“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”
John 2:11 (NIV)
How special wine is, to be chosen as the first public miracle to reveal the glory of Jesus to others. The miracle of changing water into wine, served the purpose of spreading even more joy at an already joyful event.
In all other miracles, Jesus met basic human needs, such as hunger, in feeding the five thousand, or relief of suffering, like healing the blind, the lepers, paralytics or setting the demoniacs free. All of the miracles of Jesus met a desperate need of some kind, except the miracle of turning water into wine. The miracle at Cana was different.
No one was dying of thirst, no one was sick or suffering with pain or illness at the wedding of Cana. Wine wasn’t even a food staple required for daily nutrition. It was simply a product that enhanced a celebration of joy. Jesus chose to reveal His divinity to the world for the first time, with joy, through the gift of wine. So, His first miracle was not about healing, nutrition or deliverance. It was the gift of joy.
When we think about the planning on God’s part, in choosing a miracle of wine to reveal His Son to the world, there should be no doubt that God considers joy to be more important, than we realize. The thing about joy is that it’s not only important to receive it, but to spread it to others.
One day last week, I was walking out of a Target store, carrying my bag of groceries. As I headed toward the exit door, I passed the cafe area, and a frail looking old man was sitting by himself at a table. He glanced up at me, and although I never saw him before, for some reason I decided to smile at him. He immediately shouted, “Thank you for smiling !”
I was so surprised that a common smile would mean so much. I started to think of how many lonely people are all around us every day, as we go about our daily errands. Since that day, I am more conscious and aware that a smile can be a huge gift to someone.
That experience fine tuned my sensitivity to the strangers who are around me every day. If a smile can be a gift of joy to a stranger, there is deeper meaning to Jesus changing water into wine, and adding more joy to that wedding feast in Cana.
At the Nursing Facility I visit regularly, there is a young catatonic woman who is usually non verbal. She never talks or responds to anyone, except when a Neil Diamond song, “Sweet Caroline”, is played. All the residents would sing the refrain together and she joins in each time to sing along. That song brought so much joy to all the residents in the room, because of the joy of singing together in unison.
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and God is always looking for ways to increase our joy. We are meant to have a healthy relationship with God, rooted in love, which brings a joy which we were meant to spread to others. Jesus said if we remain in His love, His joy will be full and complete in us. His joy is the kind of joy that also spreads His love. (John 15:11)
Our joy really matters to God and He wants us to spread it to others, as Jesus did at the first miracle at Cana.
Lord, we pause to remember the first sign you performed which involved a gift of wine, and a celebration of joy. Make us aware of how we can spread your joy to others each day. Amen
