John 2:1-11 Jesus’ First Miracle

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

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Jesus had just entered into his public ministry. He had begun to gather his disciples. He had so many things to do, so many souls to win. Yet Jesus took the time to go to a wedding at Cana. He used the occasion not only to strengthen his disciples’ faith but also the faith of many people at the wedding.

Mary went to Jesus, asking for his help when the bridal couple ran out of wine. How embarrassed the couple was! Mary was sure Jesus would help.

The problem was that Mary addressed Jesus as though he were still the little boy who for years ran her errands and did her bidding. It wasn’t Mary’s place to suggest how or when Jesus should reveal his power and glory. It wasn’t up to Mary to tell Jesus how he should do his work as Messiah. Since Jesus had entered his public ministry, his relationship with his mother had changed. Mary had no right to tell her God and Savior what to do. Gently, Jesus told her so.

The servants also were blessed by what Jesus did. They knew about the lack of wine. They probably had no idea of what to do. A strange man told them to fill the water jars with water -right up to the top. But how was that going to help? Why should they waste their time? Mary, enlightened by Jesus, straightened out their thinking. “Do whatever he tells you,” she said. They did, and the problem was solved.

We sometimes are tempted to be like Mary or the servants in this story. We have ideas in our minds as to what God should do and when he should do it. We need to remember that God is in control. He will do what he thinks is best in his own time and in his own way, and everything will turn out perfectly.

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead me to place my life in your hands. Help me humbly do whatever you tell me to do. Amen.