John 2:1-11; Isaias 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
This morning I will meditate in the Gospel of John, and to do so, we must first get into the context of what according to this Gospel is Jesus’ first miracle. It happened the day after Jesus called his first disciples. According to John this miracle marks the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry.
Jesus, his disciples, and members of his family, including his mother and brothers were invited to a wedding. Now, weddings in the Jewish tradition lasted seven days – an entire week! – and the bridegroom was expected to provide enough food and wine for the whole seven days. Now, knowing how much work is required for a one-day wedding, I cannot even imagine how much work was invested in a Jewish wedding like this one in Cana! According to John for a reason he does not explain the bridegroom did not prepare enough wine and they run out of it.
In Jesus’ time running out of wine at a wedding celebration was considered a major social failure and according to some scholars the bridegroom could even be fined for this. Now, we can be sure that this embarrassing situation was going to haunt this couple for years to come…unless someone steps in and do something to fix it.
Have you ever been in a wedding celebration where something embarrassing has happened? I remember one wedding in New York when they forgot to get the food out of the car. It happened in July, one of the hottest months in Summer with almost 100 degrees outside. You can image what happened after a couple hours inside the trunk of a car. The whole food spoiled. A wedding without food today is the closest to a wedding without wine in Jesus’ time.
The writer of the Gospel of John tells us that Mary, Jesus’ mother was also present at the wedding, and when she learns what happened, she approaches Jesus and told Him, -and I will paraphrase-, “Son, we have a problem, and we need your help. The groom’s family is running out of wine. Can you do something?” The fact that Mary came to Jesus with such a problem is a reminder that she knew who Jesus was and she knew Jesus could help.
This miracle has been used for some to justify drinking. If Jesus provided wine, He approves drinking. Nevertheless, this miracle is not about Jesus providing wine so people can get drunk. This miracle is about God’s love and mercy; it’s about Jesus’ willingness to change His plans in order to help a friend; it’s about God’s transforming power.
Sometimes, I wonder what would I have done if I had been asked to help solve this situation. Maybe the first thing I would have done is call the steward and blame him; maybe I would have blamed those who did not RSVP and came without letting the bridegroom know. But not Jesus, He did not blame anybody, He did something, He actually did something to change this “social embarrassing” into a situation of compliment and praise.
At the wedding of Cana Jesus changed His plans in order to help a friend. “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” In other words, mother I am not ready to begin my ministry. I do not know what plans Jesus had to begin His ministry; all I know is that just to help a friend, He was willing to change everything.
The miracle of changing water into wine is about God’s transforming power; God’s presence can change our everyday. Someone once said, “Don’t focus on the stone pots full of wine and miss the whole point; this miracle is about God’s transformation. If we read the Bible, if we meditate in the history of salvation, we will find that God is always transforming. He turned water into wine, sadness into smiles; he turns cry and fear into songs of hope, deserts into gardens; he turns sorrow into joy, sin into grace and death into life. He took simple men and women and turned them into priests, into royal and chosen people.”
Remember, the God we worship in this place is a God that takes simple things like water and turn it into good wine. Simple men and women and turn them into great leaders. God took a baby floating down in a basket in a river and turned him into a leader who took his people out of slavery. He took a shepherd boy from the fields and turned him into a giant slayer and into the greatest king in Israel history. God took a quiet and talented girl named Esther and turned her into a brave woman who saved His people. Jesus -God among us- took Fishermen doing their simple and humble jobs and turned them into messengers of His kingdom and with them He transformed the world.
The awesomeness of the God we worship is that nothing is too simple or unimportant. If it is of our concern, it is also His concern. No act is too insignificant. God can use every situation in our lives to show his love, power, and glory. If Jesus could use a wedding running out of wine to bring about his plan of salvation, it makes me wonder what seemingly little events in my life and your life, he can use to transform our lives, our community, our world, and the people we meet.
If you think or feel that you have ran out of options; if you feel that you have ran out of strength; if you feel or believe you are ready to give up. I believe you are feeling exactly how the bridegroom felt at Cana. However, remember, Jesus was there, and He made the difference, He transformed shame into honor, sadness into happiness. The same Jesus is today with us. If you feel weak and out of strength, just remember, Jesus is here, and he can transform your life. Remember the song we have sang since we were children: “Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.” Jesus loves you and wants to help, he is here to transform you situation. He is here to change your life. Just fill your jar with his living water; he is here to help, just do as he says.
If you feel that you have run out of options and are ready to give up, just remember another hymn: “Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side, bear patiently the cross of grief or pain, leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”