Wine at the wedding...

John 2: 1-12

⁵His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 

Have you ever been to a wedding where the wine runs out?  Some of us have been a few when we prayed that it would! Jesus attends a wedding and what do you think happens? Yes you’ve got it the wedding planner got the numbers wrong and underprepared for the big event and they ran out of wine. Jesus makes wine from freshly drawn water with the purpose recorded in verse 11 of revealing ‘His Glory’. So the question is how does this story in general and in the making of wine from water in particular reveal who Jesus is? Jesus is an invited guest; perhaps a relative is getting married and Jesus has come to the wedding with a few of His friends. His mum appears to be involved in the organisation at some level and she comes and tells Jesus the wedding is about to turn into a disaster.  Jesus is concerned about His mother. She has heard what happened with John the Baptist (see the previous chapter and Matthew 3).  The Pharisees have been refused baptism; accused of being unrepentant religious frauds by John. Jesus has been identified as the “Lamb of God” and has been baptised by immersion in water and into the ultimate concerns of His people.  In Mary’s mind its time; her son is about to embark on His life work that terrifies her. Jesus knows His mother, He sees her distress and he asks her in the most respectful of terms a rhetorical question; ‘what is your real concern mother?’ Jesus reassures His mother He is not about to die; there’s time yet. Be calm and try and enjoy the wedding ‘My hour has not yet come’.  Jesus reveals His heart of concern for the worry of His mother. He is not scolding His mother and then giving in to her and an inappropriate request. Jesus knows that even at weddings people are concerned about the troubles of their life as well as the things they are celebrating. Mary will remain worried, she is a loving mother and let’s face it she pays a terrible price for work that Jesus is now undertaking; it costs her Son. Mary gives some sound advice; advice that she has come to live by, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ She has had thirty years of living and learning with Him it’s now time to let Him go but it’s so hard. Here Jesus is revealed in the words of His mother as the ultimate authority in all matters. Jesus makes wine and ensures the wedding celebration continues to focus on the most important thing at that particular moment; the celebration of marriage. Perhaps Jesus will be reflecting, looking forward to a time when he will be the Bridegroom and He will be one with His Bride? (See Revelation 19: 6-9).  But there is a lot to do before that, the road will not be easy but in the meantime Jesus reveals that he can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves in the making of wine out of water. Jesus glory is revealed in His divine concern for the troubles of His mother and all mothers, He is revealed to be the divine authority over all our lives and in making wine from water He is revealed as the divine power that can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Do we live lives of concern for others through being dedicated to the task God has given us? Let us not forget to celebrate life in the midst of our concern.