John 2:1-12 – The Wedding in Cana

Read John 2:1-12

The gospel of Mark also tells of this wedding feast in Cana. For a bit of history, a wedding celebration in Jesus’ day could last for a week. That helps me understand how gallons of wine could be needed. I have always liked this story because while it was the kick off of Jesus’ ministry, it reminds us how human Jesus actually was. He even talked back to his mom just a little bit.

As we’re meeting Jesus for the first time in John, we’ve seen him encounter his first disciples. Now he and his new friends are attending a wedding feast with his mother. Mary must have been so delighted to have her son and his friends with her. What mother doesn’t like to spend time with her children and show them off in public. Even if they are grown. Especially if they are grown. 

Now there’s a problem. Instinctively, Mary asks Jesus for help. What do you think she thinks he’ll do? He’s not done any miracles yet that we have been told. I suppose she just knows he’ll do the right thing. He’ll have a solution. Maybe his friends know someplace where they can get some wine at the last minute. Mary trusts. We should take a lesson here — when we have a problem, ask Jesus.

I had to smile at Jesus’ response. “How does that concern you and me?” In other words, “So? It’s not our problem.” That’s a pretty typical response. Mary must have been a “fixer” who wanted to fix the problem. If you’re not a fixer, you wouldn’t care about someone else’s predicament. But Jesus was the ultimate fixer when it came to making right what had gone wrong in the world.

Jesus was about to do something unheard of. What do you think the servants thought when he told them to fill the pots with water and then serve it? The servants must have laughed between themselves thinking the people weren’t that drunk to mistake water for wine. Yet they listened to Mary’s instruction to do what Jesus said. I’m guessing Jesus had a bit of authority to his voice, too, by this time.

His solution was extraordinary. His solution was magnificent.  The host was a hero. The people were blessed with delicious wine. The crisis was averted. I’m guessing the servants also became believers right along with the disciples, even though we don’t hear that officially in the story. How could you witness that and not be moved?

Don’t you think God can do something just as wonderful for us? We shouldn’t wait until we run out of “wine” before we turn to him. We should, in our abundance, also trust him to continue his blessings. How much greater are his solutions for us. We can’t begin to even imagine. Remember the wine.

Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you that you have me securely in your grasp. I  come to you and ask for your help in making beautiful wine out of the water of my life. Please use what seems plain and ordinary to glorify you and bring others around me to a living relationship with you. Together we can WOW the world and get them asking the question. What does she have, or who does she know, that gives her such a glow? I thank you for the passion you have ignited in my soul. May it be contagious and overflow to those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.