John 2:1-11 NIV
2 On the third day a wedding
took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and
Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When
the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you
involve me?” Jesus replied. “My
hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the
servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone
water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding
from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the
servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so
they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw
some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 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 10 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.”
11 What Jesus did here in
Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his
glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Joy
Another week has passed. With this reflection, I find
myself having thought about, studied, and taught from God’s Word. May His Word
fill the air, and not mine. May this reflection Point to Jesus, I pray.
What stands out and shouts out the loudest to me in this
first of a sequence of seven miracles of Jesus, is a grand display of Jesus’
glory and the joy involved in and throughout this wedding celebration. All
seven miracles point to, and reveal Christ’s glory.
Prior to this passage of the Wedding Feast Miracle, Jesus came
from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. In the wilderness, Satan tempted
Jesus to use Jesus’ own powers to satisfy Jesus’ own needs. But, in this first
miracle, Jesus isn’t concerned with His own needs, no, He is concerned with the
needs of others. And, by extension in time, Jesus is concerned for our needs as
well.
Jesus love for all, is a love of joy. Jesus wants to bring
joy to the people at the wedding feast and to us today. Yes, this first miracle
of Jesus, was an introduction of a religion of Joy.
There is Joy in turning water into wine. So, Jesus’ command
to fill the jars to the brim, was an action that the servants could do, at the
command of Jesus. And as the water filled jars are drawn out for the testing
taste of the master of the banquet, he tastes more that just water. The master
of the banquet tastes the fruit of Jesus first miracle… Wine.
Isn’t this ironic? For later in Jesus’ ministry, He would
have us taste Jesus’ wine, His blood, His life-giving grace for all the world.
Yes, as we taste the wine, we taste Jesus’ blood and salvation.
But, don’t get too hung up, as is easy, on water and wine.
This miracle begins a display of pointing to Jesus and His glory.
Sometimes, in Scripture, there seems to be little reminders
of God’s grace planted. Look back at the beginning of this passage. “On the
third day…”
Talk about Joy… Joy comes on the third day as we project
forward to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Sometimes it’s also easy to read something into the way
Jesus speaks to His mother. As Jesus speaks to His mother, He calls her “woman.”
Well, today, we may confuse this with some level of disrespect. But, that’s not
really the case. In Jesus day, this title was a term of respect. In fact, some
other interpretations say, “dear woman.” Yet, this same expression is used later on by
Jesus at the cross, and this title is a form of respect.
John 19:25-27 NIV
25 Near the cross of
Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and
Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his
mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said
to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and
to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From
that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
I’m convinced that Jesus highly respected all the women in His
life, especially His own mother.
Then Jesus questions Mary that His hour had not yet come.
Well, talk about a show of respect for His mother! As I reflected on this
question, it seemed to me that surely, Jesus knew about the “hour” He was
speaking of, and He was aware of His approaching crucifixion, death and
resurrection, yet Jesus listened to His mother’s request to take action at this
joyous occasion.
Now, let’s look at these water jars. These jars were some
really big jars, that were used for ceremonial washing. Ceremonial washing from
the Law of God, an Old Testament thing. And Old Testament thing that was there
as a demonstration of God’s power.
Yet, now, as these jars are filled with water to the brim,
at the command of Jesus, comes New Wine. Jesus is this New Wine of salvation in
His blood. Salvation in the blood of Jesus that rises out of the cleansing
waters of baptism. Yes, my baptism, and your baptism as well. We rise out of
the waters of our baptism each and every day, as we die to our sins, receive forgiveness,
and live New lives in and through Jesus’ blood, and the power of the Holy
Spirit.
As we learned in earlier “Pointing to Jesus” reflections,
God reverses things. And in this New wine, there is a LARGE amount! Yes, Jesus
provides not only gloriously, joyfully, but abundantly as well.
This first miracle of Jesus in His sequence of seven miracles
has a three-way climax of sorts. First, Jesus gives to all the world a concrete
sign of love and joy. Jesus shows His glory for all to see, taste and take in.
And finally, for Jesus’ disciples then and today, He gives us Faith.
11 What Jesus did here in
Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his
glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Seeing Jesus glory and the joy he gives, his disciples then
and throughout time believed in Him.
Disciples and Servants of God… Used by Jesus in His glory.
You and I too, are called by Jesus to tell of His glory in our own lives. We
each and we all have a story to tell of God’s grace in our lives.
Jesus enters into our troubles, into our lives, and
enriches us with New Life, with New Wine. Jesus comes to us with His full
intensity right in the midst of our own tragedies, to bring Joy and Life, today…
tomorrow… and forever!
Let us pray,
Lord, open our eyes to the Joy you give each and every day.
We walk happy lives with You as You build us up. For each day, Your Spirit is
active in the gifts that you give to Your people. May we use these gifts to
build up our neighbor and bring glory to You. --- Amen
I leave you with this YouTube music video that reminds me
of this passage of scripture…
“Our God”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO-qvwgTq2Q
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