Today's Readings - 2 Samuel 21-22, John 2:1–12, Psalm 62:9–12, Proverbs 13:5-6
Devotional
In what may be the ultimate irony for us teetotalling Baptists, Jesus first miracle was one destined to make Sunday School teachers sweat for generations. Seriously, couldn't he have chosen something different? Healed someone? Made a lame man walk or a blind man see? Even better, he could have raised someone from the dead. Or calmed a sea. Or walked on water. Something. Anything. But no. Jesus' first miracle had to be turning water into wine.
He went to a wedding at Cana, a small town a few miles north of Nazareth, on the pass through the mountains to Galilee. Jesus' mother was at the wedding and he showed up with his disciples. A tragedy occurred after he arrived. The wine ran out. Not sure to say about that, but at Cana, it was a huge issue.
Mary saw it as an opportunity. For years she had likely repeated the stories of Jesus' supernatural birth and for three decades he had done nothing publicly to demonstrate that her story was true. He was unusual, for sure, and now he had gathered these men around him and was teaching them, but she was still waiting for him to do something to show his supernatural power, his divine nature. So she chided him a little to do something.
In an odd exchange, Jesus told his mother that his time had not yet come, then he proceeded to do as she asked. Mary told them to do as he said - always good advice. Jesus instructed them to fill six jars, each holding 20-30 gallons of water to the brim. He then told them to take some of the water to the master of the feast, who marveled at the quality of the wine (again, no comment!). Usually, he said, someone brings out the cheap wine at the end of the feast when people are tipsy and the palate is less discerning. But Jesus' miraculous drink was the best of all.
What to learn from this? There are conclusions aplenty, but ours today will focus on the common metaphor of wine used throughout Scripture. It signifies vitality and joy. That is what Jesus did that day. He took water - plain, simple, likely dirty, even unclean - and he infused it with zest. He made what was natural supernatural. He took what was normal and infused it with his miraculous life.
There is no need today to argue about the import of this passage on the moderation debate. What we learn is the effect of Jesus on our lives. He enters and nothing is ever the same. He does wonderful things of our lives - he turns our water into wine.
Father, thank you for your Son, who takes the bland water of my life and miraculously turns it to joy and vitality. Your Son is life and joy and hope. Thank you for Jesus.
Think and Pray
Are you bogged down in the routine of life, the humdrum things of this world?
Remember that Jesus takes your worldly life and transforms it, makes it new, vital, vibrant, and joyful.
Meditate on that idea.
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