Filled to the Brim

Devotional for Women from TheLife.com


By Gail Rodgers on April 2nd, 2009 at 2:00 am

Can we trust the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life? This Online Bible Study will help you with some of your questions.

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine…” (John 2:6-9).

I love the picture painted for us in the account of Jesus’ very first miracle when He turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. The very story of Easter is imbedded in this telling of the miracle. The thoughtful examination of the details of this amazing miracle are brought to light by author Doug Emberley in his book “Simply Water to Wine?”

Imagine the heavy, cold stone jars, laboriously filled with water by the servants. Imagine the ceremonial washing that took place as the water from these jars was poured out in cleansing rituals as the Israelites followed the rules of the old covenant to purify themselves before God.

Then imagine the wedding goers’ astonishment as Jesus called for these jugs to be filled and then changed the contents from water to rich wine! Wine is often used as a symbol of life and of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. Here, at Jesus very first miracle, we see the amazing symbolism of exchanging not just one element for another, but the exchanging of something much deeper. Our own efforts to become holy and clean before our loving God are exchanged for His forgiveness. His blood is the only cleansing we need. His filling of new life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is complete and right “to the brim”.

Yes, Jesus death bought our forgiveness at the cross and His resurrection brought us new life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no room to add our own good works to try to earn the forgiveness that Jesus brings! Anything we try to add merely pollutes and displaces His blessing of grace. No. His work alone brings the new life our hearts hunger and thirst for. He fills us to the brim as we believe and receive His gift of forgiveness and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us – right to the brim of our lives!

Lord Jesus, this Easter refresh my heart with the truth of Your sacrifice in death and with a new realization of the power that is mine through Your resurrection. Thank you that what You did is complete and “filled to the brim”; I need only believe and receive. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Order this little book to share the life-changing story of Easter through Jesus’ first miracle.

Questions: Who can you share the Easter story with this year? Won’t you begin praying for them right now? Make a commitment on the blog today to pray for someone you desire to come to know Jesus life giving power and forgiveness.

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Poured out like Water, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog