“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,[a] 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.[b] 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.” John 2.1-11
This is the first miracle of 37 that Jesus performed. Thirty-seven miracles during his 33 years displaying God’s power, glory and might. These miracles point not only to God’s all-powerful nature, but also that Jesus was God. This examination into each of the 37 miracles will hopefully affirm Jesus as God and as Messiah.
Miracle 1 – Jesus turns water into wine. Out of all the miracles, this is certainly one of my favorites for many reasons.
The first reason is that it was his mother Mary who instigated the miracle. Jesus did not seem to be planning the miracle until his mother said at the wedding feast to him, “They have no more wine.” Mothers have a way of knowing, seeing and encouraging. What she said resulted in Jesus getting involved.
Yet Mary spoke as if she knew he was capable of such a miracle and even as if she had seem something similar before. I wonder how many private miracles Jesus performed while at home, growing up, as a boy. I hear Mary saying these words to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you,” as very matter of fact. It’s as if she knew he could and would intervene.
Jesus does just that. He has the servants fill up to 180 gallons of water which subsequently he turns into wine. That is not small. According to winefolly.com, there are five bottles in a gallon of wine. If Jesus produced 180 gallons then he in an instant made 900 bottles of wine. That is not only huge it seems excessive as it would result in 3600 glasses of wine for as many guests. Was there really a need for that much wine at the end of the evening?
But this is what Jesus does. He does abundantly more than all we could ask or imagine as we will see in the multiplication of bread and fish at the feeding of the five thousand or the amount of sins he is willing to forgive 70 x 7 – an infinite number.
Perhaps the significance of this miracle isn’t so much Jesus’ obedience to his mother Mary, but rather that when God performs a miracle he does it completely and fully. When Jesus heals the sick, he doesn’t heal partially. When Jesus saves us from our sins, he doesn’t do so half way. Jesus’ miracles show God’s complete ability to redeem, restore and renew his people.
Several times now I have had the opportunity to go to Cana of Galilee and to sit in a chapel near the place where Jesus turned water into wine. It was moving, significant and special as we read the miracle in it’s original location. But Jesus Is not limited to Galilee, his power is alive today. Is there a need in your life in which you need to pray for a miracle? For his amazing grace to interceed in your life?
Call out to God, to Jesus, your Savior. Allow him to do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine.
“Come now, Lord Jesus. Just as you did a work in Cana so many years ago, do a work in my life. Just as Mary found you willing to produce far more than what was required, you do the same for us today. Pour out your abundance in love, grace and forgiveness because God knows, we need it. I love you Lord and praise your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen