Water to Wine

3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:3-5)

We'll never know what Mary had seen or experienced that let her know that Jesus was ready to begin his ministry, but what an extravagant way to begin. Jesus, his disciples, and his mother were all invited to a wedding celebration which, likely, lasted a week and the wine had run out. Although the bride and groom are never mentioned, Mary must have known the family well because the fact that they ran out of wine would not have been broadcast. Had word gotten out that they had not been able to provide for their guests, the family would have been shamed.

Much like the lowly shepherds were the first to hear of Jesus' birth, the servants were the first to see Jesus' power for themselves.Fortunately this couple had invited the King of kings to their feast, so they were the beneficiaries of a grace they didn't even realize they needed. As we invite Jesus into all of the moments of our lives - big and small, sacred and secular - we, too, will experience immeasurable, abundant grace. Glory to God!

9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

(John 2:9-11)