Daily Devotional

Verses 6 through 10 go on to describe the directions Jesus gives that leads to the miraculous turning of water to wine.  Verse 11 concludes:

"This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."

This first sign is one of Jesus’ well known, even if only by the adage “turning water to wine”, used to describe accomplishing the seemingly impossible.  It was something unique, perhaps also making it memorable.  Compared to the other signs, it might make us at least curious at why it was included.  Some may even just view it as Jesus helping to keep a party going!
 
The wedding ceremonies in those days were major community events, usually spanning over many days, involving not just extended family but the whole village.  Wine was not just some side option, it was a centerpiece together with feasting, music and joy.  Couple all that with hospitality being really a sacred social obligation, and you have a major crisis brewing.  There could be embarrassment and even lasting shame due to the host failing in preparation.

When Jesus’ mother speaks to Him about it, His response may seem a little blunt at first.  However, the phrase at the end is what gives us pause: “My hour has not yet come”.  This phrase always signifies His death and resurrection.  What a peculiar time to bring this up!  I remember when I held my first baby girl, Carissa, in that hospital room a few short hours after birth.  Of all the beautiful thoughts that came into my head, one very strange one hit me: “Wow, I could be a grandpa”.  The clock had started, and even though it wouldn’t be something to realistically think about for probably a couple of decades, in that moment it seemed so near.  I believe in this passage, the Savior of this wedding feast is stepping onto the path leading to His ultimate sacrifice as Saviour of the world.  In this first sign, there was a degree of solemnity similar to what Jesus experienced in Gethsemane, like a shadow cast back.
 
But there is still the question: why a wedding feast for this first sign?  Why not a healing, a miraculous feeding, a raising of the dead, or a powerful calming of the sea?  All these would seem to point more powerfully to His person and work as the Son of God.  It was not displayed before rulers, religious leaders or the masses at large, and even the guests didn’t appear to know it was happening (just the servants and the disciples).  In the wedding we see a picture of the joyful end God truly desires: intimate fellowship with the crown of His creation.  We see this theme from the first “God-ordained union” in Eden, when He walked in joyful fellowship with Adam and Eve, to the final marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation.  That’s what’s on His heart for us to enter into, beloved.  As you read these next verses, let your mind imagine the experience of this!

Rev. 21:2-3:
And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them”

Hebrews 12:2 states Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.  Even under the shadow of that sacrifice, He brought joy and restoration at a humble wedding in Cana.  We can remember that God is often working toward eternal purposes even through ordinary moments and difficult paths. As His betrothed, let us not allow our affections to be pulled to any other loves in this world.  Like the servants at the wedding feast, we may not always understand what He is doing, but we are called to faithfully obey whatever He says to us, trusting that the One who began the good work will also bring it to a glorious completion.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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