Scripture Daily

Context No. 913 of 4322 · John

Context · Reflection

John 2:6-11: in context

6Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. 9When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

This is the wedding at Cana, Jesus' first sign in John's Gospel. The wine has run out, a quiet disaster for the host, and Jesus tells the servants to fill six large stone jars, the kind used for ceremonial washing, with water, up to the brim. Then he has them draw some out and take it to the master of the feast, who tastes it, finds it is fine wine, and marvels that the good wine was saved for last. The servants who drew it knew where it came from. His disciples saw his glory, and believed.

There are more than a hundred gallons of wine here, made from the water of the purification jars, and the extravagance is the point. Jesus' first sign is not a healing or an exorcism but the rescue of a village wedding from embarrassment, and he does it lavishly, far more wine than any party could drink, and the best of it at that. This tells us something about the God who was hiding in that room. He is not stingy; his glory shows up in abundance and joy, in the quiet care that saves a family from shame on their happiest day. And the detail about the jars matters: the water meant for ritual washing becomes the wine of celebration, a small picture of what he is doing everywhere, turning the old religion of careful purification into the new wine of the kingdom. Only the servants who did the filling knew the secret. Those who simply obeyed the odd instruction, fill the jars, draw it out, were the ones let in on the miracle.

Where has Jesus told me to do something ordinary and obedient, like filling jars with water, that I am hesitating over because I cannot yet see what he will do with it?

Sources