Saving the Best for Last

 

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.” (John 2:1-10 ESV).

 

Some years ago, an advertising jingle for Smarties, a popular candy at the time, asked, “Do you eat the red ones last?” There was really nothing special about the red ones. They were candy-coated chocolates, and the red ones tasted the same as all the other colors of candy-coated chocolates in the pack. But the commercial suggested that the red ones were special, or the best, and it made people think they should save the best for last. You may not have done this with Smarties, but I’d wager you have done this in one form or another. Maybe it was with that last bite of steak you saved to eat after all the other foods on the plate. I mean, if you’ve got to eat your vegetables, why not save one bite of the best part of the plate for last!

 

This is something of the surprise the banquet master at the wedding at Cana expressed. He did not know who had provided the new wine. He just knew that it was better than the wine that had been served earlier. He also knew that this was unusual. Most hosts served the best wine first, but at this wedding the best was served last.

 

Though it was unusual at a wedding in those days, this miracle of Jesus suggests something about the kingdom of God. The best is yet to come. The blessings we experience in our life with God, the goodness of God’s creation, the joy of Christmas, the consolation that comes from God’s presence, the freedom that comes with forgiveness—all these are just a taste of the new life God has promised in Jesus. As the year ends, we look forward in hope, for God saves the best for last.