The First Miracle

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 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 10 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.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. (John 2:1-12, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
When I was assigned this set of verses I wondered what I would have to say. This story is very familiar to many “churched” people and I have come to embrace that I am very “churched.” Being “churched” can be good for the most part, but it can also separate us from others who aren’t “churched” and often it can make us miss the impact of a too familiar Bible story.

This story troubled my parents and their parents. They had seen how the abuses of alcohol had wrecked the lives of the Sioux tribe of Native Americans in Nebraska and South Dakota and they preached total abstinence to all forms of alcohol. Then how do you deal with our Lord and Savior Jesus turning water into wine? It must have just been grape juice or at least the alcohol content of the wine must have been very very low. Well, these justifications don’t really hold true. In the ancient world wine was symbolic for joy, but to be balanced the New Testament writers speak to our need to control our drinking. 

Anyway, what would I have to say? I know. Why don’t I just ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me anything that might seem meaningful? Thank you God! There’s lots of meaning here for us. 

Here’s what I noticed: 

• Jesus used water jars intended for ceremonial washing as the containers to change water to wine. Could it be that Jesus was symbolically converting ceremonial washing with water into the washing away of our sins with His blood symbolized by the wine?
• Jesus 1st miracle was at a wedding and His last will be His wedding with His bride the church as foretold in Revelation 19:9 and 21:2-5. 

Also, here’s what I read about what others have noticed: 

• Moses’ first public miracle was turning water into blood. Water turned to blood was a sign of judgment. Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. Water turned into wine at a wedding is a picture of joy.
• When the master of the banquet says “you have saved the best till now,” this symbolically says that God had saved Jesus and His ministry for this moment in history. 

All this symbolism is wonderful, but maybe the most interesting detail is that there’s not really a plea or prayer answered here, just a simple statement by Mary, “They have no more wine.” Jesus knew what His mother wanted and He knew that the problem would soon become known by all who were at the wedding. This miracle seems to be private at least until John included it in his gospel. Mary, Jesus, the servants, John and maybe some of the other disciples are the only ones who knew. The miracle solved a problem before it had disrupted the wedding party. Mary’s statement and Jesus miracle preempted an embarrassing problem.  

We serve a wonderful God. He goes before us and protects us from the difficulties of life. He is saving us for Himself and His purposes for our lives. We all have difficulties in life, but I truly believe that I live a blessed life and that God goes before me helping me even in my everyday struggles or saving me from struggles that I am oblivious to and never really know.


PRAYER:
God, go before us and protect us from the struggles of life. Open our eyes to your daily blessings and ways that you direct our steps. Direct our thoughts so that we can see you, understand you, and rest in your love and blessings. 


WHO AM I?
I am David Norris. My grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and cousins were largely associated with the Church of God of Anderson, Indiana. Many of them were missionaries and pastors through the Church of God. My mother and father met on Anderson University’s campus. Whether I knew it or not, or could isolate it and identify it, my core theology or way of looking at God was formed by the beliefs of the Church of God. Hmmmm… maybe God was going before me and making my way. 

Here’s an image from back in the day, when I was roaming the Anderson campus during the annual national convention of the Church of God. This is the famous Warner Auditorium. In its day it was an amazing structure. It was built around 1961. The circular dome (268 feet 4 inches in diameter and weighing 3,000,000 Lbs.) is the largest thin-shell concrete dome in the world. The dome was poured and then raised into position.

During my childhood my family would go to Anderson, Indiana for the annual convention and we would hear the Gaithers and Bill Oldham raise the roof in worship.