John sets before us anew creation week that will
culminate in joy with thebridegroom.
Today, Pastor Harry will walkus through that pattern, day by
day, showing how God himself haswoven his eternal plan into the
very fabric of his word.
This is not the start ofchapter 2, but a bridge, a
(00:52):
moment to stand in awe of divineinspiration and to see how the
story of Jesus reveals theauthor of life himself.
Join Pastor Harry now as heopens the scriptures and helps
us behold the bridegroom of thenew creation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Hello and welcome again to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're not jumping straight intonew material, we're taking a
careful look back.
Over the past several episodeswe've been walking together
through John chapter one.
Now many of you have sent inthoughtful questions about why
John opens his gospel the waythat he does and what the
sequence of days really means.
(01:31):
Rather than answer eachquestion one by one, we're
devoting this whole episode to adeep dive into chapter 1.
This way we can see the fullpicture together and allow the
Spirit to show us the divinepattern John intended.
Now, today, before we move intochapter 2, we're going to pause
and review why?
Because John has left us withsomething extraordinary, a
(01:53):
pattern woven into the verystructure of his gospel, a
pattern that mirrors Genesisitself.
This isn't just backgroundinformation, it's the
fingerprint of God on his word.
John marks off days one afteranother, until he brings us to a
climatic moment, a weddingfeast.
(02:13):
That pattern is no accident.
It is divine inspirationshowing us that in Christ, god
is beginning the week again,inaugurating a new creation that
will end in eternal joy withthe bridegroom.
So today's episode is aboutconnection.
It's about seeing how John 1flows seamlessly into John 2,
(02:36):
how the days of testimony andcalling parallel the days of
creation, and how all of itpoints us forward to the great
wedding feast in heaven.
This is not the start of ourand how all of it points us
forward to the great weddingfeast in heaven.
This is not the start of ourteaching in chapter 2.
It's the bridge between whatwe've studied and where we're
going.
So, if you can open your Bibleand follow along, we're going to
(02:57):
start by looking at John 1, 1-5.
John opens with Genesis,genesis's first phrase in the
beginning.
We see this in Genesis 1 and inJohn 1.1.
In Genesis, god speaks creationinto being.
In John, the word himself isthe one by whom all things were
(03:17):
made.
In Genesis dawns the lightbreaking into darkness.
John proclaims the light shinesin the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it.
We see that in John 1.5.
So John wants us to read hisgospel as far more than a
collection of stories.
It is the spirit-inspiredaccount of God beginning the
(03:39):
week again in Christ.
Just as Genesis opened with thedawn of creation, john opens
with the dawn of a new creation.
The eternal word enters thedarkness to bring light, life
and hope.
John invites us to see Jesusnot only as a teacher or miracle
(03:59):
worker, but as the verybeginning of God's new world.
Worker, but as the verybeginning of God's new world,
the one through whom everythingis remade.
To read John rightly is to seethat in Christ, god is writing
creation's story again, and thistime the ending is not rest
(04:24):
alone, but eternal joy in hispresence.
This is where we turn next.
John has marked out the daysfor us in chapter one, each with
its own echo of Genesis.
And now, before the wedding inCana, we're going to slow down
and look at each of these daysone by one, as we do.
You'll see the pattern.
John wants us to notice A newcreation week unfolding in
Christ, culminating in joy, restand revelation of the
(04:48):
bridegroom.
Now, starting on day one inGenesis, creation begins with
this statement In the beginningGod Before light, before form,
before life, there is God.
Revelation begins not with thecreated world, but with the
creator himself, and then Godspeaks.
This is in Genesis 1-3.
(05:12):
Now, in John's Gospel, thefirst day is marked by John the
Baptist's testimony.
The priests and the Levitesquestion him who are you?
Are you the Christ, elijah, theprophet?
We see this in John 1, 19 to 21.
But then John strips away allillusions.
He is none of those.
He is only the voice of onecrying in the wilderness Make
(05:34):
straight the way of the Lord.
John 1, 23.
Day one is about identity andanticipation.
