City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. ⁹ 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 ¹⁰ 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.” ¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.¹² After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

John 2:1-12 ESV

Reflection

The arch of every miracle bends to the revelation of Jesus as Christ.  While the recipient of the miracle is benefited; we should remember that something higher and more profound is happening.  First, we should note that this, Jesus’ first miracle, happens on the third day.  As Jonas was in the belly of the sea for three days, Jesus rose from the tomb on the third day.  Perhaps we can take this as a marking of a past shadow being filled in with a future event.

Second, it has always impressed me that God so orchestrated events such that Jesus’ first miracle occurred at a wedding.  Interesting that from this story, we learn nothing about the bride and groom.  They are both silent in this story, yet it is their wedding.  It is as if they could be anyone, the perfect stand-ins’ for future generations.

Third, there seems to be some confusion over when Jesus is to start his ministry.  At the end of Chapter 1 Jesus has already started to collect his disciples, but he tells His mother that it is not His time yet.  Is this a continuation of His denial that He is not responsible for fixing this issue or is He speaking of His crucifixion?  Jesus is our Lord; how can his mother boss Him around?  And what did she expect of Him?  If it were me and my mother, I would have expected her to hand me the car keys and her credit card, so that I could run to the store.  But I think it is safe to say that she expected Jesus to fix it out of His own resources.  Is it possible that she was expecting a miracle?

Fourth, Jesus does a miracle?  Is this really His first miracle?  How can it be that Mary could have so much confidence in Jesus if He had never done a miracle?  Could she have been looking back to the story of His arrival on the scene, or the time when he was 12 and teaching the scholars in the temple?  She has great confidence in Him, but the Lord knows where she got it.

Fifth, it is not just water into wine, but the wine created here is better than what was served before.  I have often wondered if God intends to restore man to the level of his creation in the garden, or if God intends man to be at a higher state after being redeemed.  I think the better wine is a hint at God’s intention for man to be higher, richer, and more aware of who God is.

Application

So, what does this mean for us today?  First, I think it means that when Jesus intervenes in our lives, He does so specifically based on the scene of our distress, but His intervention is to focus on the revelation of the new man that God intends.  So, Christ’s intervention will probably not look like what you expect, but it will be effective, and it will be better than your former state.

Second, we should remember that miracles come on the other side of the ask.  Miracles are part of the two-way communication we have with God.  We pray and God answers in many ways, and one of those ways is with miracles.

Third, when we look for God to intervene, we should not limit His intervention to only things we might understand.  The humility it takes to pray for a thing is the same humility needed to receive it, if we stay in it.  Whether it is a miracle or some other answer to pray, simple humility and an open heart of acceptance is needed. 

So, given this, I have a question for you.  In this story, who asked for a miracle and who received it?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray a blessing on our church and on those who come to visit.  I pray that You fill them with a desire for Your presence and that they experience Your goodness.  Hold close to You those who humble themselves to pray and provide for them above and beyond what ever they could hope or dream.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.