John 2:1-12
Zechariah 2:10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.
Joseph, Mary and Jesus didn’t stay in Egypt for the rest of His growing up years. We know that they moved back to Nazareth after they found out that Herod had died and that his son had taken over. We don’t read anything about Jesus in these years of growing up except for the incident where when He was 12 and stayed behind in Jerusalem to talk with the religious leaders. But now He has grown up.
While this specific incident is not listed among the prophesied miracles of Jesus, it was His first and so should be noted. This miracle was encouraged by His mother. We don’t know if He had done miracles as a child or if Mary just knew He was capable of it because of her knowledge of His being God’s Son. No matter the reason we know that she did tell the servants to do what He told them to do.
We are used to seeing wine in nice little long-necked bottles that a person could easily handle Jesus told these servants to fill up six jars used for ceremonial washings. These jars could hold 20-30 gallons a piece meaning that they could weigh anywhere between 167 and 250 pounds each! This may not have been as impressive as causing someone to regain their hearing or sight but this was no small act.
Jesus’ first miracle being at a wedding shows that He didn’t hold a low view of marriage. It is also interesting that Jesus began His public ministry with a wedding and said during His final supper that He wouldn’t be drinking wine again until the coming of His Kingdom (Luke 22:18). Weddings took place when the bridegroom came to gather his bride to come home with him as his wife. Jesus coming in the flesh was His coming to pay the bride price for His Bride, the Church.
The master of ceremonies is amazed that the groom had saved the best wine for the latter part of the festivities and that can be tough for us to fathom as well. We tend to live for the day we are living in right now and miss that we are to be living for eternity. Christ is coming for His Bride and we need to be ready to celebrate with Him in all His glory. He came to be among His people and was going to be teaching them how to live to be ready when He comes for the wedding feast of eternity.
Making It Personal
What do you think it means to live as the Bride of Christ? Have you been living that way? What soils need to be cleaned from your life?
Making It Personal Kids
Why is it important to know that Jesus loves the Church and you? How can you show Jesus you love Him too? Who can you tell about the love of Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for showing us the love Christ has for His Bride, the Church. Help us, his Bride, see the importance of being ready for His return by living a way that brings Him glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.