“Miraculous Signs”

“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.”

John 2:11           

            Jesus and the disciples were at a wedding in Cana celebrating with many people over a few days as was the custom at that time. Many people would have attended this celebration and the feasting would continue along with the dancing. The master of the banquet had a special role to play in ensuring the tables were always full and that the wine would be available throughout the party gathering. This master of the banquet would know from experience as to what wine would be served first and what would be held back until the guests would no longer be drinking for the taste of it but merely  to keep the room relaxed.

            However when Mary, Jesus’ mother tells him that they have run out of wine, Jesus does not want to respond. Yet the option of going to pick up more was not there. Wine would take a long to prepare for a wedding feast and a few bottles would not be enough to keep this crowd celebrating. Jesus knew a lot of wine was required. But he tells his mother my time has not yet come. Yet Mary knows Jesus well enough that she tells the servants to listen and do what he says. 

Jesus then asks the servants to fill large jars with water. They do this and then he asks one of them to take a sample of the contents to the master of the banquet for testing. He remarks that this wine is better than what was put out for the guests first. He tells this to the groom as well not knowing where it came from. The party is saved. The wine is poured. But only a few know about the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine Mary, the servants, and the disciples. But as a result of this miracle the disciples put their faith in Jesus.

Miracles happen every day. We might not always get excited about them but when some one is healed after being diagnosed and treated for a terminal illness it is a miracle. And when someone is almost dying and new life enters and enables them to get stronger, this too is a miracle.

But not all miracles happen with a physical healing. What is essential is a transformation from one state to another. Miracles happen when people choose to follow Christ and their lives change from within their hearts and minds to being and doing something different. The disciples put their faith in Jesus and so in many ways this too is a miracle because they believed and now realize again that Jesus is the Son of God.

What about you? Do you believe and know that Jesus is the Son of God? Has your heart been opened and you life changed because of your belief in Jesus? Let us be thankful for miracles as Jesus continues to reveal himself in you. 

PRAYER:  God of love, Jesus revealed his glory through the miracle of the wine at the wedding feast and this is a miracle. We pray that you would again reveal yourself to us and give us miracles to share with others. Enable us to understand what we experience as miracles and call us to tell the story again and again as we reach out to others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 BLOG QUESTION: How would you describe a miracle? Have you experienced miracles in your life because of Jesus? Describe this as you share it with others.