June 10, 2024 • 22 mins
Discover the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding in Cana!
In this episode of The Jesus Podcast, dive into the story of Jesus turning water into wine. Experience the beginning of His miraculous ministry and see how even the smallest moments can reveal God's immense power and love.
Today's Bible verse is Psalms 71:6 from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I have relied on you from the womb. You are
he who took me out of my mother's womb. I
will always praise you, Psalm seventy one six. Gracious, Heavenly Father,
our hearts swell with gratitude for your tender care. From
our first breaths to this very moment, your hand has
(00:22):
been upon us, guiding us, nurturing, and providing for our
every need. We praise you Lord for your unwavering faithfulness
and attentiveness to our whispered prayers and the unspoken cries
of our hearts. Your love encompasses us a gentle reminder
(00:44):
that we are never alone, for your presence is a
constant source of comfort and strength. In your arms we
find refuge and peace, reassured that there is no need
too small for your attention, no moment too insignificant for
your care. May our lives be a continuous song of
(01:08):
praise for the loving kindness you shower upon us every day.
In the sweetness of your love, we find our joy
and purpose. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today.
This is the Jesus Podcast. Have you ever had an
(01:28):
important moment in your life go terribly wrong? Are you
in need of hope. Today's miracle of Jesus is just
for you. If you'd like to support this broadcast, share
it with a friend. We want the hope of the
Gospel to be shared throughout the world. It was a
(01:49):
warm summer night, clear and bright. The wedding celebration had
lasted all day. The bride in the groom sat on
the far end of the long table. Hovered around them, excitedly,
laughing and digging into baskets of bread. Oil lamps hung
on the fence sides of the party, casting Abigail and
(02:11):
Gersham in a warm glow like Heaven's light. Abigail was
given the choicest foods brought in by eager servants. Her
amber brown eyes shone with love and admiration for all
the guests who had shone up for her. She ran
her hands through her long brown hair, curling it over
(02:33):
her shoulder and down her head dress and veil woven
with the finest red and gold linen. She'd borrowed her
mother's jewelry for the wedding and wore rings of gold
along her fingers. Brilliant crystal stones dangled from her ears
and caught the lamplight. She was the living centerpiece of
(02:57):
the night. Her groom, Gersham, sat beside her. He was
tall and trim, but had gentle eyes. Like a lifelong friend.
He was attentive to Abigail's every word and need. Throughout
the night, they exchanged glances, now and then, small pockets
(03:19):
of unbridled bliss, the mark of enduring love. They were
not children anymore. Gersham was no longer the boy she
grew up with. He was the son of a farmer
on the other side of town. Once, when she was young,
(03:39):
she came down with a painful fever that wouldn't cease.
He visited her home with bread, oil, and fig cakes.
He never asked for anything in return. He came from
that sort of family, humble kind. They made up for
what they lacked in resources with abundant love and laughter.
(04:03):
Years after that first visit, both families lined the table
for the wedding feast. The Abigail leaned her head against
Gersham's shoulder. A perfect night, she scanned the courtyard. Dozens
of people gathered to celebrate their union, enjoying wine and
bread under the lamplight.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
We are truly blessed.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
She refrained again. This time she was looking intently into
her groom's eyes. Nothing could possibly rob their joy.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Have you ever asked God for a miracle? Have you
ever wondered why we don't always see the same kinds
of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Does
it make you wonder how God is at work today?
The life of Jesus was marked by many miracles, signs,
and wonders, from giving sight to the blind to raising
the dead back to life. The power of God God
flowed through Jesus as his notoriety spread throughout the region
(05:03):
of Galilee and beyond. But these miraculous moments were more
than bringing immediate relief to the recipients. Jesus's miracles were
evidence of his divine power in a way to support
and affirm his claim to be the Messiah in the
Son of God. Today, God is still at work in
miraculous ways, using his work in and through his followers
(05:24):
to continue the work that Jesus started. Welcome to the
Jesus Podcast, a year story showcasing the depth of Christ's
love and the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach your
host from Cray dot com, and today we're starting a
new series all about the miracles of the Messiah. Make
sure you follow the podcast as we dive deep into
Jesus's signs and wonders. In our first episode of the season,
(05:48):
we'll take a look at Jesus's first miracle, the turning
water into wine at the wedding of Cana. This moment
was a turning point in the Lord's ministry. It's the
first public display of power that we see in the gospels.
Before this, he was an unknown and relatively anonymous carpenter
from Nazareth. Now, how does Jesus come onto the scene?
(06:10):
Is it some grand display of power? Does he call
lightning to fall from the heavens? No, you see, this
first miracle is something tender. It's something sweet, It's something personal.
