Jesus Reveals His Compassion

Partners in a New Creation The Agent of Creation The Word Heals Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    John 2:1-11 The Message From Water to Wine 2 1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.” 4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.” 5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.” 6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim. 8 “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did. 9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened, but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!” 11 This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him. For Reflection We usually think of healing in connection with an infirmity of some sort. So, what needs healing in this story? Cana is not in prosperous Judea. It is in Galilee, known for its thieves, rebels, and Gentiles. It was "across the tracks" and not the most desirable place to live. But it was where Jesus made his adult home.  Wedding celebrations lasted for days. in many cases, the gathering included both the invited and the neglected wedding crashers. The custom was for the wedding guests to bring food and wine to share the burden of providing for such a large group. Not being able to provide for the "guests" would have been a failure of hospitality, indicating a lack of community support and their lack of resources. To save face, Jesus' mother stepped in to prevent shame on the wedding hosts. In his abundant grace, Jesus provided a sigh of shared hospitality. Jesus intended to provide a space of belonging to the marginalized. To those outside the existing honor/shame structures, Jesus delivered abundantly. Pray Pray and grasp the compassion exhibited in abundant giving. Pray so that you, too can share abundantly. Forward to a friend Sign up for our mailing list!