Water Into Wine

April 14, 2009 · Filed under 1

John 2:1-10 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”  Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”  She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”  Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.  “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.  When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

Cana was but a small village in Galilee.  A wedding in the size of this village would certainly be known about by everyone and all would be invited.  This put enormous pressure on the host to throw a party that no one would ever forget.  He would always be remembered by this one event.  Can you imagine what it would be like if the host ran out of wine?  When Jesus manufactures more wine, the best tasting wine at that, not only does he keep the celebration going, but he also saves the family’s name and reputation in the process.  Instead of being shamed and disgraced for running out of wine, they know become legendary, saving the best for last!  In many ways, this is what Jesus wants to do for us too.  He wants to turn our water into wine, trading in our shame for his glory.