On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So, they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11 ESV).
Jesus’ first miracle has often grabbed my attention because it seems unnecessary from a purely human point of view. Yes, we can understand that Jesus saved the wedding host from embarrassment, especially in a culture that was concerned about providing the best possible hospitality. But this miracle reveals that Jesus came not only to help us with our greatest problem — the curse of sin and death — but also to spread the joy of full, abundant living with God.
When Jesus was born, angels proclaimed that this was “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We might experience flashes of happiness sometimes, but true joy is something new and different, something deeper. This joy is a gift of God.
Through his life and death, Jesus redeems believers from the weight of sin in their lives and in the world. When this burden is removed from us, we can see the true character of God and all the blessing he wants for us in life. And just as all creation once rejoiced at its Maker’s goodness, we can find delight in God’s gift of redemption and new life in Christ. The gospel of John reports that because of this first miracle, Jesus “revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” Begin to experience the joy of Jesus’ presence as it captures your heart this year!