Water into Wine

“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” — John 2:5

A few days later, there was a wedding in a village called Cana, in Galilee. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was there, and Jesus and His new followers, His disciples, had been invited too.

Weddings in those days were big parties that could go on for a whole week. Everyone ate and drank and celebrated. It was the job of the family holding the wedding to make sure there was plenty of food and drink for all the guests.

But in the middle of the party, the wine ran out.

That was a disaster! The bride and groom would be terribly embarrassed. People would talk about it for years.

Mary went to Jesus. “They have no more wine,” she said.

“Woman, why do you come to Me?” Jesus answered. “My time has not yet come.” Jesus knew there would be a right time for Him to show everyone who He was.

But Mary turned to the servants. “Do whatever He tells you,” she said.

Nearby stood six big stone water jars. The Jewish people used the water in them for washing in a special way before they ate. Each jar could hold twenty or thirty gallons. That’s as much as a bath full of water!

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them right to the brim.

Then Jesus said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet,” the man who was in charge of the party. So they did.

The master of the banquet tasted it. And it wasn’t water any more. It was wine! He didn’t know where it had come from, but the servants who had filled the jars knew.

The master of the banquet called the bridegroom over. “Everyone serves the best wine first,” he said, “and then the cheaper wine later on, when people have already had plenty. But you have kept the best wine until now!”

This was the very first of Jesus’ signs, the miracles that showed who He was. He did it in Cana in Galilee. He showed His glory, and His disciples put their trust in Him.

Isn’t it interesting what Jesus chose for His very first miracle? He didn’t do it in front of huge crowds. He did it quietly, at a wedding, to save a family from embarrassment and to keep a happy party going. Jesus cares about our everyday lives: our families, our celebrations, our troubles big and small. And when He gives, He gives the very best.

Read it in your Bible: John 2:1–11

Dear Jesus, thank you that you care about every part of my life, even the small things. Help me to do whatever you tell me, like Mary said. Amen.