WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? — A STUDY OF THE LIFE OF JESUS (6)
FROM WATER TO WINE — THE BEST IS ALWAYS YET TO COME WITH JESUS
Matthew 26:29 "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."" What a day (and wine) that will be!
The synoptic gospels speak of the miraculous power of Jesus but John's gospel emphasizes that the miracles are "signs" that point to an increasing revelation of who Jesus is. John 2:11 "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."
In John's gospel, Jesus increasingly reveals His identity by explicating symbolic festivals and institutions from Judaism (a wedding, the temple, the rabbi, a well, the Sabbath, the Passover, etc.) to point to the more significant meaning of each of these — a revelation of God incarnate. This shows the inadequacy of Judaism as the way of salvation and relationship with God and that Jesus is the way, the only way, to the Father.
Weddings are highly symbolic of the glory of the kingdom — table fellowship, food and drink in communion, celebration, joy and a picture of Christ and His bride. Psalm 104:14-15 "He (God) makes A A . wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart." The Old Testament speaks of the fruit of the vine, wine, but the New Testament emphasizes the greater blessing, the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, etc. Jesus is far greater than Judaism.
Cana was only four miles from Nazareth so the wedding party must have known Mary and Jesus, "the carpenter's son." Boy, were they in for a surprise!
The Jewish wedding feast would usually last for seven days after the marriage was consummated. It was quite a social and religious event and to run out of food or wine would be a huge embarrassment. Why Mary felt she had to do something or what she expected Jesus to do is not clear. At this point He had done no miracles.
Calling His mother "woman" was not impolite or uncommon as it may seem to modern readers but His response to her begins to reveal His real identity as the Son of God not the son of Mary. "What to me and to you" is the actual translation of what Jesus asked Mary and it was an expression that meant, this is your business not mine, or what do you and I have in common on this issue. Jesus was in a completely different realm from Mary. Because Mary was only concerned about the temporal, physical need, wine, and Jesus was only concerned about His Father's will — the timing and revelation of God revealing the Son's glory.
Mary's response to Jesus' comment is instructive. "Do whatever He tells you." It shows her submission and trust in Jesus even when she doesn't understand Him. We are called to obedience even when we don't understand God's ways.
Jesus, in obedience to the Father not to Mary, takes action which not only blesses the young married couple with the best wine they had ever tasted, and lots of it, but He also did the Father's will as He revealed His glory through this powerful miracle. John 2:11 (NIV) "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."
Jesus will act in His own way, for His own purposes and in His own timing in our lives as well. He always acts to reveal and glorify the Father and as we agree and submit to this higher purpose for our lives Jesus will give us all we need and even more than we need. Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Philippians 4:10-13 "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."