John 2:9-10 - “When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’”
The first of Jesus’ miracles that is recorded by John is perhaps the most curious to me. Why did Mary come to Jesus when the hosts ran out of wine? Had Jesus previously shown His power in some private setting so that His mother knew what He was capable of doing? Why does He initially object to her suggestion but then consent to help? I’ve yet to run across a really satisfactory explanation. But what John’s account does affirm is both the power of Jesus and His disposition toward man. This is perhaps the least dramatic of His miracles, yet it conveys a couple of significant truths.
First, Jesus had power over every aspect of the world around Him. In the previous chapter, John has affirmed that Jesus was, in fact, the force behind creation. How better to illustrate that than to note this incident, wherein Jesus changes the fundamental element of water into another liquid? Wine has water at its base, but that water has passed through the process of absorption by a vine and the ultimate hydration of its fruit. Jesus, simply by the force of His will (note that there is no expressed command), bypasses the process and changes the water into wine. People don’t do that. Jesus did, “and manifested His glory” (v.11). It is no surprise that “His disciples believed in Him.”
Second, the nature of this miracle lays the groundwork for the nature of all of Jesus’ miracles. He did not merely use His power for display and ostentation. He used His power to help people. Surely those who hosted this wedding feast would be embarrassed by the fact that they had run short of wine. Were they intentionally negligent in preparation - selfish with what they had? Were they merely inefficient, underestimating the number of guests and the sufficiency of their supply? It must have been awkward for the bridegroom. Jesus doesn’t feed thousands here or raise the dead or give sight to the blind. He merely supplies a staple of hospitality, and in so doing, makes the wedding day of this young couple an occasion of continued festivity and joy. He helped them.
What Jesus did in this world speaks volumes about what He will do for His people in the world to come. He has power over what we consider the natural and unavoidable processes of this universe. He can raise my dead body and make it suited for eternity. And He has shown that He wants to exercise His power for my good. He cares for me and will provide for me both here and in eternity.
He is omnipotent. He is good. What more could we hope for?