First sign of brilliance
Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2379
John 2:1-12
Joh 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus’s mother was there.
Joh 2:2 Jesus and his disciples had been invited to the wedding as well.
Joh 2:3 When more wine was needed, Jesus’s mother says to him, “They don’t have any wine.”
Joh 2:4 Jesus says to her,” What is that to me and you, woman?” “My hour has not yet come.”
Joh 2:5 His mother says to the servants. “Do whatever he says to you,”
Joh 2:6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for a Jewish purification rite. Each contained up to two or three metretes.1
Joh 2:7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim.
Joh 2:8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did.
Joh 2:9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from– though the servants who had drawn the water knew. The headwaiter called the groom
Joh 2:10 and says to him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the cheaper. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”
Joh 2:11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his brilliance, and his disciples believed in him.
Joh 2:12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, together with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there not many days.
First sign of brilliance
The water to wine story seems an odd one to be the first sign of the powerful brilliance of Jesus. It isn’t a plague upon his enemies. It isn’t walking on water, or raising the dead. It’s providing good hooch for a party. Maybe some Christians are a bit embarrassed by Jesus’ choice. But personally, I’m glad Jesus cared enough about this little bash to show up there, and make a difference.
LORD, thank you for showing up in the oddest of places.
1 18 to 27 gallons.
