The Best Wedding Wish

THE BEST WEDDING WISH (JOHN 2:1-11)

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A question was asked:

“Who is Jesus?

In chemistry, He turned water to wine.

In biology, He was born without the normal conception;

In physics, He disproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven;

In economics, He disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes and 5 loaves of bread;

In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs;

In history, He is the beginning and the end;

In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace;

In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him;

So, Who is He? He is Jesus, the Greatest Man in History!

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!”

Very early in his ministry shortly after he met John the Baptist, Jesus and his mother, along with the disciple, went north from Nazareth to Cana to attend a wedding, where he performed what’s been widely acclaimed as “his first miracle.” In the first section of chapter 2 Mary was the main focus, in the second section Jesus was the key person and in the third the governor of the feast and the groom, and in the last the disciples (v 11). In John chapter 1 Jesus had found four of his disciples Andrew, Simon, Philip and Nathanael (John 1:40-45). Nathanael, the last person mentioned in chapter 1, was from Cana (John 21:2). Jesus had promised Nathanael that he will see greater things (John 1:50).

What do you contribute to the people in your lives, from family to friends? How do you see your life transformed by Christ with Him as host and not guest? Why is Christ not merely a miracle worker but a people changer?

Live it – Admit Jesus as Guest

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, 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.”

A man used to stay drunk all the time, so much so that his family would have to go without the basic necessities to get by on, but one day he was saved and became a vocal witness for Jesus.

One of his old so called drinking buddies trying to poke fun at him asks him, "Do you believe that Jesus turned water into wine?"

The man’s reply was "I certainly do, in my home, He has turned wine into furniture, and decent clothes, and food for my wife and children.” (William D. Brown)

A wedding (v 1) was a festive occasion, a family gathering and a feel-good event. It was attended joyous congratulations and celebrated collectively by family, friends and neighbors alike. On four occasions Jesus talked about a marriage (Matt 22:2, 25:10, Luke 12:36, 14:8), but this is the only time Jesus was at a wedding and also the only wedding event in the New Testament. The wedding cost a lot of money because many people attended, including Jesus and his disciples – at least five grown men. They were friends of the family, on the bride or groom side. Jesus and company did not disappoint; they traveled 7.5 km to 9 km for one and a half to two hours to attend.

When the wedding was short of wine, Jesus’ mother said to him abruptly, “They have no wine.” Jesus’ answer - “Woman, why do you involve me?” - is “What have I (to do) with you,” in Greek. There is no verb “involve” (NIV) or “do” (KJV) in Greek. It is just a simple way of saying, “We have nothing,” not just Jesus but everybody at the wedding. It was a fact to arouse faith, information to draw insight. It was not Jesus’ intention to discourage Mary, but it set the stage for a miracle. The hour refers to his glory (John 12:23, 17:1).

Mary was often portrayed by many writers as an unwitting, unwise and uninformed mother in this episode, but she was profound in her understanding of herself, her son and others. - smart, shrewd, strong, sensitive and sympathetic. First, Mary was never asked to produce wine. The question was not addressed to her, if you look carefully. Nobody expected her to do anything because she was a woman and she was a guest, not the host. Mary, however, was willing to serve rather than to be served, willing to act than to be asked.