Sunday, August 30 · Christ Church at Grove Farm
When Jesus Comes to the Party
Jesus is invited into an ordinary wedding and quietly turns water into wine, showing that he belongs at the center of everyday life, that obedience to him can be trusted even when it makes no sense, and that he provides what we could never provide ourselves.
The passages
The third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1–11
For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Go deeper
Do I keep Jesus in the church part of my life and out of everything else?
Jesus was invited to a wedding, not a service, and that detail is the whole point. The couple at Cana did not know who was in the back of the room; the bride and groom who invited him got more than a guest.
The third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding.
John 2:1–2
This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:11
Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:7–10
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23–24
Why would Jesus care about something as small as running out of wine?
The groom's shame was real and the family's reputation hung on it, and Mary brings it straight to Jesus. She looks at what is in front of her; he looks at the cross behind it, and he still does something about the wine.
When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
John 2:3–4
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
John 2:5
…casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
How do I obey when what God asks doesn't seem to fix anything?
The servants carry jars of water to the master of the banquet knowing exactly how foolish it looks. Somewhere between the instruction and the obedience, Jesus does what only he can do, and their job was only to fill and carry.
Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it.
John 2:7–8
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:10–14
All of your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the city wall will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him.”
Joshua 6:3–5
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. For by this, the elders obtained approval. By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:1–3
Can I trust Jesus when I don't understand what he is doing?
The servants had no explanation and no guarantee, only a man they were starting to trust. Mary had already given her five words about doing whatever he says, and she had watched him long enough to mean it.
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
John 2:5
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
Psalms 37:3–5
This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:11
Why would the groom get credit for something Jesus did?
The groom came up short, and the master of the banquet still praises him for the best wine of the night. The bride and groom at Cana had no idea what had happened behind them, and the credit was not theirs to earn.
When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!”
John 2:9–10
…for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,…
Romans 3:23–24
…for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
Ephesians 2:8–9
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21