DAY_6 Creation of Humanity and Land Animals
“ On the third day there was a wedding”
“And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:24-27)
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 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. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” (John 2:1-10)
Day six of Creation is by far the most well known in the opening Creation poem. On this day in Genesis, God creates the land animals and crafts humanity in His image. In John 2:1-11, there is a wedding in Cana that Jesus attends. The direct imagery of the creation of male and female is represented here in the wedding of Cana. To further this, the Creation account says that humanity was made in the “image of God”, revealing God’s glory. God has turned dust and clay into vibrant life.
We see this vibrant life echoed in the miracle performed by Jesus in turning water into wine. Later in Genesis 2, we read that God has formed humans from the dust of the earth. God has taken one substance and transformed into something new. Wine was symbolic of joy at ancient Biblical weddings. The joy that had been formed on day six was the relationship God had begun with humanity.
By the end of this wedding in John, Jesus’ glory has been revealed through his miracle of turning water into wine. John, even mentions SIX stone water jars where this miracle happens that are later said to carry “good” wine. This is just as God calls all six days good in Genesis.
It can be a challenge to connect day six of Creation to this passage since it begins with “on the third day”. However, this is a reference to day three in John’s Gospel where Jesus first appears. The Word made flesh has appeared and been joined to his people just as two are joined in marriage. Later on another third day, Jesus would rise from the dead making all things one, just as two are made one in marriage.
