Jesus Lord of the Marriage Supper
JN 2:1 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."
JN 2:4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
JN 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
JN 2:6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
JN 2:7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
JN 2:8 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."
JN 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Weddings have memorable moments. One time an organist started playing the Bridal March, but there was no bride walking down the aisle. One wedding, the groom walked down the aisle and everyone thought he was leaving; he went to get the bride. One wedding the groom stepped on the bridal veil train, which was pinned to her wig; it came off just as the couple stepped off the platform. This wedding also had its memorable moment. They ran out of wine. This would have been a serious blunder in that culture. It may have been the groom’s fault or the caterer’s. It is said, without wine there is no joy. Yet John records that it is at a wedding that Jesus performs his first miracle. J.C. Maculay said; “he came to comfort our sorrows and to sanctify our joys. Wedding feasts in that culture would last for days, no actual honeymoon, just open house for about a week.
Notice Mary and the role she will play. Mary plays an important role in this celebration. Maybe she had some responsibility to the caterer and therefore felt an obligation to deal with the situation. Some take this to say She is our mediator between Christ and us. Whatever her role, it is later when she shows importance. Some would say that Jesus was discourteous to Mary with his response. It may have been a mild rebuke, but it also showed that Jesus was subject to the Divine will of the Father. Mary then will say the most important words, the most excellent advice she can have for us today. Do whatever he tells you.
Luther bids us to imitate her faith. She was not daunted by what seems to be a refusal, but a better answer to prayer. Though his time had not yet come, she wants the servants to be ready when it had arrived. The same is true for us; we are to be ready when God is ready to work in our lives. Sometimes it is when all other help has been exhausted, when the Doctors say they can do no more, that is when God is ready to do His Will.
Notice though the servants. They are commanded to fill the 6 stone jars with water. They do not question or say, we need wine not water. They don’t ask what are you doing? They don’t say; “let me pray about it first” nor do they ask how much will be enough? They fill the jars just as they had been told. When they are told to draw some out and take it to the head waiter/master of the banquet, they do not ask why, they don’t say but it looks like its still water, nor do they ask to taste it first. They do as they are told, much like we want our kids to act when we tell the to do something. They do it as they are told when they are told, no questions asked.
There are benefits to obedience on this day, an ordinary village, in an ordinary time, hosting an ordinary wedding. Following the ordinary rules of the banquet with ordinary servants and guests experienced an extraordinary day. Nothing is ordinary after Jesus has touched it. This service, an ordinary worship service, in the middle of an ordinary town, in an ordinary building, filled with ordinary people, touched by the hand of Jesus and it becomes an extraordinary event.
Wherever we are, if we are gathered with other disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are in an extraordinary place. Because He is there with us.
Notice the water pots: They are empty and stone, inflexible, cold and empty compared to Jesus. They hold 20-30 gallons; Jesus tells them to fill them all. That would make it about 120-180 gallons of wine. Why would they need so much wine, the guests already have had enough to dull their senses? The Supplier was seen for who he is; in his presence the supply is always greater than the demand. Obedience always has its blessings. Neither the groom, nor the headwaiter can explain where the wine, a superior wine, came from. But the servants who obeyed Jesus knew. Those who know God enjoy hidden moments of pleasure. No one may be able to explain how this miracle happened, but the servants of the Lord know he touched them. When we pray for things to happen, and they happen sometimes even better than what we prayed for, we who obey have an inside track, a privileged point of view.
Notice Jesus gives the best last: Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the fullest, that is not a promise for here, but the hereafter. With the devil he presents his best upfront, false promises and trinkets, whereas Jesus gives the best last. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. He who overcomes I will give the crown of life
REV 21:6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
This wedding is like a wedding yet to come. John describes it this way;
REV 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
REV 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
REV 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
REV 19:9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
We can have a personal invitation to this wedding, the guest list is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. Giving our lives to Jesus now and living like His followers will assure us a spot on that guest list.
