Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Jesus turns water into wine

John 2:1-11
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled, he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

A wedding in the time of Christ was no small event. For several days there would be gift giving, speechmaking, food-eating and-- you guessed it!-- wine drinking. Food and wine were taken very seriously. The host honored the guests by keeping their plates full and their cups overflowing. It was considered an insult to the guests if the host ran out of food or wine.

"Without wine," said the rabbis, "there is no joy." Wine was crucial, not for drunkenness, which was considered a disgrace, but for what it demonstrated. The presence of wine stated that this was a special day and that all guests were special guests.

The absence of wine, then, was a social embarrassment.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the first to notice that the wine has run out. She goes to her Son and points out the problem: "They have no more wine."

Jesus' response? "Dear woman, that is not our problem....My time has not yet come."

Interesting statement. "My time." Jesus is aware of the plan. He has a place and a time for His first miracle. And this isn't it.

Jesus knows the plan. At first, it appears He is going to stay with it. But as He hears His mother and looks into the faces of the wedding party, He reconsiders. The significance of the plan is slowly eclipsed by His concern for the people. Timing is important, but people are more so.

Why did Jesus do it? What motivated His first miracle?

His friends were embarrassed. What bothered them bothered Him.

So go ahead. Tell God what hurts. Talk to Him. He won't turn you away. He won't think it's silly. "For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When He lived on earth, He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace." Hebrews 4:15,16

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