Water into wine, religion into relationship
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-11
I love the gospel of John. His focus on Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, full of grace and truth. As John masterfully weaves the narrative his organises his material into helpful patterns, one of which is the seven signs Jesus performed to demonstrate he IS the promised rescuer, chosen to deliver his people from sin and darkness.
The first of these signs is at the wedding in Cana. A true wedding sermon favourite, this story illustrates the great compassion and abundant generosity we’d expect from the Son of God introduced in chapter 1. However, there is more to the sign than simply delivering an embarrassed bridegroom from the social shame associated with running out of wine!
He Jesus points to the greater reality of his calling. He Jesus subtly hints that he is here to do more than meet physical needs. That he is here to meet our greatest needs, in fact our greatest spiritual need of all. Life! He is here to bring life, life in his name (20:31)
He we see how Jesus has come to fulfil the old testament way of worship. How he has come to replace the rituals and regulations with something new, something better. Water used for ceremonial washing is replaced with wine used celebratory feasting.
Religious is being replaced with relationship! Washing is being replaced by welcome. Ceremonies are being replaced by celebration.
This good wine was created in a twinkling of an eye. Wine that takes days, if not weeks and months to create—especially the good stuff! It cannot be hurried. The chemical reactions need to do their work. The rough skins need breaking down into fine pigments. The harsh acids need replacing with subtle flavours. This takes quality ingredients, masterful skill, and most of all, patience. And Jesus by-passed them all! What an astounding miracle! The master of the feast was impressed at the very least.
So it is with the old way of relating to God. Brought in many years ago as their Jewish ancestors wandered through the desert, it had grown and matured, but it did NOT taste good! Religious leaders had added this and that, extra laws here, and complicated legal ideas there. Worst of all, the people began to rely on their keeping of the laws for salvation. Oh no what a mess. Jesus would replace this vinegar with true, life giving wine!
This is why a chosen rescuer was promised through the old testament. In the bible’s big story we see the one who would “crush the serpent’s head” promised in Genesis 3, and a red thread of Messianic prophecy and prefigurement through out the years until Jesus arrived. He was the one they were waiting for. But would they believe on him and have life in his name?
The disciples we are told, did believe on him that day. Literally, in the greek, “into him”. Just as the water turned into wine, they believed into him. That was only the start of their journey — they would see much more. Will you start your journey of belief in Jesus today?
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name John 20:30-31
