The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine
first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the
good wine until now.” – John 2:9b-10

The Wedding at Cana: Jesus turns water into wine. It’s referred to as Jesus’ first miracle, the first sign of His divinity. And yet the headwaiter, the bridegroom, and presumably most of the guests, only knew it as wine. In fact, it was the best wine they’d been served. They weren’t aware that it was once water, and that a miracle happened behind the scenes.

Who did know? The servants knew.

Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. – John 2:7 The humble servants, whom Jesus’ mother told to “Do whatever he tells you”, fetched some 150 gallons of water into stone jars, and whom Jesus told to “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter”, knew. They saw the water go in, and saw the wine come out. Their eyes were opened that this was no ordinary man. They followed His instructions without even knowing why. There’s nothing in there where He says “Fill these jars with water, and I’ll make some wine from it”. I can’t imagine it’s what they expected to be doing in the middle of a wedding feast.

And the disciples saw it, too, Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. – John 2:11 So these men, the ones who had interrupted their lives to follow a charismatic traveler, also committed without knowing what was to come. And, like the servants, they were rewarded with being allowed to witness signs that they never imagined possible.

Are we the wedding guests, who go about their day enjoying, but not understanding, the bounty that’s been provided? Or, are we more like the servants and disciples, who have committed to doing the Lord’s will, not knowing what will come of it, and are rewarded with a deeper appreciation of His Divine Power? I challenge you to commit, each day, to listening for His instructions and carrying them out without asking why. Because the most miraculous part is often what goes on behind the scenes!

We pray:
Lord, Your bounty is offered to all, but Your divine majesty is revealed to those who commit to doing your will. Count us among the servants and disciples who follow Your lead, because we know that what we witness in return will change our lives!
Help us to hear your instructions, Lord, and we will follow. AMEN.

Shared by a Friend in Connecticut, January 2025