Some people choose to know only the facts of a person – like watching the news. With only facts given regarding that person, he appears one-dimensional and lacks depth or complexity. Other people have more inquisitive minds and want to know a few additional details. This is called two-dimensional, but still he is a go-with-the-flow human being and seems too simple. However, we live in a three-dimensional world and every person is complex and unique with body, soul, and spirit. The most unique aspect of every human being is that we are made in the image of God who created the heavens and the earth and all they contain – seen and unseen.
The scene for this week’s blog is a wedding in Cana of Galilee (fact). Cana is 4 ½ miles northwest of Nazareth (fact). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there, and Jesus, with the first five of the disciples He called, were invited (additional details). A wedding celebration in the Middle East often lasted for a week, and to show hospitality in that region was a solemn duty (additional details). The rest of the blog is three-dimensional. It comes to life!
At one point during the wedding celebration, Mary told Jesus, “They have no wine.” Was she expectant of Jesus to do something? Did she know Jesus could meet the need and save the bridgroom from humiliation and embarrassment in front of his invited guests? Yes, she did. Could the words of Gabriel, the angel, have flashed through her mind? “Behold, you will conceive and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and the Holy One will be called the Son of God! Of His kingdom there shall be no end!”
Jesus addressed Mary with a highly respectful tone, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
Mary realized she could not command Jesus’ actions or dictate His timing, so she simply said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it,” and left to mingle with the guests.
Now there were six large, stone waterpots standing nearby each with a capacity to hold 20-30 gallons of water. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the waterpots.” Jesus was about to set into motion His three-year public ministry to fulfill His mission – to reconcile man to God!
The servants filled the waterpots to the brim. Jesus said, “Draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
The master of the feast tasted the water that was made wine. The wine was so rich in flavor that the master of the feast was surprised to see it being served late in the celebration. So, he called the bridegroom saying. “Every man serves the good wine at the beginning of the feast, but you have kept the good wine until now.” He waited expectantly for the bridegroom to respond, but the perplexed bridegroom had no anwser.
The only ones who knew Jesus changed the water into wine were the servants and His disciples. The master of the feast, the bridegroom, and all the guests did not know it. The servants were amazed. The disciples believed in Him.
I picture Mary, beaming with pride, as she looked at Jesus, her first-born Son, and smiled a knowng and grateful smile. And I am certain Jesus smiled back.
Scriptures used: John 2:1-11 and Luke 1:26-37. To see Jesus’ other six miracles recorded in John see: John 4:46-54, 5:1-9, 6:1-14, 6:15-21, 9:1-7, and 11:38-44.
This blog is meant to honor all mothers and to exalt the only begotten Son of God.