More Than Just a Story - the Book of JohnНамуна

Wedding. Water Jars. Wine. Wild Faith.

The show stopping moment is obvious, here: Jesus has turned water into incredibly good wine. This is not a detail we miss. However, the vessel his miracle is contained in has some pretty amazing implications. The water jars in this account were used for ceremonial washing. Jews would use the water from these containers to cleanse themselves before entering the temple to draw near to God. As we come to learn at the Last Supper, wine is a physical representation of Jesus' blood which is our purification from sin. This miracle beautifully foreshadows the redemptive work Jesus would do on the cross to purify and cleanse us with His blood. We are no longer responsible for the work of making ourselves clean before the presence of God. He is weaving his greater redemptive story into each and every detail. He can take something as ordinary as water and transform it into prized wine. It is the same transformative work He continues to do in our lives. We can even recall Moses’ first miracle of turning water into blood (Exodus 7), signifying destruction and demonstrating God’s judgement toward sin. Yet, we see that Jesus’ first miracle of turning the water to wine is a representation of joy and new life; shifting the narrative from law to grace.

When we consider the context of this miracle, God’s provision remains at the forefront. Essentially, a major “party foul” is the setting for Jesus to put his glory on display. Socially, at this point in time, running out of wine at a wedding feast would have been incredibly humiliating and brought shame and embarrassment to the family who was hosting. Ephesians 3:20 is what immediately comes to mind in this moment: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Not only do we see the symbolism of what Jesus is doing in this transformative moment, but He is also fulfilling a physical and emotional need, preserving the status of the family and bringing forth good wine to be enjoyed. I love this picture of Jesus.

I can’t gloss over Mary, in this account, either. When we continue to see Jesus perform miracles throughout scripture, there are countless moments we see him say, “your faith has made you well”, “your faith has saved you”, and “your faith has healed you.” At first glance, Mary’s exchange with Jesus comes across a bit like coercion, but I believe that Mary simply had great faith. Mary knew WHO she was talking to and what He was capable of. Mary’s example is an invitation for us to ask boldly, in His name, to see great works and wonders. It is a showcase of our faith in who He is and a reverence for His power. It reminds us that God knows and is deeply concerned for the conditions of our hearts. We cannot force His hand, but we can trust that His hand is at work, in perfect timing, in accordance to His good and perfect will.

What is significant about a wedding as the setting for Jesus to begin his public ministry?

In what ways might Mary’s role in this account impact the way that you pray or present your requests to God?

How have you seen God’s provision exceed your own hopes and desires?