We've all been to our fair share of weddings. As a pastor I've probably conducted one hundered fifty weddings in the last fifteen years. Of particular joy have been the weddings of Jane's and my three children - they have each given me the privilege of performing their ceremonies. However, not one wedding in my experience has been anything like the wedding that took place in the foothills west of the Sea of Galilee in Cana. Rather than a few hours, these weddings went on for a few days!
Jesus and his new followers were invited guests. Jesus' mother Mary may well have been the wedding coordinator - after all, Nazareth was not that far away. She was the one trusted with the problem - they had run out of wine. In that culture, it was a social slur that could become the source of shame, some have suggested possible litigation. Not a great way to start off with your new in-laws! So you put the problem in the hands of someone trustworthy - Mary - who put it in the hands of her Son.
John will tell us later that Jesus never does anything on his own - only what he sees the Father doing. His actions that day are as startling as they are revealing. Part of the drama was this - it would not occur to an observant Jewish person to drink out of a water pot devoted to washing other vessels. Jesus heightens the drama by telling them to fill them to the brim, and then take some to the master of the banquet. The master of the banquet had no idea where the wine had come from, but the wine steward knew as did the disciples and they were holding their breath. The announcement was an unexpected compliment to the host and a shock to the few in the know- saving and serving the best wine for last!
Jesus never tried to draw attention to himself - he was no 'showboat.' But the word of the miracle must have spread rapidly - how could it not. John tells us that it was a 'sign' - a real event that pointed to an even greater reality - the revelation of Jesus' glory. As a result, even more people began to put their trust in him. This miracle led to worship, to awe and to wonder.
It is insightful to consider that all of Jesus' miracles were for the benefit of others. Skeptics who read this account might allege that a miracle is a suspension of the natural order - at best - something that just can't happen at worst. But I like what Tim Keller calls them - "the restoration of the natural order....His miracles are not just proofs that he has the power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. Jesus' miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts that the world we all want is coming."
What to you think about this miracle? What do you think it is a 'sign' of?
Jesus and his new followers were invited guests. Jesus' mother Mary may well have been the wedding coordinator - after all, Nazareth was not that far away. She was the one trusted with the problem - they had run out of wine. In that culture, it was a social slur that could become the source of shame, some have suggested possible litigation. Not a great way to start off with your new in-laws! So you put the problem in the hands of someone trustworthy - Mary - who put it in the hands of her Son.
John will tell us later that Jesus never does anything on his own - only what he sees the Father doing. His actions that day are as startling as they are revealing. Part of the drama was this - it would not occur to an observant Jewish person to drink out of a water pot devoted to washing other vessels. Jesus heightens the drama by telling them to fill them to the brim, and then take some to the master of the banquet. The master of the banquet had no idea where the wine had come from, but the wine steward knew as did the disciples and they were holding their breath. The announcement was an unexpected compliment to the host and a shock to the few in the know- saving and serving the best wine for last!
Jesus never tried to draw attention to himself - he was no 'showboat.' But the word of the miracle must have spread rapidly - how could it not. John tells us that it was a 'sign' - a real event that pointed to an even greater reality - the revelation of Jesus' glory. As a result, even more people began to put their trust in him. This miracle led to worship, to awe and to wonder.
It is insightful to consider that all of Jesus' miracles were for the benefit of others. Skeptics who read this account might allege that a miracle is a suspension of the natural order - at best - something that just can't happen at worst. But I like what Tim Keller calls them - "the restoration of the natural order....His miracles are not just proofs that he has the power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. Jesus' miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts that the world we all want is coming."
What to you think about this miracle? What do you think it is a 'sign' of?
Posts
I think Jesus Himself is God's best red wine- given to us all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a costly, aged, treasured gift!
Stored in a heavenly wine closet and poured out at Calvary.
Love thinking about it during this Lenten season.
All the signs point to God's ultimate plan- don't they?
A Prayer from John 2:1-11
ReplyDeleteWedding Feast in Cana
I am a pot
Earthen clay
Fill me Lord
Change me
From unclean water
To sacred wine
Bringing honor
Glory
And worship to You
Use this vessel
To bring your compassion
And love
To those in need
Speak
With heavens power
Transformed me
For the kingdom of God is at hand
Ed Northen
It hadn't ever occured to me before that Mary (a woman) told the servants to do what ever Jesus told them to do, and they obeyed. Technically, they obeyed Mary, a woman, incharge, probably, but a woman none the less. Jesus also did what Mary asked him to do, even though he told her that it was not yet his time. She asked, he fixed her problem. Maybe not the way she might have expected him to, but he fixed it. Here at the beginning of Christ's ministry, God used a woman. At the end of his ministry, it was women who waited and watched at the cross, saw him buried and were the first to hear that he had risen. God used women repeatedly in Christ's ministry even though at that time in history, they didn't have much of a place in society or "religion". Also, Jesus, who came to be the servant of all, chose to reveal his first miracle to servants, first. The servants who obeyed certainly were the first to realize that they were witnessing a miracle. God is so good! He shows us over and over that his love isn't bound by gender, ecomonic class, or anything else. He loves us all, and gifts us to serve him regardless of who or what we are. Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteWe love your blogs, Bob. Where is days seven, eight, and nine? Dick and Jo
ReplyDeleteThis blogging real stretch-A stretch what John writing about. Who would believe Jesus did all that unless willing to stretch for life!!
ReplyDelete