John 2:1-3: “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.’”
In the Good News Translation (verses 4-8), Jesus responded, "You must not tell me what to do.
... My time has not yet come.”
But Jesus' mother ordered the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill these jars with water.”
They filled them to the brim, and then he told them, “Now draw some water out and take it to the
man in charge of the feast.” They took him the water.
To this point, you've partly read the Bible's account of Jesus' very first miracle that happened at
the wedding in Cana. But ... was the new wine really wine or was it still water that only
symbolically represented wine?
In verses 8-9, we notice a tantalizing mystery after the wine bottles were filled with water! The
scripture actually says that Jesus commanded the servants, “Now draw some water out and
take it to the man in charge of the feast.” At this point, the fluid was identified by Jesus as being
water.
Complying with Christ's command in verse 8, the stewards took "the water" to the householder.
Notice that they were still carrying water!
In the New International Version, verse 9 says, "The master of the banquet tasted the water that
had been turned into wine." Did you see that he tasted "water" ... that had turned to wine?
Thus, according to God's Word, only upon reaching the host's mouth did the water's substance
supernaturally transform into wine!
But ... by what mechanism did this unusual miracle occur?
To begin with, Christ avoided his mother's request, much like he did when confronted by his
Father's sacrificial plan, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me," until God's Son finally
consecrated himself: "Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Due to Jesus' initial reluctance, absolutely nothing happened until Mary performed an act of
consecration by surrendering the stewards to her son's control and by surrendering her son to
his ultimate fate: “Do whatever he tells you.” So, was Mary primarily addressing the servants at
the feast, or was she also reminding her son to obey his Father's inevitable will?
Either way, the mother placed Jesus in the very dangerous situation of identifying his purpose by
beginning his earthly ministry at the wedding in Cana. With five little words, “Do whatever he
tells you,” Mary led her son to the foot of his cross ... where they would bid farewell in three
short years!
And in that sanctified moment of yielding to the Holy Spirit's authority, a marvelous miracle
resulted! One distinct element was transformed into a totally new substance.
Did the water now look like wine? Who knows? Except for the liquid's taste (vs. 9), scripture
does not describe its physical attributes. However, the final product was still the very best
vintage ever sampled this side of heaven, after the divine transformation occurred!
How uncanny to see the parallel between the first and last miracle of transformation that Jesus
performed while in his natural body and with his mother nearby: "The Lord the same night in
which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take,
eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same
manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in
my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Cor. 11:23-25).
Whether the miracle of water changed to wine or the transubstantiation of bread to the body of
Christ, outward appearances can be misleading. As a believer, use yourself for an example: "If
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).
In the mirror, you probably look the same after being sanctified to God through his forgiveness
and salvation. You have the same facial features. The tone of your voice hasn't changed. You
have the same way of moving your feet and arms. However, according to the Bible, you are a
brand-new person in Christ! Through the divine act of consecration, only God's Holy Spirit can
transform water to wine, bread to the body of Christ, and you to become his beloved son or
daughter!
