JOHN 2:1-11
Today we heard about the first miracle that Jesus performed in his ministry. It was one that he really did not want to do, but who can disobey your mother?
During his ministry, Jesus performed thirty-seven miracles:
• He turned water into wine
• 26 times he healed people
• Twice he fed the multitudes
• 4 time he saved the disciples on water
• 4 times he raised people from the dead
That was amazing miracles in a little more than three years!
His ministry of miracles all began that afternoon at Cana, when a young couple were celebrating their wedding day. Cana was not even in Judea, it was a jerkwater town off the beaten path – there was no reason for them to be there. But most likely they had been invited to the wedding, which lasted seven days. And Jewish law was very strict about rules of hospitality, not only for the one extending the invitation, but those receiving it. So they were in Cana.
Mary, Jesus, and some of His disciples were dressed in their finery and enjoying the food and companionship and joy of the new couple. The feast was spread and the wine was served, and everyone was having a good time. In fact, such a good time that the wine jars were drained. The father of the bride was about to be extremely embarrassed - the scandal of running out of wine – a serious faux pas!
But in stepped Mary, who suggested to the wine steward that her son might have an answer to their problem. Jesus hesitated, but Mary insisted that the servants do whatever He might tell them to do. So He told them to fill six empty water jars and serve up their contents. When those contents were served, the water was gone and excellent wine was in its place, much better wine than had first been served.
On the surface, this seems like a little miracle, not quite up there with calming the raging storm or raising Lazarus from the dead or feeding the 5,000. But this was Jesus’ first miracle.
Not that he really wanted to do this – when Mary told him to fix the problem, he resisted, telling her
Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? (John 2:4)
We can imagine that he was having a good time with his disciples, and didn’t want to be bothered – or have attention drawn to Himself. But Mary paid no attention to His reluctance and ‘persuaded’ him as only a mother can do, to take care of the situation. I don’t know if she had to use that “mother’s look”, but Jesus finally did what she wanted.
It seems like a frivolous use of Jesus’ power, turning water into wine. It’s been the subject of a host of theological humor. Like the Baptist preacher who was caught with a load of moonshine whiskey. He claimed he was just hauling water. When confronted with the fact that it was whiskey rather than water, he exclaimed, “It’s a miracle. Our blessed Lord has done it again.”
But this first and "minor" miracle should not be taken lightly - it showed
• who Jesus was. . .
• who He would become . . .
• what He would be . . .
• what He could and would do.
It is interesting to note that no other gospel documented this miracle. To those writers, this miracle was considered insignificant, not even worth mentioning.
There is a part of this scripture that generally goes unnoticed:
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (John 2:6)
Seems pretty innocuous, doesn’t it. . . but it is significant to the story. The six waterpots were there because they had been used by the wedding guests to clean their hands and feet prior to being seated. Jewish law was extremely strict about cleanliness, so all the guests had used the water in these pots to clean their hands and feet – and now the pots were considered unclean! Yet, these were the very pots that Jesus used to turn the water into wine – violating all Jewish law for cleanliness.
Jesus transformed these pots from something unclean and forbidden into something clean and good.
When we look closely at this miracle, or as John identifies it—a ‘sign’, the fact that Jesus used water in dirty pots to reveal his glory catches our attention. In other gospel stories, Jesus used spit and mud to cure a blind man, loaves and fish to feed five thousand, and a wooden cross to save the world.
God seems to take particular delight in using the common and ordinary to glorify himself and to accomplish his purpose. We know that this is true not only in the Bible, but also in our everyday lives.
Think about it for a moment and you will see that this miracle was just the beginning of those miraculous things Jesus would do, culminating in His resurrection.
It is interesting that he was reluctant at first. He reminded Mary that
My hour has not yet come, (John 2:4)
Think about times when you were enjoying yourself with your friends and your mother insisted you do something for her. We have all had those moments when we wished she would just disappear. But like a good son, when Mary asked Jesus to intervene, in spite of his reluctance, he ultimately did what she told Him to do.
Most of us know the stories of Jesus’ earthly ministry. But we often miss little hints in the stories that tell us just how hard it was for Jesus to come to his ministry. At twelve He went to the temple in Jerusalem, to ‘His Father’s house’ where he began to reveal his awareness that He was the Son of God. After the death of Joseph, as the eldest son, he remained in Nazareth taking care of Mary and his brothers and sisters, who weren’t exactly happy to have the ‘Son of God’ as their half-brother/sister. And then there was his cousin, John the Baptist, wearing animal skins and eating only honey. He was out there baptizing everyone he could while they waited for the Messiah who would save them all. And later on, his own hometown scorned Him, saying
Nothing good could have come from Nazareth (John 1:46)
No wonder the Scripture said He was reluctant. He knew that this was the beginning of a path that would ultimately lead to his death. He knew that there was no turning back after this.
