The miracle of glory at the wedding party

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. – John 2:1-11

The interplay between Jesus and his mother, Mary, has always fascinated me. I still don’t know what to make of it. Clearly, Mary had expectations of Jesus’ capabilities when she brought it to his attention that the wine had run out. It appears that Jesus was irritated with her by referring to her as “woman” instead of something like, “Mom.” What does this have to do with me? It seems Jesus was reluctant to do anything about the depletion of wine at the party. Then Mary acts like Mom to her young son and ignores his desires. Her response? She tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” In hindsight, that is excellent advice. We should all take it.

But look at Jesus’ stated reason for irritation; “My hour has not yet come.” Jesus was already well aware that he had an “hour” awaiting him that was appointed from before the foundation of the world. And, that hour had not yet come.

Reference to that hour comes up again in John 7:30, “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come.” That same hour Jesus referenced with Mary is here shown to be the reason those who wanted to arrest him were prevented by Divine Providence.

Finally, his hour has come. “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:1-3)

Back at the wedding party, Jesus had satisfied his mother’s request and turned the water into wine. His disciples observed this first sign (as in signs and wonders) that Jesus did and manifested his glory. The results? His disciples believed in him. This apparently solidified their suspicions that Jesus is, in fact, the long-awaited Messiah. But the glory manifested in Cana was muted in comparison to the glory that was about to be revealed.

The hour was to be an hour of untold suffering, but that was not the final point of the hour. This was the hour for the Father to glorify the Son so he could, in turn, glorify the Father. After the suffering came the resurrection and glory like had never before been seen.

In this glorification, Jesus is given authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all who the Father has given to him. That eternal life is knowing the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. That is the real hour Jesus was waiting for, the joy that was set before him that allowed him to endure the cross.

How do we respond to this series of historical events? I think the first item of importance is to be assured that we are among those given to Jesus by the Father so that we might have eternal life. How can we do that? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” It is a matter of believing this good news of these historical events and trusting God in this promise. All who call on the Lord will be saved.

Secondly, I think we should be sure to take Mary’s direction in life, “Do whatever he tells you.” That obedience at Cana resulted in the power working of the Holy Spirit through the words of Jesus to produce his first miracle (or sign if you will). It just may be that our obedience today to the words of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit will again open the door to his power working. The power working of the Spirit glorified Jesus at Cana; it can do the same here (wherever you are) today.

I do not promise a miracle if you will “only believe and obey,” but I am saying that if we do live in faithful obedience, we may see his glory manifest in his power works.

Consider his gracious power and whether or not you are anticipatory. He is alive and lives in us and among us by his Spirit.

Does this encourage you to be more expectant in anticipating God’s working in your life and the lives around you?