Living the Good Life

The first miracle recorded by Jesus was when he attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  It could be an entire year of preparation went into planning a wedding, an occasion that could last a week or more.  At this wedding the unthinkable happened:  they ran out of wine.  Mary told Jesus about the predicament, as He asked her what her concern had to do with Him.  But as always, Jesus knew exactly what He would do.

There were six large waterpots used to hold water for Jewish purification rites before and after meals.  John 2:7-10 reads, "Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. ¹⁰ And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"  The obedience of the servants to the command of Jesus resulted in abundance of good wine.  It was so good, in fact, that the master of the feast called the bridegroom to commend him for it.

I believe the bridegroom was no different from other hosts who put out the best wine first.  The problem was, there simply wasn't enough of it for the duration of the wedding.  He was probably appraised of the lack of wine, and he must have been amazed and relieved to have his need so abundantly supplied with good wine.  John 2:11 says, "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."  Though Jesus was not publicly credited by the bridegroom in the passage, Jesus did this sign to affirm He was the Christ, the promised Messiah God would send as Saviour.  Mary's directive to the servants was, "Whatever He says to you, do it!" and the result of obedience to Jesus brought good out of it:  from a lack of wine came the abundance of good wine.

This passage and others like it show Jesus is worthy of trust and obedience.  We can have complete confidence He will guide us step by step and will supply all our needs.  Like the bridegroom, our best efforts fall short to prepare us for future needs that will arise.  Even if we can store up food and money to sustain our lives on earth, we cannot secure eternal lives for ourselves in heaven.  By God's grace through faith in Jesus, He makes a way for us to experience an abundant life now and a glorious future in heaven.  People might think they are "living the good life" now, but nothing compares to the life Jesus provides where the best is yet to come.