At a Wedding Feast
Opening Prayer
Jot down on a piece of paper a need you don’t know how to meet. Tell God about it. Keep the paper for future reference.
Read John 2:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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, 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.
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.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
Have you ever run out of something important when you desperately needed it?For wine to run out at a wedding feast would be extremely embarrassing for the hosts. Mary is probably related to one of the family members, as she takes an interest in the catering. The family can’t afford to just go out and buy more wine, so she speaks to Jesus (3). Notice she doesn’t ask him to create more wine. She simply shares their need, and tells the servants to follow Jesus’ instructions. She believes that her son will come up with a plan.
The newly chosen disciples watch carefully as their master tells the servants to fill the jars, used for ceremonial washing, with clean water (7). That’s something the servants can do; they do it all the time. After they obey, Jesus does what they cannot do. He changes the water into the best wine of the banquet (8,9). This first miracle is done quietly and in front of few witnesses. Jesus isn’t seeking attention; he is meeting a need.
God often works that way today. When we share a need with him, he tells us to do something we are able to do. It is not enough, but as we act in obedience, the Lord adds his own touch, something we cannot do. The result may well be way more than we ever asked for.
Apply
Take up your piece of paper and read out your need to the Lord. Then do what you can, and allow him to do what you can’t.
Closing prayer
Loving God, You see the answer to my problems. I trust You to do what only You can do as I take my steps of faith and obedience.
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