In Numbers 15:37-41, the children of Israel are commanded to affix צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes to the corners of their garments. The fringes were a remembrance of the Lord’s commandments, a warning not to go after that which is alluring to the heart and the eyes, a covenant identity marker, but also threads to reach out and draw in.

Fruit hanging on a tree is both part of the tree and separated from it. Fruit originates with the tree, and is nourished by it, but it reach out from the branch. The Hebrew word צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes originates from a root meaning blossom. The fringes, therefore, are potential fruit coming forth when acted upon in faith. The fringes then, hanging from the garment, blur the line of distinction between the garment they are affixed to, and the world beyond it.

The fringes both remind, identify, and draw in.

In the Gospels we find those with all manner of affliction reaching out to touch the “hem of His garment,” meaning the צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes, affixed to the corners of Yeshua’s clothing, to be healed (Matt. 9:20; Mk. 6:56). They reached out to His faithfulness, and the promise that the “servant of righteousness will arise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2), “wings” being the same word as “corners” in Hebrew.

The fringes reminded and drew in, not that Yeshua/Jesus needing reminding, but those seeing Him were reminded that the same God who commanded the fringes was faithful to fulfill His word. Yet, they also drew people in, as they noticed the fringes hanging affixed, yet apart from the garment into the space around them. In that space between they were drawn in, and as Yeshua said:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:44).

How did the Father draw those, His covenant children, to Yeshua? The blossoms bearing His fruit of righteousness that changed those who looked up to, and reached for the garment of Yeshua.

Here, the strings attached were not for our detriment, as is the usual case in our world; rather, they were the promises of grace to those called before they knew their need. Reach out, taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).

Be well. Shalom.

We often wonder about the wedding at Cana. Why was this the first sign recorded by John? While the miracle of wine speaks to the grace, mercy, provision, and love of Messiah, the miracle points us to His Lordship.

Allow me to explain.

In John 1 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made,” (Jn. 1:1-3).

All things were made through Him, and nothing was made apart from being made with Him. From the atom to the multiple billions of galaxies. So what sign can wine be?

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him,” (Jn. 2:11).

Manifested glory. The disciples witnessed, without word spoken or effort made, water turned into wine. They believed in Him. They put their trust in Him. It was not what the eyes had seen or ears had heard, but what the Word did.

This is the first of seven sign miracles: the healing of the officials son (Jn. 4:46-54), healing the paralytic (Jn. 5:1-15), feeding the 5,000 (Jn. 6:5-14), walking on water (Jn. 6:16-24), healing the blind man (Jn. 9:1-7), and raising Lazarus (Jn. 11:1-45).

Why begin with wine? Well, there are no certain answers given in Scripture. Water often represents life, and wine, joy; perhaps this indicates Him filling our lives with joy, which He certainly does. Yet, it is deeper.

The miracle, which resulted in faith, was an act of Yeshua/Jesus as the Word made flesh, Who was in the beginning with God, because He is God. This miracle is an act of His Lordship, and His power over creation.

Before John would record the other sign miracles, he records a rather strange moment that saved a groom from embarrassment, showing that the Sovereign Lord, Yeshua truly does care about those little moments that mean so much in our lives.

Everything in creation, from the most distant universe, to the wine at Cana, is under the control of Yeshua, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Heb. 1:3), amen.

Be well. Shalom.

Messiah said “love your enemies,” and He showed us how on every page of the gospels, but most strikingly on the cross (Matt. 5:44).