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On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2: 1-11)
Happy Monday, dear Friend! I trust you had a great weekend and are enjoying the blessings of this new week. This passage would not have been a popular one during what started this Wednesday back in 1920. That was the start of Prohibition and I wonder how preachers handled this during their sermons that Sunday?
Mary had a most interesting but difficult life. After all, it's not every woman who gets asked to bear the Son of God. Scripture has her treasuring things in her heart, and it has her heart pierced by the anguish her Son suffered. And trying to raise her first born was no easy task. I believe she loved Jesus very much and like a mother worried a lot about Him. I believe Jesus loved her very much as a son loves his mother for He knew all she had gone through and what was yet to come. And their relationship is on display in this passage.
This is the spiritual gospel, John. John goes into stories and details the other gospels do not. I recently saw a cartoon where the four gospel writers were seated at the same table, and the professor said, "I need to speak to the three of you, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. I suspect there was some copying going on!" John smiles smugly. John has the first of Jesus' many miracles happen at a family wedding. Mary was there, and Jesus and his crew were also invited. It was a typical Jewish wedding of the day, lasting many days and the host family providing many things to celebrate the wedding and to show their appreciation to the guests for their attendance. The wine of the day was fermented grape juice, which was totally dependent on vineyards, type of grape, the grade of the grapes, etc. Fine wine was known and used first, as the host tells Jesus. The fine wine was to impress the guests, and after a certain point, the fine wine was either put away or they no longer had any, and in would come the cheap wine. In this wedding, perhaps a poorer family, the wine simply runs out. Mary sensed the tension on the part of the host and so she approaches Jesus with her concern, "They have no wine." She knew the party would soon be over and guests would leave, and the guest would probably talk about this family who did not have enough wine. Topic A at the water cooler!
Jesus' response I listed as one that was prevalent in some earlier televisions commercials and in some households, "Mother! I'd rather do it myself!" Indicating the frustration of the child with his well-meaning mother. We probably have all heard that in some form or another when we have tried to share out two cents worth. Jesus shares His concern that it was not yet His time, meaning the time for a glimpse into HIs glory and power was not yet expected; and while the response could have served as a response meaning He would do nothing, Jesus orders the jars of the water for purification to be filled; all six of them. And in the process of filling them and bringing them back to the host, the first miracle occurs; Jesus had turned the water into wine. As soon as it is tasted, the quality of the wine is complimented; "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guest have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." This action did reveal Jesus' glory and it was enough for the disciples to believe in Him.
The lambs above jokes about "Talk about Jesus being the life of the party," and the second one responds, "We always do." Jesus' presence in our lives brings life and that in abundance. His perspective, His love, His joy, comfort and peace, transforms what the world expects into what the world is not used to. There is fullness of life in Jesus and once we have it, those around it sense it and want it.
PRAYER: Loving God, bless our lives with the joy of Your presence. May our lives be blessed by the "new wine" of Your love, joy, comfort and peace. There are many whom we will meet today who may need a blessing of hope, and we have it to share. May we receive from You the words we can share to bring life to life in their lives. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! If you're going to be a grape, be a grape for Jesus; the finest there is, filled with the joyous flavor of life!
Eradio Valverde
