Today we are going to look at another incredible “shadow” that to my knowledge has never been written or talked about before. As you know, I believe firmly that the more we “search out the matter” of shadows, the more we find just how phenomenal God’s Word truly is. They prove unquestionably that no human mind could have ever come close to writing the intricacy that is our Bible.

        In Unlocking God’s Secrets we discussed how God used days throughout His Word as shadows of thousand year periods, primarily as predictors of the time of Christ’s second coming. For instance, the six days of work and one of rest in the creation story signifies the six thousand years before the thousand year millennial reign of Jesus, the same as does the scripture in Hosea 6:2 in which we read, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.” Those two days, of course, refer to the two thousand year period from Christ’s ascension after He arose until His second coming; as do the two days mentioned in Exodus 19:10-11 which says, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of the people.”

        Unfortunately it seems that the relatively few scholars who do pay close attention to Biblical shadows normally quit looking beyond the Old Testament. What a shame that is, because shadows in the New Testament in my opinion are just as plentiful. In fact, my personal belief is that if we spend enough time in study and prayer about it we will find that every miracle and parable of Jesus is a shadow that will give us prophecy of things yet to come. I noted in my book, for example, that in the New Testament the beginning of the passage that talks about the transfiguration of Jesus into glory personified on the mountain top is almost always overlooked, although it starts out with the telling phrase, “After six days …” Matthew 17:1.

        The brand new shadow I want to share with you today is found in the very first miracle of Jesus, the changing of water into wine. How often the story is retold and written about, but no one ever looks beyond the obvious. Yes, the miracle itself is exciting, but the story God has hidden within it in the form of shadows is even more so. For brevity sake, we will look at only a few of the shadows in this astounding and intricately encoded story.

        Although you may have read this story a hundred times, you probably never noticed before that it begins in John 2:1 with, “On the third day …” Wow! Now you could kick yourself for not having seen that before. I know I was amazed how many times I overlooked it before I opened my eyes to the spiritual things God has for us in His unbelievably wonderful Word.        

        OK, so now that we are alert, let’s read a little more. “On the third day a wedding took place.” Wow, again. Now it makes sense. Yes, we know the wedding feast of the Lamb will occur in heaven after the two thousand years following Christ’s ascension, but before His second coming. “On the third day.”

        Oh how I wish I were writing a book right now instead of a brief blog article that is suppose to be only a few minutes long. There is so much to talk about. Instead, however, I will leave it up to you to start looking with spiritual eyes at the parables and miracles in the New Testament. Before I close, though, I do want to point out one of the other things I see in this, the first miracle of our Lord.

        John 2:6 tells us, “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing …” Remember, every word in the Bible is there for a reason. My personal feeling is that God is referring to the six thousand years the Jews have had a religion of ceremonies; not a relationship with His precious Holy Spirit. Of course, you know the miracle. With the water in those jars, Jesus made wine. And wine always represents that loving Holy Spirit. “On the third day ..” the Jews will be united with the Spirit of God. Jesus will turn ceremony into relationship for the Jewish nation, the apple of God’s eye.

        Oh, by the way, the story ends in verse 11 with, “He thus revealed His glory …” This is the same glory revealed in Jesus on that Mountain of Transfiguration. And it is the same glory you and I will see in person “on the third day.”

        Only God could have written our Bible. What a treasure of golden nuggets it is!