Simply Jesus, and the Miraculous!
podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ddf0d51/simply-jesus-and-the-miraculous-john-no7
Jesus’ first miracle, covered by the Cana Post.
The Cana Post – all the news that is fit to print around Galilee.
Dateline: Cana. (from the Society editor)
Young David, the tanner, was wed to the baker’s daughter, Rachel, on Wednesday last in Cana. It was a festive occasion for all; oy, we know that our people need cause to celebrate in these trying times, as we suffer under the heavy hand of Rome. But I digress. There was singing, there was dancing, a grand time was being had by all, but then I noticed one Mary of Nazareth get up and whisper in the ear of another. From what I could gather of her gestures, the wine was running out. The rabbis say, ‘without wine, there is no joy’! Tsk, tsk.
Feeling there must be a story there, I moved to watch and listen as Mary spoke to her son, the one who is Joseph the carpenter’s boy, who was sitting round a table with several men.
This is what I heard:
“They don’t have any wine.”
“What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.”
“Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.
Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons.
“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did.
When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”1
It was all done so quietly, I tell you. Why, only the servants and the friends of Jesus sitting near him were aware that something had gone terribly wrong—the wine had run out. If it were not for this Jesus of Nazareth, the young couple would have started their married life in total disgrace in the village of Cana. But strangely, his mother seemed to know her boy could do something about their failure, and what would be their shame; it was most unusual to say the least.
And to hear how Jesus addressed her so tenderly, ‘Woman,’ rather like ‘dear mama’, moved even my calloused heart, I must admit. I looked on as he moved to action. Jesus had the servants fill the water jars to the brim, and with my own eyes what was natural spring water—what we had been using for cleansing—somehow turned into the finest of wines when it was poured out. And it was the finest of wines! And how strange that the “miracle”, if I should call it that, seemed to be reserved for the servants and those few who were with him.
As a result of my reporting, I have now been assigned the task of following this Jesus of Nazareth, because it seems he may create a stir wherever he goes.
Shalom from the social desk.
Clearly, the news coverage was fictitious, including the wedding couple’s names, however, religious custom held that a virgin would have been married on a Wednesday evening, and the celebration would have lasted for several days. Wine was very important in the culture and would have brought shame on the family had the guests been without it!
Only Jesus. Only Jesus would choose to turn water into wine, to do his first miracle before the watching eyes of who? Servants and the banquet wait staff at a wedding. And why? Jesus cared about the shame and embarrassment of the bridegroom and his family, whose very serious responsibility in this small Jewish town was to provide food and enough wine for their guests for the long wedding feast.
What's more, Jesus demonstrated his miraculous power over matter by providing abundantly more than enough, turning all of those gallons of water into the finest of wines. Ostensibly, there was enough excess for the young couple to sell and have a tidy little sum. Nice...
Having just recruited his disciples, it was critical the men saw Jesus’ power to do the miraculous, as before their eyes, Jesus did what only he could do. John noted that 'This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.'2
Isn’t it just like Jesus to do his first miracle at a wedding in a tiny obscure town, Cana, which still today is on the way from here to there, some nine miles from Nazareth. Hmmm.
Your attention? The wedding family ran out of wine - that was their need. And remember, Mary simply came and told Jesus, 'they have no wine.' That was the need. She didn't tell him how to solve the problem. So often, when I pray, I kinda direct God to what I think he should do--and I guess some needs are clear: 'please heal ____, please draw him to Yourself, dear Lord.' But I am quite moved that Mary simply told Jesus her need, had enough faith that He would meet the need, that she told the servants to do whatever Jesus asked, and then went back to the party. So interesting.
And how about you . . . what do you lack? Are you fresh out of hope or peace?
Please tell God your need and open your hands to receive from him. O but perhaps you first need to let go of what you have in your hands like un-forgiveness, shame, pain or bitterness. Go ahead ... those clenched fists of yours keep you closed off from so much. Then invite God - you know, just as Mary said ‘do whatever he tells you--’ believe that He can, and He will. Then you too will be able to receive from the One who is so good. There is nothing too big, and gratefully, with Jesus, there is nothing too small either.
Jesus did not just supply the wine—he supplied the best! Did you catch that? Amazing.
Are you praying fervently for something or someone right now?
Jesus may be working a miracle that you are not yet aware of -
trust that he is at work.
He has heard your prayer.
Because as C.S. Lewis said and our authors of More Than A Carpenter quoted, Jesus was not just a good moral teacher, as many are wont to say, but rather he had to either Lord, liar or lunatic.3 And because he was and is Lord of all, he started by turning water into wine. He is still doing the miraculous in our lives 2000 plus years later.
Eve of a Miracle, song by The Afters.
This is exciting!
Christine
John, no.7
1 - John 2.1-10
2 - John 2.11
3 - More to come on this point
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