The Wine of Transforming Love
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. John 2: 11
Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose to turn water into wine as his first miracle? Mary told her son about the wine running out. Did she expect him to do a miracle?
Jesus didn’t do the miracle to please his mother. He didn’t do it as a gift to the bride and groom. He did it as a sign to reveal he was the Messiah for whom Israel had been waiting.
Knowing more about Jewish customs in Jesus’ time is key to understanding the significance of the miracle at Cana. A Jewish marriage had two parts: (1) the betrothal (2) the wedding. The betrothal involved a ceremony where the couple legally became husband and wife.
After that ceremony, the bride continued to live with her family for a time, usually a year. Then the bridegroom and his friends came to her home with great ceremony, and the bridegroom took his betrothed to his home or the home of his father for the wedding feast. She then became his bride.
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel was referred to as a wife. God had chosen Israel to be a unique nation, which He would guide and bless abundantly. But she was adulterous, worshipping other gods.
The prophet Jeremiah said the voices of the bride and bridegroom would end in the land of Israel; that is, there would be weddings, but this imagery of God married to Israel would end (Jeremiah 7:30-35; 16:9). Israel had not acknowledged God as their provider, so he would remove the grain and the wine he’d given them.
But God gives second chances. Jesus came to offer an intimate relationship again. Jesus came as the Bridegroom to offer the wine of the new covenant to all who would receive.
We too are adulterous, worshiping other gods such as money or celebrities. We also forget to acknowledge God’s provision.
But aren’t you glad that Jesus, our Bridegroom, died for our sins so we could be betrothed to him forever?
DIG DEEPER:
How does John the Baptist confirm Jesus as the Bridegroom in John 3:28-29? The friend of the bridegroom is what we would call the “best man” or groom’s attendant.
How are the Bride and Bridegroom preparing for the next event on the agenda according to John 14:23 and Revelation 19:6-9? What are the righteous acts God has given you to do?
For more about the first miracle, see http://www.digdeeperdevotions.com/2010/02/25/mary-the-mother-of-jesus/
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of a series on the Miracles of the Messiah, see http://www.digdeeperdevotions.com/2018/02/15/miracles-of-the-messiah-series/