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52. The First Of Many Miracles


John 2:1-11
Key Verse: His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."
John 2:5

John tells us that this is Jesus' first real miracle.  This is probably accurate.  However, something else is true as well.  This is probably one of Jesus' most private miracles.  Providing the wine was merely a byproduct of Jesus' real task, which was to glorify His Father and strengthen the faith of those who had responded when Jesus said, "follow me."

Jesus' actions are not revealed in this story at all except to the servants and his first, possibly only six, disciples.  Jesus is at the wedding because He has been invited, along with His family and, evidently His disciples.  In other words, Jesus was among people who knew Him as a friend or relative. 

In those days, it was common for a celebration, such as a wedding, to go on for seven days.  In this particular case, the party had run out of wine.  Who knows why!  Was it poor planning on the part of the groom or the steward?  Did they receive more guests than they were expecting?  We don't know and, for God's purposes in relating the story, these details must not be very important.  It was a situation that would have brought on much shame for the hosts, however, if the lack of supply was discovered. 

Mary knows the situation.  Perhaps, because of the close family ties, she truly wants to do what she can to help.  Thus she turns to Jesus.  Jesus does not seem overly interested in the lack of wine.  Certainly, His response to Mary seems a bit disinterested if nothing else.  "Dear Woman, why do you involve Me?  My time has not yet come." (John 4:4)

Mary tells the servants to obey Jesus anyway, and Jesus tells them what to do. 
 Nearby stand the jars used for ceremonial cleansing.  That means that these weren't common jars for drinking water, or household chores.  The water in these jars was used to prepare the people to stand clean before the Lord.  The water in these jars would be used for a holy purpose.  Jesus would use the water to bless the guests. 

The servants fill these jars to the brim.  There is between 120 and 180 gallons of liquid that we are talking about here.  Then He tells the servants to take some of the water to the steward of the feast.  This must have taken a great deal of courage on the part of the servants.  If I fill a glass with water, I would expect water to come out of it.  Yet they, not knowing what to expect, comply and somewhere, between the jar and the steward, the miracle occurs.  Jesus is not given any credit.  In fact, no explanation is given.  Neither  the groom, nor the steward are told how this wonderful, mysterious wine came to be.  They are blessed unaware as so many of us are in our daily lives. 

The disciples, however, were watching.  Mary's words to the servants would ring in their ears.  "Do whatever He tells you," and great things will happen.  Shouldn't that be our lesson from this story as well?  The result is that Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples and His disciples put their faith in Him.  The partnership was strengthened and many were blessed. 


Hymn: "Trust and Obey" 

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