Water Made into Wine.
by Sue Griffiths
I wonder what we might have chosen as a first miracle for Jesus to perform. Well, He actually chooses to change water into wine. Not just one bottle, but six or eight jars of water, each containing between twenty and thirty gallons. That’s somewhere between 120 and 240 gallons of wine.
Jesus says that He hasn’t come to condemn the world but to save. He says He comes so that we might have eternal life, abundant life, life not death (John 3:17). And His first miracle says something unmistakeable about who He is and about His attitude to life.
He blesses this family who are celebrating the marriage of their son or daughter. He blesses the fun, the celebration, love and family life. He celebrates festivities and relationships and families. And, my goodness! You can bet that people from the next villages down the road would have joined in that celebration after a bonanza like that.
What do you think Jesus’ reputation might have been locally after the wedding at Cana? We think of John the Baptist coming with a stern message and a call for repentance. But Jesus comes to affirm and encourage and bring joy to those whose lives He touches. He accepts. He gives. He gives freely and joins in the dancing and the fun. He’s not a killjoy. He comes with love and acceptance, to make things good.
On this occasion, at the wedding, He steps in to provide something that was probably a real burden to provide for guests if you were a hardworking man and not very well off. He enabled the family to entertain like royalty and to hold their heads high, feeling that they had sent their daughter off with a great wedding party. And Jesus is like that. He helps us feel good about ourselves as His love and abundance rubs off on us and we get to know Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus that You delight to bring us joy, that You love to bless families and friendships and to bring good into our communities. As I freely receive Your love, Your affirmation and Your abundant life in my life today, would You help me, today, to be someone who brings joy and good things to those people around me. Amen.
Sue Griffiths Sue found deep inner healing through the teaching and ministry at Ellel ministries and is now part of the associate ministry team at Ellel Grange. Previously, Sue was a specialist in English Literature and a vicar’s wife. Her passion is to see others coming into freedom in Christ in their personal lives. Sue’s an outdoors person, loves gardening, walking, and many creative things. She and Richard, her husband, now live in Northumberland and enjoy a great family of 3 grown up kids and some grandkids.
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