Just as Genesis day one beginswith God revealing himself as
the source of light, john's dayone begins with John pointing to
the coming light.
Creation started when God madehimself known and new creation
begins the same way Now.
(05:56):
Looking at day two, on thesecond day, john the Baptist
sees Jesus and declares beholdthe Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world.
John 1 29.
He testifies that he saw theSpirit descend from heaven and
remain on Jesus in verse 32.
The separation is clear.
John is the witness, jesus isthe Lamb In Genesis.
(06:19):
Day two is the day ofseparation.
God made the expanse andseparated the waters that were
under the expanse from thewaters that were above.
Genesis 1-7.
Just as creation requiredseparation, john's witness
separates Jesus from all others.
He is not just another prophetor rabbi.
He is the lamb who will takeaway sin, the creator.
(06:42):
Separation in Genesis makesroom for life.
John's proclamation separatesthe savor from all others,
making room for salvation.
And notice this.
John bears witness that Jesuswas baptized and the Spirit
descended on him John 1, 32-33.
Jesus' baptism itself is apicture of separation.
(07:02):
He goes down into the water andrises again, symbolizing the
divide between the old and thenew, the cleansing of sin he
will accomplish and the life ofthe Spirit resting on him.
Just as God separated thewaters to prepare a space for
creation, jesus' baptismforeshadows the separation
(07:22):
between sin and righteousness,death and life, preparing the
way for the new creation and forus who follow him.
Baptism continues this pattern.
When we go down into the waterand come back up again, we are
declaring that the old life hasbeen buried and the new life has
begun Romans 6.4.
Just as Genesis' day two madespace for creation to flourish,
(07:46):
baptism marks the beginning ofnew creation, life in Christ.
Now, on the third day, johnagain points to Jesus.
Two of his disciples hear himand follow Jesus.
When they ask Rabbi, where areyou staying?
He answers come and you willsee.
In John 1, 38, 39.
The first steps of discipleshipare taken.
Faith begins to sprout InGenesis.
(08:09):
Day three is when God gathersthe wooders, reveals dry ground
and commands the earth to bringforth vegetation and life begins
to appear in Genesis 1, 11, and12.
Just as seeds sprout from thesoil, seeds of faith sprout in
the hearts of these disciples.
Day three in Genesis gives theworld its first taste of life.
Day three in John giveshumanity its first taste of
(08:32):
eternal life through followingJesus.
Now, on the fourth day, jesuscalls Philip, who in turn brings
Nathanael.
Nathanael is skeptical untilJesus reveals his knowledge of
him.
Before Philip called you, whenyou were under the fig tree, I
saw you, and this is in John 1,48.
Nathaniel confesses Rabbi, youare the son of God, you are the
(08:54):
king of Israel, in verse 49.
Jesus then promises somethinggreater you will see heaven
opened and the angels of Godascending and descending on the
son of man in verse 51.
These words deliberately recallJacob's dream in Genesis 28,
where Jacob saw a ladder set upon the earth, with its top
reaching to heaven and angelsascending and descending on it.
(09:14):
In that vision, god revealedthe place where heaven touched
earth.
Now Jesus declares that hehimself is that place.
He is the true ladder, theliving bridge, the meeting point
between heaven and earth, themeeting point between heaven and
earth, the fulfillment of thetemple itself In Genesis.
Day four is when God creates thesun, the moon, the stars, to
(09:36):
give light to Mark's seasons,and we see this in Genesis 1, 14
and 18.
Lights in the heavens point toGod's order and rule.
In John, the true light isrevealed.
The son of man is the ladderbetween heaven and earth.
Just as creation was governedby the lights in the heavens,
new creation will be governed bythe light of the world.
(09:56):
Now, before the wedding in Canaever begins, john shows us the
corridor between realms is nolonger a vision or a symbol.
It is a person.
The feast can arrive becausethe bridegroom has arrived.
Now, after day four, john'sgospel gives us a two-day gap
(10:16):
between the wedding at Cana.
Jesus and his new disciplestravel together.
While scripture doesn't detailevery step of these days, the
Genesis pattern fills in themeaning.
