Unfathomable Grace

The Apostle John records Jesus’ first public recorded miracle:

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 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 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.” 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)

Jesus had gathered his disciples and brought them home for the weekend. He had been invited to a wedding, and he was determined to bring his men with him. By this point in his ministry, he had begun discipling his men, but he appears not to have performed any miracles. However, there was an air of mystery and anticipation in the air, and when the wedding wine ran dry, Mother Mary sprang into action. Either sensing the need to unveil her son or simply help a troubled friend, she approached Jesus and presented the need. The wine had run out, and as a consequence the master of the feast was going to be disappointed and the bridegroom was going to look bad. At first glance, Jesus appeared slow and somewhat reluctant to respond to his mother’s request and the bridegroom’s predicament, but upon the prompting of Mary and internal encouragement of the Holy Spirit, Jesus went to work. He commanded the baptism urns to be filled with water, and in an instant there was vintage wine in abundance. Jesus knew what had happened. Mary knew what had happened. In addition, so too did the servants and disciples. However, the master of the feast and the bridegroom appear to have been left in the dark. All they knew was the excellent wine was gone. So too was the backup wine. But now, the most excellent of wine was being served to the guests. Ultimately, the master of the feast rejoiced. The guests were delighted. And the bridegroom was made to look sharper and more capable than he was. And why did this happen? Because someone invited Jesus to the wedding, and he went to work improving his community, his friends, and glorifying his name.

Friends, I can’t help but think he would do the same if we more fervently invited him to our weddings and into our marriages. Daily, let us welcome him with arms and hearts wide open. Then, let us see our dysfunction and bring our needs before him. He is very capable of soling the problem, improving the party, and making the groom and/or bride appear sharper than they really are. So let us be precise and bold in our requests. In addition, let us play the role of Mary and bring the needs of others to the attention of the Son of God. Then let us watch and see how he responds. Let us wait on his timing. Let us be diligent to follow his strange commands. Let us note how diligently, easily, miraculously, and beautifully he works behind the scenes. And when all is said and done, according to the will of the Father, in his own timing and own strange way, Jesus will do his miraculous work. His friends will be improved, and his name will be further glorified by those who recognize his wedding wonders and marriage miracles.