John 2:1-11

When we go to a wedding we want to record it, to remember it. We take photographs. After a while, they get put away in the loft. They may get forgotten about for generations. The wedding albums are passed on, and people they are passed onto may not even know the names of the those in the photographs.

Today, we’re hearing about a wedding which took place 2000 years ago in Cana, Galilee. We don’t know the names of the people at the wedding, but there were some very important names on the guest list: Jesus’ mum, Jesus and His disciples. This passage shows us that Jesus is OK to have a good time. These weddings would have been held at night. The bridegroom would have been dressed like a king. He would go through the street to collect his bride and bring her back to his home. The bride would be veiled. It would be a very happy procession. The bride would then have her hair done and this would be followed by a benediction. The bright and bridegroom would then be married. The celebrations would last a week!

We are going to visit this wedding feast. As you hear the sound of the music and singing, see the bright colours of dresses and smell exotic food, you will see Jesus and his friends laughing. In the middle of all of this, Mary came to Jesus saying the wine had run out. Mary might have been linked to the family to know this. It was a social gathering, and it would have been a no-no to run out of wine.

1. A Problem of Insufficiency.

Jesus was told by his mother that there was no more wine. Jesus addresses Mary saying, “Woman.” This would have shown respect. Jesus continues, “Why are you involving me? My time hasn’t come.” His time was the cross. This was a time leading up to it. Mary didn’t actually ask Jesus to do anything, she simply took the problem to Him. Mary knew that running out of wine was a big problem, but she knew Jesus was special and could do something about it.

Have you got a problem of insufficiency in your life? Maybe, a relationship problem, a problem at work or maybe insufficiency of joy? Are you feeling depressed? You may be on holiday but thinking about the work back home. You may be searching the world for meaning and cannot find it because you haven’t met Jesus. What do you do when there’s a problem of insufficiency in your life? Do you take it to Jesus, or try to solve it yourself first because you doubt and lack faith? What do you do if you don’t know Jesus?

• Jesus was present at the wedding and it made all the difference.

Jesus was right there in the middle of it all. Is Jesus present in your life? Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Maybe, you’ve taken your insufficiency problem to Jesus, but still worry because it’s so big and you don’t know how you’re going to cope. Then you spiral. What is Jesus saying to you this morning? Ask him to be present in your life. His presence makes all the difference. Give him your burden and leave it with him.

“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.” (John 2:7).   Jesus is now involved. Six stone water jars were used for ceremonial cleansing. They held between 20 and 30 gallons – that’s a lot of water! Jesus told the servants to fill the jars to the brim with water. He then told them to draw some out and bring it to the master of the banquet. The master tastes the wine and doesn’t know where it has come from. It tastes good! He goes to the bridegroom and asks why he has saved the best wine till last. This was the first recorded miracle Jesus did. Jesus willed this to happen.

• Jesus’ power was at work, unseen by some.

When we come to Jesus with our insufficiency problem and realise Jesus is the answer to our broken relationship with God, His Power is at work. Jesus’ power can change things in a moment. It is a power that can help you with your difficulties. This miracle needed faith, obedience and the unlimited power of Jesus. With it, the problem was solved.

There was some symbolism in this miracle that people wouldn’t understand. The stone jars would have been used for ceremonial washing. The water was transformed into wine. The time would come when Jesus would say that His hour had come. We have symbolism in the shedding of His blood – blood cleansing us from sin.

When we come to Jesus, we can be sure our insufficiency problem will be dealt with, our relationship with God can be put right. We will have Jesus present in our lives. When we face all difficulties, Jesus will be present with us. His power will be present and provide abundance in our life.

• The purpose for which all of this happened.

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11). This was the first recorded miracle of Jesus. It revealed His glory. The purpose is that ultimately, He might be glorified, to realise that Jesus is the King of Kings, the one who was prepared to give up the glory of heaven and show complete humanity. The miracle of turning water into wine shows His divinity. The disciples put their faith in Jesus.

We must be ready to meet face to face with Jesus. Have you got faith, knowing Jesus is present with you in your circumstances? For those of us who put our faith in Jesus, the best is yet to come. We have eternity in the presence of God. Are you ready to meet Him today? Have you put your faith in Him, to allow Him to meet you in your insufficiency problem today?