…The master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (2:9b-10)
John records the turning of the water into wine at the wedding in Cana as the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs. It is interesting to me that none of the other gospels mention this miracle. Obviously Jesus did a multitude of miracles in the three years of His public ministry. Apparently the other gospel writers did not see this miracle as significant enough to focus upon. In writing his gospel, it is almost as if John is saying, “Remember this miracle, guys? It was the first one we saw and the first time we realized how unique and powerful Jesus was.” “[Jesus] thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him” (2:11b).
I can see why the other gospels would not focus upon this miracle. It seems so different from Jesus’ other miracles–healing the lepers, restoring sight to blind men, making the lame walk again, feeding 5000+ hungry people, raising the dead to life. In this list, turning 150 gallons of water into wine at a local marriage feast seems somewhat out of place. So what’s the significance? Why does John want to make sure that this miracle makes the list? Better yet, why does the Holy Spirit want to make sure that this miracle is preserved for our eyes today?
As I was thinking about that this morning, I can’t say that I have the definite answer. From reading about this miracle in commentaries and hearing it preached, I know that running out of wine was a serious gaffe in those days. The marriage feast lasted for days and the lack of wine would be devastating to the feast. Essentially there would be nothing to drink since the water was typically undrinkable. It would be similar to running out of food at a giant wedding reception today and suddenly you have a bunch of hungry guests without anything to eat. I also have read that whoever was getting married was probably very close to Mary and to Jesus’ family. Mary seems to have a personal stake in what is going on. Whatever the case, it is hard to understand why the first miracle of Jesus recorded in Scripture is this one. Does the One who comes to heal the sick, make the lame to walk, and make the blind to see also come to save hospitality coordinators from embarrassment?
Obviously there is more to this miracle than meets the eye. I think on one level is does show that Jesus, as God in the flesh, puts His stamp of approval on the celebration of marriage and the experience of joy. Jesus did not come to squelch happiness and bring austerity; He came to bring life and joy and to bring it in abundance (John 10:10). In other words, where Jesus is the joy and abundance never runs out. Consequently, when Jesus reigns on this earth, the joy and abundance will never run out.
But on another level, I think John was telling us something else too. John makes sure to mention that the water Jesus turned to wine was water put into the pots specifically used for ceremonial washings. It was “law” water–water meant to wash the dirt off people’s feet and hands before they ate and drank. Jesus took this water and turned it into the best wine ever tasted. He took cleaning water (which was undrinkable) and turned it into a source of refreshment and joy. I couldn’t help but think of John’s words in chapter one, “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (1:16-17).
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. Wow. Other translations say that we receive grace upon grace or wave after wave of grace. The grace never ends. Isn’t that what this miracle illustrates? 150 gallons of ceremonial law water could not satisfy the thirst or bring any level of joy to the wedding guests. It could clean a little grime off the hands but could do little else. That water represents our feeble attempts to clean ourselves up, to make ourselves look presentable and “good” before others. It cleans up the outside but does nothing to bring healing to the heart. No, true inner change, true joy and refreshment, grace upon grace, gallon upon gallon of wine, comes only from the hand of Jesus. We haven’t tasted anything until we have tasted the grace of Jesus.
Lord, help me to taste Your endless joy and grace today!