Blog – 5-27-15 Water Into Wine
“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said, “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:10
Many of us have heard this story many times. It was the first miracle Jesus performed, changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana. I’ve read it countless times myself, but today something new and fresh jumped out at me. I love how scripture does that! It comes alive in whole new ways as we continue to study and dive into God’s Word.
Jesus and his disciples were at this wedding, along with Mary, Jesus’ mother. Mary saw a need and wanted her son to try to fix it. As mothers we do that. She had a little edge on the rest of us, however, knowing that her son was the Son of God! Jesus’ response to her request for help is a little hard to understand. He says in verse 4, “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Can’t you just hear one of your kids responding the exact same way to you, but this is Jesus! Yet in spite of that response, Mary has faith in her son and tells the servants in verse 5 to “Do whatever he tells you.”
Jesus has them gather six huge stone jars and tells them to fill them with water. Sounds pretty simple, right. But then the miracle happens. They taste the water, which is now wine, and it’s the best wine of the night! They take it to the master of the banquet, the man in charge, and he says, “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said, “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:10.
What struck me in a new way was how often we look to the world to provide us fun, excitement, and meaning. We think that’s where all the good times will be had, and every form of media seems to confirm that with all the commercials and songs that try to tell us how to live life on the edge! Somehow we imagine that following Christ is going to be dull and lifeless, that all the fun will be over, and we will live our lives out in servitude and silence.
What a lie that is! Just like the wine that Jesus provided, our life in Christ is so much better than life on our own. The world tries to sell us on the idea that living for ourselves is the way to go, but we’ve all seen or experienced the shallowness that comes from a self-centered lifestyle. Why wait until everything else has dried up before trying God?
The moments I will treasure and think about forever are those where Christ has shown up in a mighty way. My butterfly story changed my life forever…I can’t say that about anything this world has to offer. So often, however, we spend our lives trying to find that “high” that we can only find in our faith.
This new life in Christ that Butterfly Nation represents is anything but boring. It is full of a richness and meaning you will not find anywhere else. I guarantee it! Life will still be a struggle, there will be heartache for sure, there will be mountains and valleys, but it will be anything but dull!
I urge us all to stop seeking the cheap wine the world has to offer. Let’s all continue to seek Jesus and drink the best!
~Jill
