“Jesus turned the water into wine!”
Have you ever heard that said before? It’s a very commonly known fact about the life of Jesus and seems to come up frequently in conversation. It’s so well known that we often tend to dismiss this story giving it little attention or thought. However, look closer with me and I think you will agree that this is indeed a very rich story that deserves more reflection and questioning. Why did Jesus turn water into wine? What does it mean for this to be his first recorded miracle in John’s gospel? How did it all come about and what take are we to take away from this story?
The New Testament reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 16th, John 2:1-11 says…
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.
It’s striking that this miracle isn’t about life and death. Nobody here receives healing, nobody’s life is dramatically changed, rather a wedding banquet is transformed. It seems like a rather unimportant beginning in the grand scheme of things, but if you’ve ever been a part of planning a wedding you can imagine what a disaster running out of food or drink before all the guests were filled would pose.
Did you notice it’s Jesus’s mother who is the first to notice there is a problem? She prompts Jesus to perform this miracle. When he dismisses her concern, she goes around him to speak to the servants asking them to follow his commands knowing somehow he will do something. Perhaps there is a lesson just in this one small moment for us about listening to the mothering women in our lives. Jesus does listen to his mother and sets about making right this situation in which there is not enough. He takes the 6 jars waiting there, each which hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus instructs them to be filled to the brim with water. Somehow without special words or special action that is recorded by John, Jesus transforms this water into wine which produces somewhere between 120-180 gallons. Later when the chief steward tastes the wine without knowing it is Jesus who has provided it he asks why is the quality wine finally being served. This wedding reception suddenly is about the best and abundance. Why this miracle?
Did you know that one of the most common illustrations of heaven in the New Testament is that of a wedding banquet? At the wedding banquet, there is this great gathering of people, an extravagant party, feasting, and the best wine. Jesus transforms this wedding in Cana of Galilee and he says to us “here is abundance, here is the best.” This is what God offers to all.
This miracle is all about transformation. Our lives are not meant to be like stagnant water, never changing, stale and dull. Rather, God intends for us to be transformed into something new. Wherever we are in our lives God is inviting us to the wedding reception, the party, the truth that the water of our lives can be turned into something really incredible. What does that look like for you?
Maybe you don’t know. Perhaps you are too busy to really give it any thought or attention. Jesus was quick to dismiss his mother when she pointed out the need for more wine. It’s easy to be dismissive sometimes. Jesus, however, thought better if it. He responded to the need and transformation happened.
God invites us to respond. God invites us to listen. Often, it’s those around us who can see in us what we can’t see about ourselves, especially those mothers in our lives. When we listen and respond we experience and bring about God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. And God always invites us to the best party, one that turns the water of our lives into the best wine that won’t run out.