The TakeAway
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The TakeAway
“The Fingerprint of God: John’s New Creation Week”
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."
In this episode of the Takeaway, we pause to look back before we move forward. The Gospel of John has been leading us step by step through the first chapter, and hidden within its structure is a pattern too perfect to be chanced. From the very first words, in the beginning, John invites us to see more than history. He invites us to see God's fingerprint, the story of creation retold and renewed in Christ. Just as Genesis began, with light, separation, life and a letting, John sets before us a new creation week that will culminate in joy with the bridegroom. Today, Pastor Harry will walk us through that pattern, day by day, showing how God himself has woven his eternal plan into the very fabric of his word. This is not the start of chapter 2, but a bridge, a moment to stand in awe of divine inspiration and to see how the story of Jesus reveals the author of life himself. Join Pastor Harry now as he opens the scriptures and helps us behold the bridegroom of the new creation.
Speaker 2:Hello and welcome again to the Takeaway. I'm your host, pastor Harry Behrens, and in today's episode we're not jumping straight into new material, we're taking a careful look back. Over the past several episodes we've been walking together through John chapter one. Now many of you have sent in thoughtful questions about why John opens his gospel the way that he does and what the sequence of days really means. Rather than answer each question one by one, we're devoting this whole episode to a deep dive into chapter 1. This way we can see the full picture together and allow the Spirit to show us the divine pattern John intended. Now, today, before we move into chapter 2, we're going to pause and review why? Because John has left us with something extraordinary, a pattern woven into the very structure of his gospel, a pattern that mirrors Genesis itself. This isn't just background information, it's the fingerprint of God on his word. John marks off days one after another, until he brings us to a climatic moment, a wedding feast. That pattern is no accident. It is divine inspiration showing us that in Christ, god is beginning the week again, inaugurating a new creation that will end in eternal joy with the bridegroom. So today's episode is about connection. It's about seeing how John 1 flows seamlessly into John 2, how the days of testimony and calling parallel the days of creation, and how all of it points us forward to the great wedding feast in heaven. This is not the start of our and how all of it points us forward to the great wedding feast in heaven. This is not the start of our teaching in chapter 2. It's the bridge between what we've studied and where we're going. So, if you can open your Bible and follow along, we're going to start by looking at John 1, 1-5.
Speaker 2:John opens with Genesis, genesis's first phrase in the beginning. We see this in Genesis 1 and in John 1.1. In Genesis, god speaks creation into being. In John, the word himself is the one by whom all things were made. In Genesis dawns the light breaking into darkness. John proclaims the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. We see that in John 1.5. So John wants us to read his gospel as far more than a collection of stories. It is the spirit-inspired account of God beginning the week again in Christ. Just as Genesis opened with the dawn of creation, john opens with the dawn of a new creation. The eternal word enters the darkness to bring light, life and hope. John invites us to see Jesus not only as a teacher or miracle worker, but as the very beginning of God's new world. Worker, but as the very beginning of God's new world, the one through whom everything is remade. To read John rightly is to see that in Christ, god is writing creation's story again, and this time the ending is not rest alone, but eternal joy in his presence. This is where we turn next. John has marked out the days for us in chapter one, each with its own echo of Genesis. And now, before the wedding in Cana, we're going to slow down and look at each of these days one by one, as we do. You'll see the pattern. John wants us to notice A new creation week unfolding in Christ, culminating in joy, rest and revelation of the bridegroom.
Speaker 2:Now, starting on day one in Genesis, creation begins with this statement In the beginning God Before light, before form, before life, there is God. Revelation begins not with the created world, but with the creator himself, and then God speaks. This is in Genesis 1-3. Now, in John's Gospel, the first day is marked by John the Baptist's testimony. The priests and the Levites question him who are you? Are you the Christ, elijah, the prophet? We see this in John 1, 19 to 21. But then John strips away all illusions. He is none of those. He is only the voice of one crying in the wilderness Make straight the way of the Lord. John 1, 23. Day one is about identity and anticipation. Just as Genesis day one begins with God revealing himself as the source of light, john's day one begins with John pointing to the coming light. Creation started when God made himself known and new creation begins the same way Now.
Speaker 2:Looking at day two, on the second day, john the Baptist sees Jesus and declares behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1 29. He testifies that he saw the Spirit descend from heaven and remain on Jesus in verse 32. The separation is clear. John is the witness, jesus is the Lamb In Genesis. Day two is the day of separation. God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above. Genesis 1-7.
Speaker 2:Just as creation required separation, john's witness separates Jesus from all others. He is not just another prophet or rabbi. He is the lamb who will take away sin, the creator. Separation in Genesis makes room for life. John's proclamation separates the savor from all others, making room for salvation. And notice this. John bears witness that Jesus was baptized and the Spirit descended on him John 1, 32-33.
