2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and 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 10 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.”
11 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.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
A wedding in the community! Family and friends gather. A Jewish wedding would have been a three day even, thus the note in v. 2 that this was the third day…and Jesus’ mother was there. Likely helping out and making sure that the family would be proud of how the event went for family reputation was part of the event. And Jesus was there! And some of the family too.
And Mary knew that as the wine ran out, that there was a solution to the problem in Jesus. What had she witnessed before? Not enough for supper — was Jesus helping out? The Bible doesn’t say but a mother knows her son! (Especially if he’s a favourite – a small note to my sister here!)
And what is the instruction from Mary to the servants? “Do what he says”… not bad advice for any of us when it comes to hearing the voice of God in our lives! Do what He says to you.
Jesus has of course objected reminding His mother that it is not HIs time. Yet he responds and the creative work of God is on display. He doesn’t just turn the water into wine. NO. He turns the water into the BEST wine. And if we do what He says, can he display the BEST for us? The BEST in us? If we obey. Yes.
in 2 Kings 4 is this remarkable story:
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
God’s redeeming work fills in the gap. And He fills the gap in our lives! Yes, He does.
When we were younger we didn’t have much and there were times when we were asking God to fill the gap for us, for our kids. Over time our need for the gap to be filled has changed. There have been times when that gap was more about emotional support, or wise counsel. But God has been filling gaps that at times we weren’t even aware.
How does the testimony of God’s goodness to us make a difference? How does God’s filling the hap encourage us? And how can we use those experiences to encourage others?
The work and ministry of Jesus also impacted His family. We know that His brothers are named – Matthew 13 notes: “Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?”
We know that His brother Judas, also known as Jude wrote the book of Jude that we find in the New Testament, and we know that His brother James is noted in Galatians 1: “19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.”
In time it seems Jesus’ family believed Him to be the Messiah.
You might need to time to get there too – but know that Jesus’ is willing to bring to your life what you need, to fill the gap. It might be through others who love Jesus. It might be through those who just love you – as you are.
Hear the words of the mother of Jesus. Do what he tells you.