It's a favor for his mom.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Gersham's father, the master of the feast, had sponsored the
food for their dinner. His bakery provided the food, and
they sourced the wine from a nearby vineyard. Everything was
done with love. Some women from the community had come
around Abigail for the evening. They arranged all the details
(06:49):
of the feast, crafting the decorations and gathering flowers. One
of them directed the others, an older woman with a
kind smile and strong voice. Her name was Mary. She
had prepared all the servants, given them instructions about food, wine, flowers, everything.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
How is everything, my dear Mary.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Asked Abigail, with a sweet touch on her shoulder.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Everything you could have dreamed. Yes, Mary, thank you for
all you've done. You didn't have to go through all
this trouble. My wedding was rushed and filled with uncertainty.
I never got to savor it. It's my joy to
give this to you as a gift. Enjoy it, bask
in the glow of love and laughter.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Mary took Abigail's hand, kissed it, and left to continue serving.
The groom's father stood at the table and toasted to
the guests.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Friends, we are humble folk, but blessed beyond measure to
have you here. Drink, dance, celebrate, and raise Adu Nai
for his goodness.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
The guests all raised their cups and cheered. The feast continued.
We guests ate, drank, danced, and drank some More. Wine
flowed alongside hearty conversation and laughter. Slowly the wine jars
emptied until there was none left. The servants all looked
(08:25):
at each other, wide eyed and afraid wedding feasts were
a weak, long affair. To run out of wine would
be tragic for the groom's family. It would be a
red mark on their reputation and a premature end to
the joyful celebration. Abigail set her cup aside for the
(08:45):
servants to refill with wine. The servant reluctantly lifted the
flask to her cup, but nothing came out.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
We've run out of wine.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Abigail's face fell. She still down the length of the
longwood table. All the guests who had come dozens and
nothing to give them. Panic sank into her chest, and
her heart began to beat fast. Years from now, That's
what the town would remember of her wedding, the wedding
(09:20):
where the wine ran out. She caught hold of Mary's
arm as she walked by.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Mary. We've run out of wine? Is there nothing that
can be done? Can anyone fetch more? Are there no
more reserves? I don't want my father in law to
reel in shame over this.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Mary, who had been orchestrating the servants all night, had
already asked the servants the same question several times. She
sat on a bench beside the bride and shook her head.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Oh, there is none left anywhere in town. We had
more guests attend than expected.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Abigail's face went hot, and Peach embarrassed for her fa
They were quite poor. Her husband's family had already spent
so much on the wedding. They shouldn't have to pay more.
Gersham leaned over, joining the conversation. There has to be
some way to bring more. Is there anyone at all?
(10:18):
Mary tilted her head down the length of the table
where a group of men laughed loudly and spoke with
animated gestures breaking bread. A smile slightly curled on the
sides of her cheeks.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Don't lose heart.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
She warmly squeezed the bride's arm.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
I know someone who.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Mary gave them a knowing look and.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Stood my son. He probably knew this would happen.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Abigail tilted her head. How she followed Mary's gaze down
the length of the table, where one man held the
crowd's attention. He sat between baskets of yeast filled bread
and candlelight. The one they called Rabbi. A group of
men had been following him for days now and still laughter.
(11:06):
Being around him, learned from him constantly. They hung on
his every word, like he was from a different world,
like he might tell them the secrets of the stars
if they listened in close enough. And the excitement of
the party, Jesus, their rabbi, was calm, joyful, but calm.
(11:28):
Jesus drank with them. Their conversation was all laughter and
knowing glances, like he was the best friend they'd ever had,
more than a mentor a friend. Down the table, packed
with guests, shouldered shoulder muttering spread. The men caught the
(11:51):
guest's words. None left, and it's empty. Mary walked behind
the bench line and leaned over to where he sat,
hovering over his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Whispering, they have no more wine.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Jesus listened, then leaned back, laughing still. He adjusted over
his shoulder to her so they were face to face. Woman.
He asked, with a pretend oblivious tone, why do you
involve me? It came out like a question, but he
didn't look confused. He looked pleased about something. The others
(12:27):
around him leaned in, trying to hear. Perhaps they thought
he didn't care, but Jesus gave his mother a soft,
almost somber look. My hour has not yet come. He muttered,
almost to himself, and turned back to the group, slowly
taking a sip his cup. It seemed never ran out.
(12:51):
Mary stood upright and clapped her hands at the servants.
They snapped their heads around to her.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
This is my son. He's going to help with our situation.
Do whatever he tells you to do.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
She looked down at Jesus in a way only a
mother could. Although he was a rabbi growing in popularity,
she was still his mother. She winked at the servants.
Something shone in her brown eyes, something like hope. Jesus
smiled and shook his head. He stood up, kissed his
(13:28):
mother on the head, and gestured to the servants. Let's go.