Speaker 2:Jesus' baptism itself is a picture of separation. He goes down into the water and rises again, symbolizing the divide between the old and the new, the cleansing of sin he will accomplish and the life of the Spirit resting on him. Just as God separated the waters to prepare a space for creation, jesus' baptism foreshadows the separation between sin and righteousness, death and life, preparing the way for the new creation and for us who follow him. Baptism continues this pattern. When we go down into the water and come back up again, we are declaring that the old life has been buried and the new life has begun Romans 6.4. Just as Genesis' day two made space for creation to flourish, baptism marks the beginning of new creation, life in Christ.
Speaker 2:Now, on the third day, john again points to Jesus. Two of his disciples hear him and follow Jesus. When they ask Rabbi, where are you staying? He answers come and you will see. In John 1, 38, 39.
Speaker 2:The first steps of discipleship are taken. Faith begins to sprout In Genesis. Day three is when God gathers the wooders, reveals dry ground and commands the earth to bring forth vegetation and life begins to appear in Genesis 1, 11, and 12. Just as seeds sprout from the soil, seeds of faith sprout in the hearts of these disciples. Day three in Genesis gives the world its first taste of life. Day three in John gives humanity its first taste of eternal life through following Jesus.
Speaker 2:Now, on the fourth day, jesus calls Philip, who in turn brings Nathanael. Nathanael is skeptical until Jesus reveals his knowledge of him. Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you, and this is in John 1, 48. Nathaniel confesses Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel, in verse 49. Jesus then promises something greater you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man in verse 51. These words deliberately recall Jacob's dream in Genesis 28, where Jacob saw a ladder set up on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven and angels ascending and descending on it. In that vision, god revealed the place where heaven touched earth. Now Jesus declares that he himself is that place. He is the true ladder, the living bridge, the meeting point between heaven and earth, the meeting point between heaven and earth, the fulfillment of the temple itself In Genesis.
Speaker 2:Day four is when God creates the sun, the moon, the stars, to give light to Mark's seasons, and we see this in Genesis 1, 14 and 18. Lights in the heavens point to God's order and rule. In John, the true light is revealed. The son of man is the ladder between heaven and earth. Just as creation was governed by the lights in the heavens, new creation will be governed by the light of the world. Now, before the wedding in Cana ever begins, john shows us the corridor between realms is no longer a vision or a symbol. It is a person. The feast can arrive because the bridegroom has arrived.
Speaker 2:Now, after day four, john's gospel gives us a two-day gap between the wedding at Cana. Jesus and his new disciples travel together. While scripture doesn't detail every step of these days, the Genesis pattern fills in the meaning. On day five of creation, god filled the seas with fish and the skies with birds. On day six, he created land, animals and, finally, mankind in his image. These are the days when the world comes alive and during these days, in John's gospel, jesus is walking with his disciples, men who will become the foundation of the new humanity.
Speaker 2:Now, finally, on the seventh day, john tells us. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, john 2.1. Now, counting forward, this makes the wedding fall on the seventh day of John's new creation week. In Genesis, the seventh day is when God rested from his work in Genesis 2, 2 and 3. The week reaches its completion in Sabbath. Rest In John.
Speaker 2:The new creation week reaches its climax not with ordinary rest, but with a wedding feast. Six stone jars of water for purification are transformed into overflowing wine. Six stone jars of water for purification are transformed into overflowing wine. The old order of cleansing gives way to the new joy of the kingdom. The master of the feast declares you have kept the good wine until now. We're going to see this in John 2.10. And John tells us this the first of his signs Jesus did at Cana, in Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Now creation's first week ends with rest.
Speaker 2:New creation's first week ends with rejoicing at the wedding of the true bridegroom. The God who began with let there be light now begins again with behold the bridegroom. In Genesis 2, god forms a bride for Adam. The first marriage is the capstone of creation. The pattern is established. God's design for man and women points beyond itself to something greater.
Speaker 2:Ephesians 5 reveals that marriage ultimately points to Christ and the church. This mystery is profound and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5, verse 32. Earthly marriage is a shadow. The reality is Christ, who loves the church and gave himself up to make her holy and spotless. Ephesians 5, 25-27. John the Baptist echoes this when he says the friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice in John 3, 29. Jesus is that bridegroom and in Revelation we see the fulfillment. The marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready in Revelation 19, 7. The new Jerusalem descends as a bride adorned for her husband. From Eden to Revelation the story runs straight. Creation begins with a wedding and ends with a wedding feast. Scripture moves from wedding to wedding. Eden prefigures, cana previews the marriage. Supper fulfills the Bible's grand thread is the bridegroom.
