19. Turning Water into Wine

Three days later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, along with Jesus and his disciples. 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.” 

There were six water pots of stone set there for Jewish ceremonial cleansing, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. Then he said, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” 

When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (only 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, they serve what is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now!”

This was the first of the signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. It revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Reflections

This transformation was a sign, not a magic trick. Just as the dry, emptiness of old water jars was replaced first by water and then by the best wine, so would the old way of seeking to please God by strict obedience to endless rules be replaced with new life coming from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Has your experience of church included both dryness and vitality? What made the difference?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for bringing new life and hope into my life. Show me who I can invite into this same experience.