The Seven Signs (Pt. 1)

 

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11 ESV).

 

Today we being a series through the Gospel of John by examining each of the miracles of Jesus recorded in this gospel. John only includes seven, though each one has a particular revelation that points to the truth of Jesus being the Messiah. In today’s reading, we begin with Jesus turning the water to wine at the Wedding Feast in Cana. This setting is important to understand. Jesus, his disciples, and Mary His mother are all present (cf. John 2:1–2). Because both Jesus and His mother were invited to the celebration, the marriage was probably a family affair; one of their relatives likely was getting married. We should also note that in the first century, weddings lasted longer than they do today. The celebration could go for as long as a week and the guests would stay for days. That Jesus would attend such a lavish party says something about the goodness of such events.

 

In the course of the celebration at Cana, the wine ran out (v. 3). This prompted Mary to come to Jesus for a solution to the problem (vv. 4–5). What Mary expected Jesus to do is not entirely clear. What the account does tell us, however, is that it would be Jesus who would determine when to perform miracles and what miracles He would do. While Jesus would actually intervene to solve the lack of wine, He did not finally do so merely because His mother asked but because He made the ultimate determination as to when to begin His public miracles. We should not miss the truth that Jesus determines when and how to answer every prayer.

 

We should also understand that Jesus’ willingness to celebrate at a wedding and even to receive extravagant gifts (cf. John 12:1-8) shows us that Christian discipleship is not incompatible with enjoying nice things in life. We are called to be generous and to be willing to give our all for Jesus, but we may also enjoy all of the good gifts He has made. This is certainly a part of the “life abundantly” Jesus came to secure for us (cf. John 10:10).