On day five of creation, godfilled the seas with fish and
the skies with birds.
On day six, he created land,animals and, finally, mankind in
(10:37):
his image.
These are the days when theworld comes alive and during
these days, in John's gospel,jesus is walking with his
disciples, men who will becomethe foundation of the new
humanity.
Now, finally, on the seventh day, john tells us.
(11:13):
On the third day there was awedding at Cana in Galilee, john
2.1.
Now, counting forward, thismakes the wedding fall on the
seventh day of John's newcreation week.
In Genesis, the seventh day iswhen God rested from his work in
Genesis 2, 2 and 3.
The week reaches its completionin Sabbath.
(11:37):
Rest In John.
The new creation week reachesits climax not with ordinary
rest, but with a wedding feast.
Six stone jars of water forpurification are transformed
into overflowing wine.
Six stone jars of water forpurification are transformed
into overflowing wine.
The old order of cleansinggives way to the new joy of the
kingdom.
The master of the feastdeclares you have kept the good
(11:57):
wine until now.
We're going to see this in John2.10.
And John tells us this thefirst of his signs Jesus did at
Cana, in Galilee, and manifestedhis glory, and his disciples
believed in him.
Now creation's first week endswith rest.
New creation's first week endswith rejoicing at the wedding of
(12:20):
the true bridegroom.
The God who began with letthere be light now begins again
with behold the bridegroom.
In Genesis 2, god forms a bridefor Adam.
The first marriage is thecapstone of creation.
The pattern is established.
God's design for man and womenpoints beyond itself to
(12:42):
something greater.
Ephesians 5 reveals thatmarriage ultimately points to
Christ and the church.
This mystery is profound and Iam saying that it refers to
Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5, verse 32.
Earthly marriage is a shadow.
The reality is Christ, wholoves the church and gave
himself up to make her holy andspotless.
(13:05):
Ephesians 5, 25-27.
John the Baptist echoes thiswhen he says the friend of the
bridegroom rejoices greatly atthe bridegroom's voice in John 3
, 29.
Jesus is that bridegroom and inRevelation we see the
fulfillment.
The marriage of the Lamb hascome and His bride has made
(13:25):
herself ready in Revelation 19,7.
The new Jerusalem descends as abride adorned for her husband.
From Eden to Revelation thestory runs straight.
Creation begins with a weddingand ends with a wedding feast.
Scripture moves from wedding towedding.
Eden prefigures, cana previewsthe marriage.
(13:48):
Supper fulfills the Bible'sgrand thread is the bridegroom.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Who will have his bride, are you enjoying today's
episode?
We'd love to hear from you.
Use the text us link in theepisode description to share
your questions or reflections.
It's anonymous unless youchoose to give your name.
Your input helps shape futureepisodes and blesses our whole
community.
Now here's something to reflecton.
Which day in John's newcreation week speaks most to you
(14:17):
right now?
The call to follow therevelation of light, the journey
of walking with Jesus, or thejoy of the wedding feast?
Take a moment to think about itand, if you'd like, share your
reflections with us through thelink.
And now here again is PastorHarry to finish his message In 2
Corinthians 11-2,.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Paul says I betrothed you to one husband to present
you as a pure virgin to Christ.
We live in that betrothalseason now.
The pledge has been given Inhim.
You also, when you heard theword of truth, were sealed with
the promised Holy Spirit who isthe guarantee of our inheritance
Ephesians 1, 13, 14.
(14:58):
Jesus himself promises I go toprepare a place for you.
I will come again and will takeyou to myself.
John 14, 2 and 3.
And in the meantime, he issanctifying his bride, having
cleansed her by the washing ofwater with the word Ephesians 5,
26.
(15:19):
Why does this matter?
The time between Cana and theconsummation is the church's
betrothal, a spirit-filledseason of faith, faithfulness
and formation.
For nearly 2,000 years, in whatmany see as the fourth and
fifth millennia since creation,the bride has been gathered from
every tribe and tongue.
Just as God filled the worldwith life on day five and six,
(15:44):
he has been filling his churchwith living stones during this
age.
We wait, we watch and we walkwith the bridegroom.
