Jesus the Oenologist (Winemaker)

And here is my first post (Well second not counting the introduction which indeed was my first post as it is counted as a post, and yet it is not because it doesn't share the same character as this one).

I was listening to a sermon on Jesus’ miracle at Cana on Epiphany Sunday and I found that I came to think far more deeply about the story than I had before. I had often used it jokingly in debates with Christians explaining that not only God condoned drinking but indeed Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. A quick reading of the text can reveal an interpretation that this is just a simple miracle by Jesus, turning water into wine, and while that it is a perfectly valid interpretation there are far more levels to this story of which I will make mention of a few. What follows are a few reflections I had on various parts of the story arranged as they come up as the story moves along.

Here is a link to the text - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A1-11&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26102b

 1. What first struck me is that when confronted by His mother with the problem that the wine has run out Jesus’ response seems rather harsh, especially to our ears today. I can’t imagine what would happen to me if I dismissed my mother and just called her woman (In my mind at this point I imagined actually saying “Woman, Wo, Man, Woooooah-Man” but I digress. As I talk more about Jesus the more you’ll realise I can have a very different idea of what Jesus was like from most, but again I digress). One explanation could be that Jesus is asserting Himself and establishing at the beginning of His ministry that no-one has authority over Him, not even His mother. No-one can come to Jesus commanding or demanding something to be done, it is only by His will that it will be done. Of course the funny thing is after Jesus’ pretty much refuses in verse 4, Mary in verse 5 assumes He will do as she requested! And in verse 6 He does it anyway which probably makes you think that my first point is rendered invalid. Even so in this interplay between Mary and her son in verses 3-5 we get a picture of what a typical mother-son relationship can be, involuntary-volunteering is what I am reminded of. It also makes me wonder what Jesus and Mary were like as He was growing up. It almost sounds like this kind of episode happened quite often and Mary was just expectant that Jesus would do what she requested. Perhaps after His reply Jesus realised that He should do it not because Mary commanded or told Him to, but that it should be done regardless. Maybe Jesus said no and then though, “That means now wine for me either.” Who knows but what I do know is that this reflection has taken up longer than intended and it might seem that I’m rambling. So has my first point been worthwhile? “Yes, no and I’m confused,” seems like the proper response.

2. How much water did Jesus change into wine? In our sermon we were told that the amount converted from water to wine was equivalent to about 125 litres. 125 litres of wine, what a wedding! God’s abundance exceeds even our expectations. Of course wedding feasts back then went on for a least a few days if not for longer than a week rather than just the day we have now. Even accounting for the needs of a week-long festival that is still a heck of a lot. Running out of wine was a huge disgrace as often it was the only drink safe to consume. Water quality could not be guaranteed and wine was far and away safer to drink. To have a huge increase from nothing to well over 100 litres of the literal life-blood of the party would have relieved the bridegroom very much indeed. It ensured the party would last for a very long time. Also, finding out Jesus supplied 125 litres of wine to keep a party going helps deepen the unique image of Jesus that I have in my mind. But again I digress (For those keeping count that’s the third time I’ve mentioned it). On with the reflections

3. Not only is the wine good enough to continue the party but is indeed the best wine. Like many of Jesus’ miracles and especially so in the 21^st century modernising and just plain disbelieving people seek to play down or even deny that miracles happen. This is not confined to Atheists or non-Christians but many Christians today hold this view. A common view today holds that the more mankind learns about the natural world and the laws that lie behind them we cannot believe in ‘miracles’ anymore as eventually we will be able to find a scientific way to explain the miracle. Though as Jesus is the one through whom all things were created it seems absurd that God cannot perform miracles that subvert the laws of nature. God created all things out of nothing; it can certainly turn water into wine.

In verse 10 the master of the banquet expresses surprise that the conventional practice of a feast, that the best wine is served first and gradually reduces in quality, has been subverted and that the best is served last. That’s the only way it can explain it. He doesn’t ask the servants where it came from though they know but he asks the bridegroom who doesn’t. His response though not recorded would have run along the lines of, “Yes, that is exactly what I did.” That seems more plausible to ears than water literally turning into wine though that’s happened. Though when most of the people would have been either tipsy or just drunk (the wine being designated for party already being gone from at this early stage) from the crappier wine why then bring out the best when they can’t appreciate. That to me makes less sense than a miracle!

4. I want to spend a moment using the jars in the story as metaphors that can be applied to different groups and people. The jars metaphors can be applied to Israel, Judaism, the disciples, to us and many more. When applied to Israel and Judaism God has successively revealed Himself to His people and through them to the world progressively deepening the revelation of Go. Here in Christ we reach its fulfilment. God has become man. He was born, lives and walks amongst us as one of us. The fullness of the God is now revealed. Like the converted wine the best has been revealed at the end. The more God is revealed, indeed the deeper we go with God, the sweeter and better He gets. The more we drink of Him, the better and better He becomes to us, just like the wine at the party. The Old Testament and Judaism find their logical and their peak of development in Christ. All that has come before has merely served to prepare the world for the better and sweeter wine that is to be found in Christ. The Old Testament has been fulfilled.

Let’s apply the jars metaphor to disciples and to us. Though we may just contain water God can use us and transform us to be literally the life of the party. We are not called by God to be mere spectators but to be at the centre of events. Jesus wants us to be great in the world, to be a difference and to have an impact. Like wine at a party to bring joy and hope to the world. To bring people together and to draw people to Christ. The Disciples of Christ went from obscure nobody’s in the literal backwater of the world to not just begin but then spread the Church throughout the known world and beyond. Their impact upon history and their service to God is beyond measure. And it is all because they let their water, which represents their lives, to be used by Jesus and turned into something greater than they could have ever dreamed or imagined. 

We too can seen as only jars full of water, and while we can do many things, we cannot fulfil our potential to be sweet wine to the world. Only by giving ourselves over to Christ can we truly become man as Christ has done. I am reminded of John 15:1-6 where Jesus teaches us that He is the true vine and that we are His branches. That He abides in us and we in Him. With Christ in us we become not just good wine, but Godly-wine (yes the metaphor is being stretched a bit here but run with me people) or the very wine of God. Bringing us closer to Him, day by day uniting us with Him, bus also allowing us to become ever more fruitful people in the world. The work the Holy Ghost does in us becomes sweeter and sweeter to those around us the more we abide in the true vine, Jesus. We then become more and more the life of the party and the desire of the world the more we seek and surrender oursleves to Christ, and though we may face persecution those around us will come to know that only in Christ can true life be found. Our lives are saved by Jesus not just so that we may enjoy them to ourselves but that we may use our lives to bring life to others thereby becoming 'Partakes of the divine nature' (2 Pet. 1:4) and thereby drawing ever more deeply closer to God. May that be the prayer and desire of our hearts.

Only three digressions and all with the first two points. The last two were rather more serious but I hope that I have conveyed succinctly what was in my mind. Translating thoughts to paper has always been a problem of mine but hopefully you can get the gist of what I’m saying.

Peace and Blessings,

Brett