JOHN 2: 1-12 NIV
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,[a] 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.[b]
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.”
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.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Considering the Celebration:
After reading this passage, I wonder what day the wine ran out? Our weddings in America aren’t usually multiple day affairs. But in Jesus’ day, weddings could be an entire week of celebrating, and include the entire village. Am I paying attention to the people around me? Am I paying attention and watching for the wine to run out? Am I paying attention and noticing when others need help? Am I willing to do what it takes to help the celebration continue? How can I be about bringing better wine to the party and helping everyone feel welcome?
I think too often I want to show off my gifts to the “big” people in the room, not to the “least” people in the room…not to the servants. But Jesus shares his gift, the miracle, with the servants. The “Least” get to be “in on” the FIRST MIRACLE! The “Least” get to be the ones “in the know” and be the ones to watch and see Jesus in action! They get to take the water, now GREAT WINE, to the steward of the party! They get to bring the joy back to the celebration! How can I do more of that?
I notice that Jesus isn’t there to preach. He’s there to be a part of the party. He’s there with his friends helping celebrate the bride and groom. He’s a part of the celebration not just a bystander. When Mary asks him to help with the wine, he hesitates at first. Maybe he just doesn’t want to make a scene. Maybe he doesn’t want to take away from the couple’s Big Day. But he figures out a way to do it without making it a big deal. But it really is an abundant gift, an extravagant gift.
Jesus doesn’t just tell the servants to fill a bottle or two. Jesus tells them to fill six large jars with water. That must have taken a while! They must have thought he was crazy! These jars were not small. They held between 20-30 gallons each! So that’s at least 120 gallons of wine! AN ABUNDANCE!
And this wine wasn’t just “2 Buck Chuck” or Smoking Loon!
This was EXTRAVAGANT WINE! This was the BEST wine!
Jesus was about Blessing them with ABUNDANCE and with EXTRAVAGANCE!
Can we believe that Jesus is about blessing us in that way too?
Can we believe that Jesus wants to keep the celebration going in our lives too?
So, what have you run out of in your life? Have you run out of wine?
What do you need from Jesus to help you have more life, more joy, more celebration in your life?
What would it take for you to believe that Jesus cares just as much about you as he did about his mom and the wedding party?
How can you receive the abundance and extravagance of Jesus this week?
CREATE:
Get an empty Jar. or Six.
Fill them with Water
Pour some red wine or red wine vinegar( for color) into the water.
Allow the Jar or Jars to be a symbol for you of Jesus’s provision for you and his gift of abundance.
If you drink wine, pour yourself a glass of good red wine and allow the extravagant love of Jesus to fill you up as you sip your glass.