Now, as we step back and lookat everything John has shown us,
the beauty of God's word takesour breath away.
Consider how seamlessly thestory holds together Creation in
(16:04):
Genesis 1-2.
The word speaks, light dawns, awedding seals the week, the new
creation in John 1-2.
The word arrives, light shines,heaven opens, a wedding crowns
the week and water becomes wine.
The consummation in Revelation19 and 21.
(16:24):
The feast begins, the brideappears, god dwells with his
people forever.
This cannot be coincidence.
It is not the clever work of ahuman writer.
No man could weave such perfectpatterns across centuries,
through different authors andspanning both covenants.
This is the unmistakablefingerprint of divine
(16:47):
inspiration.
One author, one plan, onebridegroom, one bride, one
unending day.
Only God himself could breatheout such a word.
John concludes could breatheout such a word.
John concludes.
This is the first of his signs.
Jesus did at Cana, in Galilee,and manifested his glory, and
(17:07):
his disciples believed in him.
In John 2, 11.
To behold Jesus in thesepatterns is to know him, not as
an idea, but as the livingbridegroom who turns our empty
jars into overflowing joy.
And here's our hope.
Some of us feel like emptyvessels cracked by sin, fear or
(17:28):
failure.
The miracle isn't in the jars,it's in Jesus.
He fills, he transforms, hesaves and he will bring His
bride to the wedding.
The same God who wrote creationinto being is writing your
story into his eternal feast.
(17:48):
So let's take this to heart.
See the pattern.
John's week leads to a wedding.
Jesus is the bridegroom of newcreation.
Now trust the transformation.
The gospel is purificationturned to celebration by grace,
not by our effort.
Live betrothed, Walk infaithful love, nourished by the
(18:13):
word and sealed by the spirit.
Anticipate the feast.
Aim your hope at the marriagesupper of the Lamb.
Endurance grows where joy isset before us and make Jesus
known, like the servants at Cana, simply do whatever he tells
you and watch him reveal hisglory.
(18:36):
This is not human invention.
This is God's eternal plan,written in his word, carried out
in his son and sealed by hisspirit.
Stand amazed, because theauthor of creation is the same
author of redemption and hisstory ends in joy.
(18:56):
Let's pray, father God, thankyou so much for your word.
Let's pray, father God, thankyou so much for your word.
Thank you for showing us yourdivine inspiration, your
fingerprint, your DNA inscripture, so that when we stop,
(19:16):
pause and reflect, we can seethat what we're reading is more
than just the thoughts comingfrom a single individual, a man,
but they're coming from aninspired Holy Spirit, your
Spirit in John, speaking truthand Spirit.
There is so much more to yourword than what we see on the
surface.
If we would just stop and pauseand reflect, we'll see
(19:39):
something so much deeper.
We'll see the truth of theSpirit at work in man.
How amazing are you, o God.
So we give praise and glory toyou.
Thank you for allowing us tosee this.
I pray for our listeners todaythat this revelation of your
word would open their eyes andtheir ears to know that this is
(19:59):
truly your inspired word spokento us for all eternity, that we
may be saved and be with you forall time.
Thank you, lord Jesus.
In your precious name we prayAmen.
Now, in our next episode, we'llstep into John, chapter 2, and
linger over the wedding at Canain greater depth.
We'll see how Jesus' firstmiracle not only revealed his
(20:22):
glory, but pointed forward tothe cross, the resurrection and
the joy of the coming feast.
Don't miss it.
It's the moment where waterbecomes wine and the bridegroom
makes himself known.
Now, as always, I want to thankyou for joining us today, and I
hope this episode has helpedyou take a step closer in your
relationship with Jesus and thatyou now have a deeper
understanding of just how muchGod loves you and wants you to
(20:43):
know him.
But before we go, I want toencourage you to send us any
questions or comments you mayhave using the text us link in
the episode description.
Your input helps us shapefuture episodes that speak
directly to your needs and helpyou grow in your faith.
It's our desire that thisministry be a tool to reach the
lost and equip the saints for alife that brings glory to God.
God bless and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
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