People were watching him and this ‘minor’ miracle confirmed to his disciples and other followers that He was more than a rabbi, or a teacher. He was something special. . .
the Son of God,
the Messiah.
But Mary pushed him forward – made him leave the comfort of his anonymity and step forward into the world as the Son of God. She may not have known the extent of his ability to perform miracles, but she knew He was special and it was time for Him to claim that. I imagine that very few people at the wedding even knew what was going on – they were having too good a time. But the disciples who accompanied this itinerant preacher saw what happened and recognized who Jesus was and would become.
Just as Jesus was reluctant to take this first step, so are we reluctant to make even tiny steps in directions we feel called to take. We have lots of excuses:
• I don’t have the time
• I don’t know enough to teach Sunday School
• I don’t have any professional voice training
• No one wants to hear what I have to say
• One person can’t make a difference
• What difference does it make to a legislator what I think.
We may also be afraid. . .
scared that we will make mistakes
that we will ‘screw things up’. . .
that people will laugh or scorn or reject us.
Isn’t that where the miracle is? Jesus enters with us in our struggles just like he showed up at that small town wedding, assuring us that, yes, we are enough. Every time we gather around God’s table, every time we share what we have with others and don’t worry about ourselves, we participate in the abundant life and love of God, where there is always enough, and even more than is needed. The best stuff is just as available at the end as it was in the beginning.
Just as Jesus turned water into wine, Jesus works with ordinary people, like you and me, because he knows we have the potential to be transformed by his gospel into the ‘good stuff’- the best- by God’s transforming love. We are enough—and Jesus chooses us to work his miracles in the world today. That’s more than enough.
But each of us must follow the example of Jesus and step out to claim our place in this world. In our own little way, we are all miracles – miracles of birth, miracles of our love for one another, miracles who are willing to step out and take a risk.
Just as Jesus’ first miracle was not a spectacular, ground-shaking event, so our day-to-day lives may seem insignificant to each of us, but miraculous to others around us. You never know who is watching and gaining strength to also take a risk. You never know whose life may be changed by something you think is ordinary.
Let me give you an example:
About thirty years ago I was attending a church to help them become open and affirming. At the time my partner was dying of cancer and I was not in a good place. But the church was extremely supportive and helped me get through the ordeal. I was asked to give a testimony about what the church meant to me, so I did. After the service, a young gay man came up to me and thanked me – he was so despondent that he had intended to go home after church and kill himself. But my message had given him hope. I understand now that he is an accomplished photographer on the west coast.
So you never know what ‘miracle’ you can be for someone else.
This miracle at Cana was remembered and recorded not to say something about wine, but to say something about Jesus. It is Jesus who takes the ordinary, the tasteless, the common and transform it into something robust, hearty, joyful. The point is this: Jesus can and does transform us. In Him is all the fullness of God; in Him is life, and when He touches our lives, what is common, ordinary and flat becomes extraordinary.
No matter where we are, we need to remember that Jesus knows what we need and he will provide it, just as he changed the water into wine (although it took some prodding from Mary). Consider that Jesus may need some prodding from us to know, in our heart-of-hearts, what we are struggling with. This is the comfort that we find in today’s text.
The main miracle in this story is not the making of wine for a wedding celebration. Rather, it is the faith of the disciples. They saw the wine for what it was—a sign of Jesus’ godliness and divinity. The disciples saw and believed.
I wonder if there is someone here who has a need for God to step in a do a miracle in your life. You realize that God is not a vending machine, but you know He has the power to do what you need Him to do. You are willing to obey Him and let Him do His work His way. And You have no doubt in His ability to meet your need.
You just have to ask him. This is a long-standing biblical principle. Moses put it this way to God’s people thousands of years ago.
“I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse. A blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; but a curse, if you disobey these commands and turn away …” (Deuteronomy 11:6-8)
This principle applies to Jesus’ work in us: He does not do things for us that we can do ourselves. Miracles do not excuse us from carrying out our own responsibilities.
It’s time for us to take that step - to make a decision – take that risk. As followers of Jesus, we are not alone.
Jesus is always with us.
Let’s step out there and take a risk.
Let us pray:
Holy and righteous God, give us today the grace we need to share with those around us. As we live our everyday life, please help us see Jesus' glory at work in ways we never have before. We don't ask this for our entertainment or for our self-interest, but so that our faith may grow stronger and our Christian witness more powerful, to your glory. Amen.
Delivered at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH; 16 January 2022
