3 Important Lessons for Us from the Wedding at Cana
- Jennifer Heeren Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated Feb 18, 2022
The story about the wedding at Cana is important because it was the first miraculous sign that Jesus gave. It was the first time that Jesus revealed his glory when he walked this earth. It is also when the disciples began to believe in him. When he called them, they knew something was different about him, but this first miracle helped them to really see. Even though they would see much more later!
Turning water into wine is a miracle. Jesus used miracles to help his followers see, but they weren’t meant to make them believe. Miracles are awe-inducing in the moment but often fade from our thoughts when they are over. There were a lot of guests at the wedding at Cana. Human nature can vary extremely. Some of them were astonished at the sudden reappearance of wine. Some of them were cynical and probably thought that there was a secret stash of wine. The bride, groom, and the master of ceremonies were glad that their celebration wasn’t ruined. Some saw a miracle. Some probably didn’t pay attention.
But Mary and the disciples, and probably some of the servants, took note.
What Happened at the Wedding at Cana?
The story of the wedding at Cana is told in John 2:1-12. Early in Jesus’s ministry, there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his mother were invited and so were his disciples. During the celebration, the wine supply ran out. Mary must have known the bride and groom well and didn’t want anything to bring down the excitement. She went to Jesus to inform him that there was no more wine. Mary knew Jesus was special and could help. However, Jesus politely replied that his time hadn’t arrived yet. So, Mary, still hoping that he would do something, told the servants to listen to Jesus and do whatever he says.
Six stone water jars that held twenty to thirty gallons each were in the serving area. Jesus simply said, “Fill those up with water.” The servants did that. Then Jesus added, “Now dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.” The servants followed his instructions, although they were probably wondering why they were serving plain water.
The master of ceremonies tasted it and called the bridegroom over. The master of ceremonies gushed over the superb quality of the wine. At every other celebration, people would serve the best wine first and then later when the attendees were rather tipsy and not discerning, they would bring out lesser wines.
At this wedding at Cana in Galilee, the best wine was saved for last. After the wedding, Jesus went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
Here are 3 important lessons we can take away from this miraculous event at Cana:
1. Take Your Requests to Jesus but Humbly Accept His Answer
The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’s mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” John 2:3-4
Mary couldn’t make Jesus do anything even though she was special to him. No matter how close you feel you are to Jesus, you can’t make Him do anything if the time isn’t right. Jesus wanted to be sure he was working on the Father’s schedule toward the ultimate goal of redemption for his people.
God doesn’t work on our cues. We must trust hm with our plans and the timing of those plans. In doing so, we bring our plans in conjunction with his master plan and things work out much better. We must always wait patiently for the Lord, be brave and courageous, and continue to wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14).
2. Cultivate a Humble and Obedient Heart
But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5
Since you can’t make Jesus do your will, resign yourself to do whatever he says. Obey him and you’ll have much more peace.
All believers in Christ should seek to have the heart of Mary. Her heart sought to glorify the Lord, rejoice in him, and humbly serve him. She stored up his mighty deeds within her heart. She knew that his mercy was overflowing for those who fear him. He fills up the hungry and waits for the rich to realize their emptiness (Luke 1:46-55).
When you resign yourself to doing his will, you may also get what you asked him for. He doesn’t work on cue, but he does help us in our need. He is a very good and loving Father and Shepherd.
Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So, the servants followed his instructions. John 2:7-8
The servants followed his instructions even though they had just seen those jars being filled with water. Were they shaking the whole time they walked to the master of ceremonies? Would they be fired if he took a sip of plain old water?
Sometimes we need to do things that don’t seem to make sense to our human minds. When we step forward in faith, despite our doubts, we may see a miracle!
3. Remember that in God’s Hands, the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:9-10
Ordinary things can become extraordinary when they’re blessed by God. God uses ordinary people. The disciples themselves were ordinary people before they were called. Believers today are similar. Before God called you, you weren’t necessarily wise by human standards. You weren’t necessarily influential.
God chooses the lowly people of the world so that they will not be able to boast in their own goodness. The goal of a follower of Christ should be that Christ becomes more and more noticeable in their life. We want people to see him in us. When people see the courage and wisdom of ordinary people that are simply obeying God it stands out as being from God because their own meager efforts aren’t that spectacular. But with God, ordinary things and people become extraordinary.
God takes our empty places and fills them. He supplies our needs from his glorious riches, and we end up getting much more than we asked for originally.
Conclusion to Our Lessons from the Wedding at Cana
After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples. John 2:12
Jesus didn’t stay in Cana and celebrate his miracle. He knew that human nature doesn’t remember miracles for very long. People think if they ask for a miracle and God grants it, they will trust God forever. Miracles only make people believe temporarily. When the magic of the moment wears off, so will their belief. Real faith isn’t developed this way. Human nature will want another miracle after that and then another.
Real faith is trusting in God for who He is, not what He can do. He is the God who loved you before you were born. If you’re going to believe, you’ll believe before you see a miracle, like Mary and the disciples. Seeing a miracle only solidifies a budding faith. It doesn’t start the fire in your heart.
When you see miracles, healings, or answered prayer, take time to rest in your gratitude to God. Don’t get so caught up in “what happened” that you forget Who made it happen.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Caroline Hernandez
