The Vine: May 12, 2025
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
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..”
Chapters 2 through 12 of John’s gospel are often referred to as the “Book of Signs”. John referred to Jesus’ miracles as “signs”. John emphasizes the deeper meaning and significance of these acts. There are seven signs in John: turning water into wine at Cana, healing the royal official’s son in Capernaum, healing the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, feeding the five thousand, walking on water, healing the man born blind, and raising Lazarus from the dead.
Our story today is the first of these signs (miracles). Jesus, Mary (Jesus’ mother), and five of Jesus’ disciples were at the wedding celebration (there were only five disciples at this point in John’s narrative). The celebration for weddings at that time in the Jewish culture lasted several days. The bride and groom would host family and friends in a home, and it would have been extremely embarrassing and unacceptable to have run out of wine. As we know from our reading, they ran out of wine, and we can imagine what might have been running through the minds of the bride and groom. It’s interesting that John leaves the bride and groom out of this story. We do not know their background or how they reacted to the situation and the miracle itself.
The fact that Jesus and his disciples attended this celebration is a reminder to us all that Jesus was a part of the community, and taking part in a fun celebration was something he would enjoy. One of my favorite paintings of Jesus is a picture of him laughing with a group of people. God created us to enjoy life and I’m certain Jesus modeled joy for others in his life.
In addition to the joy of Jesus, this story reminds us of the compassion of Jesus. No one’s life was at stake in this story, and no one needed physical healing. They simply ran out of wine, and aside from the social embarrassment, one would think they would get over it, but Jesus stepped in any way as a way of saying, “If it matters to you, then it matters to me.”
It’s incredible that Jesus turned six purification jars (these were used for washing feet and hands), each containing twenty to thirty gallons of water, into wine, and not just any old wine, but the best of the best. The abundance of God’s grace was on full display. There are many lessons to be learned from this story, not the least of which is that there is an endless supply of God’s grace to meet our every need. I like how the psalmist phrased it in Psalm 23:4-5, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”
I pray your cup overflows today with the love and grace of God.
Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for caring about us in all situations and are especially grateful that what might seem small and insignificant to us and others, matters deeply to you. Help us to see in any situation we face today the possibility of a cup that overflows with the abundance of your grace. We offer our cups to you and your transforming love. Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
What does this story teach us about Jesus’ compassion for us?
Among many other things in this world, we cannot change water to wine, but with God all things are possible. What in your life do you need to offer to God that only God can transform?
Have you ever experienced a situation where unexpected help or abundance appeared? What does this story teach us about prayer, and bringing our needs, no matter how great or small, to God?
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