When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.”
– John 2:3-4 (NIV)
It’s interesting to note that Jesus’ first public miracle didn’t happen at the temple, but rather at someone’s home; it wasn’t during a funeral, but someone’s wedding; not during a fast, but during a feast.
As to why Jesus chose to perform his first miracle in front of the public at this wedding, we aren’t exactly sure. In fact, as we read Jesus’ initial response to his mother, it seems as though he felt that this event was neither the time nor place for him to publicly demonstrate who he really was. “Why do you involve me?” he said to his mother. “My hour has not yet come.”
Yet as we read further into the story, Jesus apparently had a change of heart. Perhaps Mary was friends with the family of the groom and sought out her son’s divine help with the matter. Few things were more dishonorable than for the groom’s family to run out of wine at a wedding, and she desperately wanted to do whatever she could to help them avoid that shame.
I think it also might be worth considering that Jesus, in that very moment, looked ahead to that day three years later when his time would truly come; the day his mother would experience the most agonizing heartache and suffering that a mother could ever experience, witnessing her precious son being crucified on a cross.
And true to form, Jesus saw the need, felt compassion, and responded with mercy and grace. “Yes, I will give my mother and her friends this joy today.”
And what a joy it was!
“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 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.
“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” – John 2:9-11
Not the second-rate stuff on the bottom of the shelf; not just enough to barely eke out the need. The Man who would later on feed 5000 people with five loaves and two fishes ended up giving these wedding guests a day they would never forget.
And for one very special mother, a joy she would always remember.
Former Blackout Artist 