Jesus and his new disciples head for Galilee to attend a wedding along with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jewish weddings are a major social event, and the host of the wedding is expected to keep the guests satisfied with copious amounts of food and wine, in some cases for days.
But for some unknown reason at this wedding, the host runs out of wine – an unthinkable social embarrassment. Mary turns to Jesus expectantly, as if there is something she thinks he can do to save the red-faced host, who is not yet aware of the situation back in the kitchen:
“They have no wine” (Jn 2:3)!
This is either a social conversational comment between mother and son, or a hint that Mary already knows completely the God-given potential of her son, not yet unleashed.
At first glance, it appears that Jesus is abruptly stifling his mother when he says:
“Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4).
But no, I picture this more like a twinkle in Jesus’ eye, perhaps with a wink, telling her to be patient and watch. Why else would she then say to the servants:
“Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5)?
A bit later, perhaps when Mary has rejoined the wedding guests, Jesus and his disciples are still hanging out with the servants back in the kitchen. Don’t miss this: perfect unity to Jesus means unity with everyone at all social levels, but he has a special affinity with lowly servants, and so should we!
It is now that “his hour comes.”
Perhaps with a glint of love and maybe even a little mirth in his eyes, he commands the servants first to fill several large jars (we might have called them barrels) with water; then to draw some of the water out; and finally to take what they have drawn to the master of the feast.
The servants already know that the wine has been transformed into wine, but the master of the feast does not. How incredibly wonderful is it that Jesus chooses the lowly servants to witness, along with his disciples, what can easily be called one of the most amazing moments in human history, topped off by being able to observe the look on their master’s face when he tastes?
The master is doubly astonished at the point of his palate:
“Everyone serves the good wine first…but you have kept the good wine until now” (Jn 2:10)!
Now stop and count the number of groups with whom Jesus demonstrates perfect unity at the wedding:
- His mother
- His disciples
- The servants
- The master of the feast
- The bridal party
- The guests
But now, don’t miss John’s conclusion:
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11).
To manifest is to reveal. Why did Jesus choose this moment to reveal his glory?
I cannot read the mind of Jesus, but I can suggest that within it perfect unity is as central to his entire being as white blood cells are to red, such that all have the opportunity to believe he is the Son of God.