Covenant Joy
2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-3, 6-9, 11)
Jesus' first miracle - turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana - was not just a miracle, it was a sign pointing to the abundance of joy and grace found in Jesus. In Jewish tradition, wine symbolized joy, and weddings were celebrations of covenant and community. Jesus' first miracle revealed His purpose: to bring joy, unity, and renewal through His life and sacrifice.
God’s covenant with us is like a marriage - a relationship of commitment, love, and trust. As Christians, we live in a season of betrothal, bound to Jesus through the New Covenant. When He returns, we will celebrate in the eternal wedding feast in His kingdom.
This joy-filled promise invites us to be open to seeing the ways God is working in our lives today. Like the disciples at the wedding, are we ready to believe and celebrate? Or are we like the servants, so focused on the task at hand that we miss the miracle in front of us?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke of the "beloved community," a vision of unity, justice, and peace where God’s love binds us together. King’s dream mirrors the abundance and joy that Jesus promises. May God help us to recognize the signs of God’s kingdom and live in joyful anticipation of what is to come.
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you and your salvation to the upright of heart! (Psalm 36:5-10)
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