Water Into Wine
July 1, 2009
When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine. Dear woman, why do you involve me?… My time has not yet come…”Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim…the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “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.” This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. -Excerpts John 2:1-11
Teachers have extrapolated all kinds of meaning to this passage: the arrival of the Kingdom of God in the person of Christ, the timing of His revelation as the Son of God, the importunity of His mother to reveal His identity for the sake of saving the family’s reputation at this critical social event, the metaphor of wine representing Christ filling the place with up to 180 gallons of joy and celebration, etc.
Today I want to look at the fact that the master of the banquet was so taken by the quality of the wine that had arrived so late in the evening, remarking that the host had ’saved the best till now.’ This reminded me of Jesus’ admonition to the disciples to be ready to forsake all that they had to follow Him, and ultimately receive an earthly and heavenly inheritance. At the end he explained, “for many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matt 19:29-30)
I thought of the lyrics to the old song, “Just when I thought our chance had passed, you go and save the best for last.”It is not over for you!
Last month our encouragement was, that whatever your season; it will change. Today, no matter what your age, station in life, how long you’ve been on the shelf or how discouraged you might be…continue to refine yourself with the water of the Word of God. Let Him turn your water into wine (joy). Then be ready to be presented to a master by the Master. Let God reveal His glory through you! Folks may be expecting the cheaper wine, but the Lord has saved the best till now!
