Only John records the wedding in Cana. It’s only a side light. The real ministry of Jesus is still developing.
I grew up in a church where appropriate behavior was defined more by what you should NOT do than by what you should do. You should NOT smoke, drink, swear, chew, play cards, go to movies, or hang out with anyone who did those things. So I didn’t.
Drinking was especially forbidden. I still remember our pastor preaching about communion, telling us that Jesus really used grape juice rather than sinful wine. Ludicrous!
You can imagine my almost horror when as a young man I first read this passage in John, finding out that Jesus not only drank wine, but that he turned ordinary water into really good wine so that a wedding party could continue on a well lubricated basis.
We’re not sure where Cana was. Most scholars think it was a small village about 9 miles north of Nazareth. We know from John that Jesus’ mother was there, and that Jesus and his disciples had been invited. We don’t know how many disciples he had at that early point, but probably only a handful and one of them must have been John, who tells us this story.
“The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Dear woman, that’s not our problem,’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come.’ But his mother told the servants. ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Jesus told the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’(Note…from archaeological digs in this area, it is likely that the jars were those used for ceremonial washing, holding 20-30 gallons each. This is some party!) When the jars had been filled, he said, ‘Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.’ So the servants followed his instructions. (After tasting the wine) the master of ceremonies called the bridegroom over. ‘A host always serves the best wine first, then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!’” Then John adds the comment that this miraculous sign was the first time Jesus revealed his glory…and his disciples believed in him.
I don’t want to make too much of this. The miracle was the first we know of and was certainly a wake-up to those disciples that their “rabbi” was no ordinary rabbi…and that interesting times were likely ahead!
But I really love this tiny glimpse of Jesus at a party, invited, at home with laughter and celebration. The gospels are so focused on the mission of the Messiah that we miss accounts of the Messiah who children loved, who women were drawn to, who the sick were unafraid to call upon.
That Messiah has invited us all to another wedding feast, and it will be fabulous beyond imagination.
“Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder. ‘Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear. For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.’ And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ And he added, ‘These are the true words that come from God.’”
I think that somehow, at this small village wedding feast in Cana, that the sight of Jesus grew to a future memory of the great feast to come; his wedding feast, with his bride, the faithful church.
Prayer: “Great Father of Joy! We know Jesus as teacher, example, and risen Savior, but we are eager to know him fully. We are eager to hear his voice and laughter, to see his face suffused with delight, and to watch as he is animated with joy and love. In this life we feel and experience those things dimly, but we know that in your heaven our hearts will be cast open to their full expression in your presence. There we will add our voices to that vast multitude and sing with your joy and ours. How great you are! Amen.”