Speaker 1:Who will have his bride, are you enjoying today's episode? We'd love to hear from you. Use the text us link in the episode description to share your questions or reflections. It's anonymous unless you choose to give your name. Your input helps shape future episodes and blesses our whole community. Now here's something to reflect on. Which day in John's new creation week speaks most to you right now? The call to follow the revelation of light, the journey of walking with Jesus, or the joy of the wedding feast? Take a moment to think about it and, if you'd like, share your reflections with us through the link. And now here again is Pastor Harry to finish his message In 2 Corinthians 11-2,.
Speaker 2:Paul says I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. We live in that betrothal season now. The pledge has been given In him. You also, when you heard the word of truth, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance Ephesians 1, 13, 14. Jesus himself promises I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and will take you to myself. John 14, 2 and 3. And in the meantime, he is sanctifying his bride, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word Ephesians 5, 26.
Speaker 2:Why does this matter? The time between Cana and the consummation is the church's betrothal, a spirit-filled season of faith, faithfulness and formation. For nearly 2,000 years, in what many see as the fourth and fifth millennia since creation, the bride has been gathered from every tribe and tongue. Just as God filled the world with life on day five and six, he has been filling his church with living stones during this age. We wait, we watch and we walk with the bridegroom. Now, as we step back and look at everything John has shown us, the beauty of God's word takes our breath away. Consider how seamlessly the story holds together Creation in Genesis 1-2. The word speaks, light dawns, a wedding 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.
Speaker 2:The consummation in Revelation 19 and 21. The feast begins, the bride appears, god dwells with his people forever. This cannot be coincidence. It is not the clever work of a human writer. No man could weave such perfect patterns across centuries, through different authors and spanning both covenants. This is the unmistakable fingerprint of divine inspiration. One author, one plan, one bridegroom, one bride, one unending day. Only God himself could breathe out such a word. John concludes could breathe out such a word. John concludes. This is the first of his signs.
Speaker 2:Jesus did at Cana, in Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. In John 2, 11. To behold Jesus in these patterns is to know him, not as an idea, but as the living bridegroom who turns our empty jars into overflowing joy. And here's our hope. Some of us feel like empty vessels cracked by sin, fear or failure. The miracle isn't in the jars, it's in Jesus. He fills, he transforms, he saves and he will bring His bride to the wedding. The same God who wrote creation into being is writing your story into his eternal feast. So let's take this to heart. See the pattern.
Speaker 2:John's week leads to a wedding. Jesus is the bridegroom of new creation. Now trust the transformation. The gospel is purification turned to celebration by grace, not by our effort. Live betrothed, Walk in faithful love, nourished by the word and sealed by the spirit. Anticipate the feast. Aim your hope at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Endurance grows where joy is set before us and make Jesus known, like the servants at Cana, simply do whatever he tells you and watch him reveal his glory. This is not human invention. This is God's eternal plan, written in his word, carried out in his son and sealed by his spirit. Stand amazed, because the author of creation is the same author of redemption and his story ends in joy.
Speaker 2:Let's pray, father God, thank you so much for your word. Let's pray, father God, thank you so much for your word. Thank you for showing us your divine inspiration, your fingerprint, your DNA in scripture, so that when we stop, pause and reflect, we can see that what we're reading is more than just the thoughts coming from a single individual, a man, but they're coming from an inspired Holy Spirit, your Spirit in John, speaking truth and Spirit. There is so much more to your word than what we see on the surface. If we would just stop and pause and reflect, we'll see something so much deeper. We'll see the truth of the Spirit at work in man. How amazing are you, o God. So we give praise and glory to you. Thank you for allowing us to see this. I pray for our listeners today that this revelation of your word would open their eyes and their ears to know that this is truly your inspired word spoken to us for all eternity, that we may be saved and be with you for all time. Thank you, lord Jesus. In your precious name we pray Amen.
Speaker 2:Now, in our next episode, we'll step into John, chapter 2, and linger over the wedding at Cana in greater depth. We'll see how Jesus' first miracle not only revealed his glory, but pointed forward to the cross, the resurrection and the joy of the coming feast. Don't miss it. It's the moment where water becomes wine and the bridegroom makes himself known. Now, as always, I want to thank you for joining us today, and I hope this episode has helped you take a step closer in your relationship with Jesus and that you now have a deeper understanding of just how much God loves you and wants you to know him. But before we go, I want to encourage you to send us any questions or comments you may have using the text us link in the episode description. Your input helps us shape future episodes that speak directly to your needs and help you grow in your faith. It's our desire that this ministry be a tool to reach the lost and equip the saints for a life that brings glory to God. God bless and we'll see you next time on the Takeaway.