Transforming Words

Transforming Words

Read: John 2:1-11

“Fill the jars with water.”

John 2:7

“I never have difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.”

—St. Augustine

IN WORD The hosts have done their best, but it isn’t enough. The wine has run out at the wedding feast. They are about to be embarrassed. Everyone is about to go home. The big celebration is about to fizzle. As diligent as the hosts probably were in planning for the feast, they didn’t accurately estimate the refreshment needed. Or perhaps they bought all they could afford and hoped it would be enough. It wasn’t.

The wedding feast at Cana is a lot like life. It’s a good attempt at a celebration, but it doesn’t quite satisfy. It requires lots of planning and preparation, but there are inevitably unexpected crises. Always visible are the laughter and dancing, but behind the scenes there is stress over whether it will all work out. And everyone knows it will eventually end.

But when Jesus steps into the situation, everything changes. His word is enough to take our stone jars and fill them with satisfying substance. At His word, these ritual cleansing jars—the utensils of legalism—become the vessels of abundant life. The shadow gives way to reality.

IN DEED Jesus is the life of the party—literally. He steps into our world and changes futility into fulfillment, blandness into flavor, obligation into celebration, law into life. And, like the servants at the party, we never see it happen! We don’t know how He does it, just that He does. We see the problem, we invite Him to be the solution, we hear Him give the command to prepare for a miracle, and we do so. We fill the pots with the water of our faith and obedience, but we don’t understand the miracle that is taking place inside. He turns water to wine without our understanding either how or exactly when. The dancing can continue, the guests can keep laughing, and we can relax and enjoy the celebration.

In John’s writings, the ministry of Jesus begins with a wedding feast. It also ends with one (Revelation 19:7). The kingdom of God is all about celebration. And it begins when Jesus speaks a transforming word and provides new wine.