Saving the Best for Last!

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2 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.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 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. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
This is one of my favorite stories about Jesus.  He is at a wedding party and the bridegroom runs out of wine.  His mother tries to get him involved and take care of the situation, but Jesus is reluctant to show his power.  But in the end, Jesus has compassion on the host and tells the master of the banquet to draw some water out of the ceremonial cleansing jar.  And out of the jar comes not only wine, but the best wine.  The master of the banquet is impressed and gives the groom "kudos" for saving the best for last.  This was one of the first signs Jesus performed to reveal who he was as the Son of God.  
Why do I like this story?  Jesus bails the groom out of a potentially very embarassing situation.  It would not have been a good way to start his marriage nor put in good graces with his in-laws.  Jesus makes him look good when the best wine is saved for the last.  Finally, this shows that Jesus is not against being social and having a good time.  Rather than being stingy Jesus is generous.  Sometimes Christians need to know how to have a good time, obviously within limits.  There is a time to celebrate life, family and friends and special moments and milestones in our lives together.  
From a spiritual perspective, the significance of the ceremonial water being turned into wine is that the God had saved the best for last.  If the ceremonial water represents the Old Testament law, the new wine is the grace of God in Christ Jesus.  At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup of wine at dinner and poured it out for the disciples to drink, as a symbol of his blood being shed for the sins of the world.  As water represents cleansing and new birth in baptism, the bread and wine represent Jesus' body broken and blood shed for us.  
God saved the best for last!  


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