A Wedding in Cana

Lesson Text: John 2:1-12

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 Thought to Remember: Time hinders processes, but Jesus controls time.

Lessons learned:

The Scriptures in John 2:1-12 recount Jesus’ attendance at a wedding in Cana, where the wine ran out. At his mother's prompting, Jesus performs his first miracle by turning water into wine, revealing His glory to selected ones – disciples and servants.

New Wine

As I reflect on the first miracle by Jesus, I ask myself, why wine? Usually, the church culture offers a different perspective on such beverages, as noted in this doctrine: We re-assert our position against the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors, which we believe to be contrary to Christian morals, injurious to personal piety, and a hindrance to the gospel. (COGIC Official Manual) From my youth, I was encouraged to abstain completely from intoxicating beverages, yet I see that the very first miracle the Savior performed, with the approval of His mother and heavenly Father, was to appease the guests at a wedding reception after they had consumed all the intoxicating beverages. Wine in this setting was a celebratory beverage, and such practices still occur today.

To justify Jesus’ actions, some individuals claim that the wine that Jesus concocted was not the same as our alcoholic beverages of this modern age, because our drinks are more potent compared to those of biblical times. However, these beverages are produced through fermentation, as in biblical times. Wine is fermented grapes or fruits, whereas whiskey is fermented grain mash. If you compare the potency levels of alcohol in strong drinks, beer typically has an alcohol content of 4-6%, wine ranges from 12-15%, and whiskey is much higher at around 40-50%.  The potency level of wine is much higher than that of common beer. Too, the potency level of wine created an intoxicating effect for Noah after the flood because the Scripture indicated that “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” (Genesis 9:21) Because of the likelihood of inebriation when consuming such drinks, one often leans more toward prohibition instead of the acquisition of all intoxicating beverages.

Nevertheless, Jesus, the trend setter, did not shy away from a controversial beverage but improved the wine so much that the governor of the feast said to the bridegroom: “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2:10 (NIV)

If you really analyze the rationale for Jesus changing water to wine, you will conclude that wine symbolizes the Kingdom that Jesus was declaring.  When Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom, He used new wine as an example. “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.” (Luke 5:37 KJV). Jesus was telling the people that He represented a change from the order of the past, from traditions and rituals, and from the Old Covenant. Jesus ushered in new wine that was better than the old wine; with Jesus came a New Covenant that was better than the Old. Throughout His three-year ministry, Jesus repeatedly stated that the Kingdom is here. The term Kingdom appears approximately 126 times in the four gospels of the New Testament. However, Jesus ended the dialogue about new wine with this statement: 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:39) In other words, because people are more comfortable with the old, they assume that it is better than the new. Change is always difficult, which is why many individuals believe, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” meaning that if something is working well, there is no need to change it. A complacent mindset blocks potential and wastes precious opportunities for growth.

At the wedding, when the wine ran out, it created an opportunity, and Mary seized it by directing the servants to do exactly what Jesus said. The servants responded without hesitation to Jesus’ direction, pouring water into the stone waterpots. Then the servants served the governor of the feast and guests. Please note that the fermentation process began immediately upon serving, making this wine not only new but also the best.  Fermentation undoubtedly requires time; for example, fermenting grapes into red wine usually takes 5 to 14 days. However, the transformation of water into wine was instantaneous.

As believers, we must leave our comfort zone and seize opportunities in our lives while remembering that Jesus’ new wine causes spiritual intoxication, not physical intoxication. The Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to refrain from excessive wine drinking by inviting them to a Spirit-led life.  

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18 NIV)

Therefore, as believers, we must embrace a life guided by the Spirit, while casting aside the self-satisfying proverb, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” We must recognize that spiritual growth and Spirit-led change are synonymous for thriving in the Kingdom realm.