John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”

So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from — although the servers who had drawn the water knew —, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Water into Wine

Water is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. We need water just to live. What is more refreshing than a cup of cold water on a hot day? What is more reviving than a cleansing shower or bath? Water is found throughout the Bible, from the Creation of the World, to the Baptism of Jesus. To become a Christian is to have received baptism in water, blessed by God, Father, Son, and Spirit.

Water represents all our bodies’ deepest needs, even our deepest desires. We say that someone thirsts when they want more and more of whatever is dearest to them. It could be a desire for friendship, not to be alone any more. It could be a need for healing, not to be in pain or to be failing in mind, body, or spirit. For what do you thirst?

It is God who places desires in our heart. He has made us so that we need the good things of His Creation. And it is truly good to receive the things we need. But, not everything we desire is good for us. We, who are sinners, are apt to seek things out in a destructive way. How often have you desired and sought things that harm? We call this sin.

But our desire for earthly things, from water to all of the things we look for, will never leave us satisfied. We want more, much more. God has placed the deepest of all desires in every single one of us. We thirst more than anything for God Himself.

Now look at this miracle at the wedding. The newly married couple, and their guests, could have gotten by with water. But something would be missing. The very first miracle Jesus ever did answered their need. The joy of the celebration was restored when the water in the jugs, stored up for cleansing, was turned into wine, for celebration.

This miracle, where Jesus turned water into wine, is the beginning of his signs, the first time that he pointed to himself, so that his disciples began to believe in him. Jesus wants to fulfil your very deepest desire, by inviting you to receive him into your heart. The wine of that miracle is a sample of the incredible joy that only he can give. It also reminds us that Jesus would pour his life out for us on the cross. There is nothing more wonderful than the joy which only he can give, the joy that carries us through all of life’s ups and downs, and into heaven.