Don't Run Out of Wine! - John 2

One of the worst things that can happen if you are hosting a party is to run out of food or drinks.  Since people don't always RSVP these days, I usually end up buying too much and am left with lots of leftovers.  But this is better than the embarassment of running out and committing a social "faux pas". 

Today in the first of many "signs" in the gospel of John, which will reveal the true nature of Jesus as both God and man. Jesus turns water into wine to save the the bridegroom from the same embarassment at his wedding banquet. 

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

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 the first of many stories where Jesus was invited to the party.  Obviously people liked to be around him.  In Jewish culture the wedding banquet was a huge deal, which is why a lot of the descriptions of heaven use it as an analogy.  There is no mention of Joseph in the story, which leads many to assume he is not alive. There are three lessons in this first sign. 

1. Though Jesus was respectful of his mother, she did not control when he would begin to perform these "signs".  Ultimately he listened to her request, but not after making it clear that he did it to save the bridegroom from embarassment. 

2. Jesus uses the ceremonial purification water the Jews used to cleanse themselves before entering the temple.  In the Lord's Supper, Jesus used wine as symbol of his blood, which would purify us from our sin. Hence this sign pointed to the cross and the salvation Jesus would accomplish for us. 

3. God saved the best for last wine.  Most hosts brought out the cheap wine at the end when the guests wouldn't know the difference.  Again this is a sign that God would save the best for last by sending his Son.  

This is the first sign Jesus did for his disciples showing them his glory.  It says they "believed in him". 

I believe Jesus shows us his glory in our lives as well.  It may not be turning water into wine at your latest dinner party, but He is always at work revealing God's love to us.  Like Jesus honored his mom, Jesus honors us when we ask him to help us avoid embarrasment from a variety of errors we make.  Thank God that God saved the best for last for us the church, which is the "bride of Christ".