Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

John 2:1-11 (NRSV)

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.

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Reflect

In the Bible wine is a term often used as a euphemism for joy. In our scripture, today, running out of wine would be akin to running out of joy at the wedding. Mary would have none of that.

I have been in Mary’s shoes. I enjoy hosting eating events and pay attention to how those events go when they are hosted by others. I would, like Mary, be aware if the wine was running low and would want to help. One wonders if she was helping with the catering of this event because she was not only “in the know,” but she also gave instructions to the servants.

I have been in her shoes also about my children. I am proud of my three children and their accomplishments or potential for accomplishment. I understand that she was ready for everyone to know what the angel told her about who Jesus was and what his goals were for this world. She wanted him to reveal his deity.

Jesus had other plans. He loved and respected his mother, but he intended to be obedient to God’s plan for his life on Earth. He honored Mary’s request without making a spectacle as he performed his first miracle in his public ministry – changing water into wine. With his miracle complete, Jesus restored joy to the festivities that were likely to continue for up to a week.

John, the Gospel writer, indicates that the real audience for the miracle was the disciples. They received a glimpse of Jesus’ glory and believed in him.

We are not told that anyone else attending the wedding even knew what Jesus had done. You and I can go glibly along with our lives and miss opportunities to see what Jesus is doing in our world. Let it not be so. I want to see Jesus’ glory and experience a growing belief in him.

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Pray

Heavenly Father, we are human and have human failings. However, your power in us gives us the opportunity to live above those human failings and experience living in your presence. Open our eyes to see where you are at work in our world and lead us to join you in that work.

Go with God!