May 23, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Not What It Seems

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of Great Surprises, You know my needs and meet them in amazing ways. Thank You for letting me know You love me.

Read John 2:1-11

[1] 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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isa. 55:1). Christ keeps an open store and the invitation is still good!

C.S. Lewis wrote of being in a dark tool shed, seeing only a beam of light with dust floating in it, and “Then I moved, so that the beam fell on my eyes. Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no tool shed, and (above all) no beam. Instead I saw green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside and beyond that, 90-odd million miles away, the sun.” Jesus’ “signs” are like that beam, pointing to faith for those with eyes to see. Where we stand in our attitude to Jesus, along with our understanding of the Old Testament, will determine how we see. Some who read this passage will see only a marriage feast where Jesus saves the host from major embarrassment. Others will notice that something greater is going on.

The scene is a wedding and the festivities are celebrated with wine–an image of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament (Isa. 25:6). During his earthly ministry, Jesus will celebrate the coming of the Kingdom, and the leaders of the Jews will not see it. Instead, they will criticize. As he goes to the cross, Jesus shares wine with his disciples and we learn that there is yet another meaning. The Kingdom will come to fullness only after the price of sin has been paid. The water jars for purification will have been filled with the blood he has shed.

Only a select few knew what had happened: Mary must have pondered this in her heart. The disciples, too, knew that there was something more going on, and believed. His glory is like that, visible only to those who stand in the beam of light and look out through the chink in the tool shed wall.

Apply

Compare how the disciples reacted to the miracle with your own reaction. As God has worked in your life, what changes have occurred? Make a list, and thank God for his transforming work.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, You are wine of life. You have brought joy and exhilaration to me. The joy You give improves with age.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store