And What a Miracle it Was!

“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.” John 2:1-5 ESV

These 76 words paint a very large picture. There is so much here! Despite His initial response, Mary instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. I love this picture. More than anything I believe it demonstrates her faith in her Son's abilities. She basically sets the stage for the following miracle.

Why wine, and why a wedding? Jewish weddings were celebrations of abundance, community, and blessing. The Messiah performing His first miracle at a wedding hints at the joy and richness of a relationship with God and foreshadows the ultimate wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:7, 8. It is also symbolic of transformation, the ordinary becoming extraordinary.

The “third day” is meaningful in Jewish tradition. Weddings are often held then because the third day is considered doubly blessed in Creation (Genesis 1:10, 12). These celebrations frequently take place under the stars, reminding us of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would be countless (Genesis 15:5), a promise fulfilled in the lineage of Jesus and extended to all who believe.

Jesus’ miracle shows He does not just meet our needs; He surpasses them. Water becomes wine, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. So too in our lives, God transforms us from the old to the new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This transformation is ongoing, daily, and invites us to witness His abundant blessings in ordinary moments.

by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, November 1, 2023