Respond to His First Miracle

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ... Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, ... This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-2, 6-9, 11  

The beginning of His signs. Jesus did so many miracles that they are not all recorded. The helps section of my Ryrie Study Bible gives a list of 35 miracles done by Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. This changing of water into wine was just the first of His miracles. What is significant of changing water into wine? Well not just anyone could do that. I can’t…can you? Jesus was meeting the needs of His friends, the bride and groom, at the request of His mother. Matthew Henry’s commentary notes that it was significant for this first miracle to be done at a wedding…such as the marriage of Christ to the church. It was also noted that this may have been family, as the servants seemed to take orders from Mary. Jesus had the servants fill large ceremonial water vessels with water…not old wine vats. Since no wine had been in those jars before no one could say that this wasn’t a miracle. The new wine was taken to the headwaiter…who may have been a priest, so Jesus might have been seeking a blessing of the new wine. There are lots of questions and suppositions about this event. For now we don’t know the answers—but we do know that Jesus was merciful to the bride and groom, providing for their needs. Likewise we can only hope that He will provide for our needs. We may not need wine, but we do need spiritual insight, wisdom and faith to believe in Jesus’ miracles.  

RSVP: Can you accept this manifestation of Jesus’ glory and expect Him to do miracles in your life, too? 

Prayer~ Lord Jesus, although You said to Mary that it wasn’t Your time yet…You were obedient to her and provided the wine that was needed at that wedding. Please provide us with abundantly with spiritual insight, wisdom and faith—as well as miracles in our lives.  

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

This passage today may have been Jesus’ first Banquet with His disciples. A wedding feast. Such a feast we’ll have one day in Heaven with Jesus Himself! What will we eat? That is a very good question. Manna? Hummus and pita bread? Olives? Wedding cake? Wine, like the wine that Jesus made from water? Water—fresh and cold?

On this cold winter Friday, I’d like to start the evening Banquet Meal with a seafood soup. This has become a favorite for my husband and me. 

Brodetto Seafood Soup - Serves 4      (Adapted from About.com)
¼ cup olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can of tomato sauce (8-oz)

¼ cup vinegar

1 cup white wine

1 cup boiling water

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

1 teaspoon dried dill

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups baby spinach

1 cup mushrooms, chopped or chunked

1/2 pound tilapia, cod or other white fish, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 pound scallops

1/2 pound shrimp

Crab, clams or mussels, optional

In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Add tomato sauce, vinegar, wine, water, dill and parsley. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.  Let the mixture come to a boil which will burn off the alcohol from the wine.  Return to a simmer, cover, and cook about 30 minutes. Add the spinach, mushrooms, fish, followed by the scallops and shrimp, and the other optional seafood as desired. Cover and continue to simmer for another 20-30 minutes. Remember that simmer is not even boiling. If you are using pre-cooked shrimp, don't add the shrimp until the last 5 minutes or so.  You want the shrimp to meld with the other flavors, but not overcook.  Serve hot with a fresh green salad and some nice crusty bread.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.