“The most profound socialite”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, January 14, 2022
John 2:1-12 (Forward, p. 77) CEV p. 1101
The story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana of Galilee must be, at least to those of a certain conservative and tee-totalling mind set, the most shocking episode in all the Scriptures. The party has presumably already lasted several days, and the guests have had ‘plenty’ to drink (to use the steward’s own words). So what if the party now begins to wind down? “Enough is enough, enough already”, the more circumspect, ‘careful’ and law-abiding among the crowd would now be saying. “After all, they have work and family responsibilities to go home to.”
So, what does Jesus ‘pull off’? He creates another 120 to 180 gallons of the best vintage possible—that, on top of the copious quantities that the wedding guests have probably already consumed. Talk about overkill? Jesus certainly ‘errs’ on the side of abundance. But, then, isn’t that exactly what He is like? He gives us far more than we want, much less deserve.
It would seem that Mary knows this. (I like to picture her as the beloved aunt, the wedding planner aunt who has her finger on the pulse of all the arrangements and knows and plans everything that goes on). And she knows fully well how much skimping and saving, how much going without, has gone into the planning and financing of this event. She knows how this is ‘supposed’ to be the social event of the year for this community, the show case, especially for this couple and their respective families. She most assuredly does not want to see a lack of anything put a blight or stain on this happy day.
She appears to ‘be in the know’ and notice the shortage long before anyone else, and rather than approach anyone else (such as the steward, the man in charge of the feast), she goes immediately to Jesus—and, in spite of what may well ‘seem’ to be a rebuff, simply leaves the problem with Him. And what is more—here she really seems to have some ‘clout’, as if she really is in charge—she gives the servant staff orders to do anything and everything that Jesus commands. She basically, as far as the staff goes, gives Jesus carte blanche. That surely shows something of just how far she trusts Him and trusts Him to do something that will bless this newly married couple and bring them happiness on this their special day. I would
say that this is exactly the kind of guest that most of us would want in our gatherings—and in our lives: someone who will truly be with us and help us and bless us. And yes, that is exactly the kind of Saviour that we will have, if we but turn to Him and trust Him and obey Him. Amen.
Forward notes: “When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine’” (verse 3).
“After the wine runs out at a wedding, Mary asks her son, Jesus, to help. At first, Jesus balks and reminds his mother that it is not time yet to perform miracles. His mother does not press but tells the others to do as Jesus says. She is setting up Jesus to respond to her invitation.
“Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars with water, and they comply. He then turns the water into good wine. He honours the bride and groom—and his mother. She believed in him, believed that he could help meet a need. We all have someone who believes in us so much that we are moved to please them or show them how incredible we are. How can we act so that we live into their view of us?”
MOVING FORWARD: “Send a note of encouragement to someone you love.”
