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The Science of Jesus' Miracle in John 2 - Cliff Lewis PhD

2/25/2015

16 Comments

 
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In some respects, it seems like Jesus’ first miracle is underwhelming. He’s turning one beverage into another. So what, we might say. But this isn’t squirting some flavoring into your bottled water. This man, who walked and talked like the rest of us, is revealing a glory such that it evoked the fear, love, and trust of the disciples. They “believed in him” (John 2:11). While it’s true that some creatures or things have a glory unto themselves, like the brilliance of the sun or king dressed in all his splendor, Jesus’ glory is found nowhere else in creation. Even this seemingly humble miracle shows that this man has the forces of creation at his fingertips. In this man we find God himself at work.

This is what Dr. Lewis wonderfully explains for us in his brief article on the miracle at the wedding in Cana.
* * *
In John 2 is the story of the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus changes water into wine. Verse 11 tells us that this was the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs and that “thus revealed his glory” (NIV). At first thought, the task of changing water into wine appears similar to a parlor trick one might see on a David Copperfield special. Of course, David Copperfield would not really be turning the water into wine but would instead swap wine for water with sleight of hand while diverting the audience’s attention with his other hand.

However, Jesus really did change the water into wine, thus revealing his glory. At a molecular level, the water, basically hydrogen and oxygen, was changed into wine that contains sugars, yeast, and water, which contain carbon and nitrogen along with oxygen and hydrogen. Thus, by changing water into wine Jesus demonstrated his authority over even the atomic structure of atoms by commanding oxygen and hydrogen atoms to disassemble and reform into other atoms of different configurations.

The amount of energy it would take to perform this atomic deconstruction and reconstruction is staggering. This intermolecular energy being released is the source of the explosive energy from an atomic bomb. However, since Jesus caused the wine atoms to come back together, he would have to put this astronomical amount of energy into the atoms in order to have them reconstruct. To do so without any visible energy transformation of the liquid (John does not say anything about people noticing the transformation) indicates a mastery of natural law far beyond our current comprehension. And he accomplished it with no physical exertion.

With this single act Jesus proves that the basic forces in nature are at his command and control. Certainly one who controls the basic forces in nature controls all of nature, thus Jesus truly revealed his complete control of the physical universe through this act.
* * *
Think about this. At the same time that Jesus was laying in his mother’s arms, while he walked from one town to the next preaching and teaching the Gospel, even as he suffered upon the cross, he was upholding and sustaining creation in power and might. But the greatest sign of Jesus’ glory was not a fantastic display of heavenly light (Luke 9:28-36), nor was it in his ability to create bread and fish from thin air (John 6:1-15). Jesus’ ultimate glory for the sake of sinners like us is the suffering of the cross and the new life of resurrection. It’s found in the marks in his hands from the nails and pierced side that still bears the spear’s thrust (John 20:27). These are the proof that Christ suffered and died so that you might have life eternal.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
16 Comments
louis campbell
2/25/2015 10:16:06 pm

Great article Cliff!
Thanks

Reply
Mike Montgomery
4/11/2015 05:37:42 pm

Very cool article!! The next time I teach John 2, I will use this! Thanks Cliff!

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Jorge
9/1/2018 12:56:25 am

Just stop teaching it, humans are very susceptible to fake news( the garbage Trump spews) you Don't this stuff got all mixed up and exxxagerated over few hundred years after his death...when Bible was copulated ;)

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Ernie Christman link
9/3/2017 03:37:10 am

WOW, it would be so esy to overlook this fact since you don't hear much about it, but to ponder what actually took place and the ease at which Jesus did it leads to me to worship even more. What an AWESOME God we serve!!!

Reply
Anne
9/16/2020 12:45:04 am

Very powerful stuff. We sometimes fail to exam the deeper workings of what it would take to pull off such miracles in the natural. God is a god of the impossible.

Reply
Linda
10/21/2020 08:09:26 am

It simply boggles the mind to learn how Jesus turned the water into wine. I had the privilege of taking a course under a wonderful Christian who said that "science is merely thinking God's thoughts after Him." Thank you for sharing this article Dr. Lewis. It helps to strengthen my faith in the Lord even more.

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Lilia Betty Tiapepe link
11/16/2020 12:56:06 pm

Dr. Lewis Thank you very much, I just asked myself " Is there anything major that God can not do? What an awesome God who created all and with His Words, great lesson. The Bible says that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). There is no amount of human intellect or skills sufficient to accomplish the work of God effectively. It is not by power nor by might or abilities of our own, but by the Spirit of God, that we will live fruitful lives in the Lord’s service on this earth.
It helps to strengthen my faith in the Lord even more, I thank you Dr. Lewis for sharing, many blessings Auckland New Zealand..

Reply
Reginald Mapp
5/5/2021 08:47:21 pm

Once I read how Jesus turned water into wine, I really, really saw He is able to do more than I can even ask, imagine or think. My mind is causing me to want to live in His presence at all times not take the time to get in His presence.

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Joe Dell
6/14/2021 06:05:10 am

Josep hdell agrees with you ENTIRELY on this one. water in to wine is so strong

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Joe Della
6/14/2021 06:11:53 am

WATER INTO WINE? but can wine be turned into water and more?

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Merton Hedgehog
6/23/2021 08:11:50 pm

"Thus, by changing water into wine Jesus demonstrated his authority over even the atomic structure of atoms by commanding oxygen and hydrogen atoms to disassemble and reform into other atoms of different configurations. [...] . However, since Jesus caused the wine atoms to come back together, he would have to put this astronomical amount of energy into the atoms in order to have them reconstruct."

What.

How do you know this is how Jesus did it? What if he opened a portal to the wine dimension at the bottom of the barrel, had the water fall out through the portal, and wine come back in through it? Or what if he just put extra molecules in, in the fashion of squirting flavor in that you begin by discounting? And what PhD in the sciences uses the term "wine atoms"?

You can't know any of this. It is astonishing an avowedly Lutheran site would tolerate this kind of rationalist speculation, or subject Christ's miracles to the garbage journalistic institution of pop-science.

Reply
GreyLaw
8/14/2021 02:48:03 pm

Merton, calm down. If you don't like the write-up, please feel free to write yours!

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Michael Felock link
12/23/2021 07:03:37 am

With all due respect, having explained some of the miracles of Jesus in a book of mine, I've always questioned the water into wine phenomenon. Most of his miracles were acts of restoration of a thing that once existed. Lazarus, once alive, then dead, was restored to his animate self. The water was always water unless water was some type of metaphor or synecdoche. Ergo, I question the facts surrounding this one miracle. Peace.....

Reply
James
1/9/2022 06:53:20 am

If this miracle is not factual, then we would have to question everything that Jesus. Consider the creation in Genesis believe or not believe. " if you don't believe in me, believe in the works I do, if you don't believe in the works I do believe in the one who sent me"(John 10:38)

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Mark Nolan link
12/24/2022 02:54:37 am

Brilliant observations friend well written.
Just one question, you didnt mention the furmentation needed to produce the wine.
Just a observation.
God bless your work.

Reply
Michael Felock link
12/24/2022 06:00:21 am

....of his miracles, I do not believe he changed water into wine. Raise someone from the dead? Yes! But no water into wine. Read my prior comment on this. It is a prelude to understanding. Take care

Reply



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