God's Abundant Love for Us
This is the final devotional in our summer series on "The Miraculous Acts of God."
“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.’ - John 2:6-11
First impressions matter. Whether it be the first day of school or work, a first date, or the first time meeting new friends, we are careful about how we choose to present ourselves. On such occasions we consider more closely the clothes we wear and the things we say than we would normally. We do this because a first impression can set the tone for the remainder of a relationship.
John 2:1-12 tells the story of Jesus’ first impression as a miracle worker. You don’t have to be a Biblical scholar to know about “that time Jesus turned water into wine.” It’s an event that’s captured peoples’ imaginations over the centuries. The great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky dedicated a chapter in The Brothers Karamazov to this passage as he understood it to be a depiction of God’s desire to bring joy to men. Even contemporary country singer Miranda Lambert references this miracle in her lyrics, “Well I heard that Jesus, he drank wine, and I bet we’d get along just fine.”
This miracle matters because it indicates an essential aspect to Jesus Christ’s ministry. This wasn’t a magic trick, it was a miracle. Magic tricks serve the purpose of showcasing a person’s skill or ability to deceive. Miracles in the Bible point beyond the action itself in order to illustrate the great meaning of God’s redemptive purposes.
There are several characters in this story. We are first told that Mary, the mother of Jesus was at the wedding, as well as his disciples. Then we are introduced to the servants, the master of the feast, and the bridegroom. There are clearly a number of guests in attendance as well. Having learned that the wine had run out, Mary approaches her son and asks him to intervene.
There is something surprising about Mary’s request. We don’t have any reason to assume she was involved in the wedding. We’re not sure if she was a family member to someone in the wedding party. But, Mary approaches Jesus because she knows this is a problem Jesus could fix.
At first, Jesus tells his mother no. “My time has not yet come,” he says. She responds by ignoring him and telling the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And so, Jesus tells the servants to fill six stone water jars with water, and afterwards they should draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. The taste and quality of this miraculous wine stuns the master of the feast. He goes on to praise the bridegroom.
Something else significant takes place in this story. We are told that the bridegroom at the wedding was praised for saving the best wine for last, while Jesus went unacknowledged. So often in our world ‘lesser bridegrooms’ receive credit for that which ought to go to the true Bridegroom that is Christ. Our world has run out of wine, and any goodness that is experienced comes only from God. Christ is the lord of the feast, the true Bridegroom, and the place of our greatest celebration.
The first miracle Jesus performed demonstrated what he came to do by his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. By creating an abundance of new wine, he demonstrated that God was up to something more wonderful, extravagant, and lavish than anyone had dared to imagine. His first miracle would give humankind a glimpse into what was to come for those who believed in him—an eternal feast in the new heavens and new earth.
Christ came to give people new life and offer forgiveness for sin so that people could rejoice in righteousness. As pastor Tim Keller said in a sermon, Jesus is “the lord of the feast.”
Will Stockdale is the Director of Capitol Hill Ministry in Washington, D.C.
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