They walked around the corner. Beside the group of men
sat a line of clay jars, nothing fancy jars for
a typical cleansing ceremony. But Jesus looked from them to
the servants. He didn't sound demanding when he spoke to them.
(13:51):
He sounded kind. Fill those jars with water. The men
glanced sideways at each other, but did as they were told.
The servants left to the well and trudged back with
the jars filled to the brim. They sat them down
on the table in front of Jesus. Calm, cold water
(14:12):
rippled on the surface, reflecting jesus face, kind eyes, long
thin cheeks, surrounded by starlight and soft lamps above Jesus
followers noticed the commotion. They went quiet and watched as
Jesus stood over them. A hush spread down the length
(14:36):
of the table. Crickets jerked in the nearby brush. Above,
the stars hung low, and bright insects snapped around their shoulders.
Mary watched at a distance, leaning back in the dark
shadow behind the bride and groom, with a knowing look
(15:00):
book that said, something extraordinary is about to happen.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Jesus's miracle at the wedding of Cana is a staple
of his ministry. There are a few people, including those
with a religious upbringing, who don't know about Jesus turning
water into wine. It's kind of a cultural norm, whether
we learn about it on Sunday school or from a meme.
Understanding this miracle gives us intimate insights into the heart
of God and the purpose of Jesus's ministry. What we
(15:37):
learned teaches us about who Jesus is and how we
should respond to him as disciples. It shows us when
and how and why we should approach Jesus and what
we can expect from him when we do. Traditional Jewish
weddings typically began with a ceremony for close family members
before opening up the festivities to large parts of the
family and people in the neighborhood and all throughout the town.
(16:01):
If you've ever tried to plan a party, you can
likely relate to the issue of running out of food
or drinks. But for us that might just sound like
an inconvenience, but to a first century family, running out
of food or wine was a big deal. It marred
the reputation of the community. So naturally, when it became
apparent that the wine had run out, Jesus's mother, Mary,
(16:23):
who was helping at this wedding, came to Jesus with
a situation. This moment was significant because it was the
first time that Mary approached Jesus, not as his mother,
but knowing that he was more than her son. This
is noted actually when Jesus addresses her as woman. Now, listen,
I'm a grown man with kids. If I called my
(16:45):
mom woman, you better believe I would get spanked. But
we have to put this in cultural context. Jesus isn't
being disrespectful when he's calling his mother woman. Typically, Jesus
would have addressed Mary as ema, which was a word
communicated to proximity and closeness. It was the word for
mom or mommy, if you want to get more intimate
(17:06):
than that. However, Jesus calling Mary woman symbolized a transition
in their relationship. You see, the term woman was actually
a term of endearment, but it was meant for acquaintances.
It was meant for people who are close to you,
and specifically people that you're addressing in respectful situations. Jesus
wasn't just her son, he was her God. And so
(17:30):
now there is this separation that's occurring here. Jesus is
drawing a line because Mary is coming to him not
just as her mother, but with the knowledge that he's
the Messiah. This is a turning point in Jesus's ministry,
and it's a turning point in Jesus's relationship with Mary.
Three years from this moment, Jesus is going to be
hanging on a cross as her lord and her savior.
(17:53):
So this is the beginning of her beginning to recognize
him as such. Mary doesn't demand Jesus to come and
fix the situation. However, there is some levity to the situation,
as she knows exactly who Jesus is and what he's
capable of. She simply and humbly asks for the problem
to be solved by Jesus. And what Mary is showing
us is how we can approach God in our difficulties.
(18:15):
We don't want to come to God with demands, expecting
him to respond in the way that we think best. Instead,
we should come to him with humility, sharing our burdens
with God and trusting him to respond in the way
that he thinks his best. And we should also recognize
that there is a separation between us and God. He
is a holy God with holy plans. However, that doesn't
mean that at times he won't bend down to completely
(18:36):
and wonderfully surprise us with his blessings. Jesus could have
told the servants to explain the problem to the feast master,
or taken a moment to address the guests and teach
them to be content with what they already had, And
if that was his decision, it would have been good
because it would have been deemed as such. When we
share our struggles with God, we can trust that He's
going to provide in the best way possible for us.
(18:57):
And the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says in Matthew
six twenty five, Therefore, I tell you do not worry
about your life. What you will eat or drink, or
about your body what you will wear is not life
more than food in the body, more than clothes. God
knows what we need even when we don't. Life is
more than just physical needs. Even if it feels like
all of our problems are we should understand that the
(19:18):
way Jesus responds to our requests considers not just our
physical health, but also our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
You see, God sees the whole person, and so sometimes
when he's answering our prayers or responding to our requests,
he keeps the whole person in mind, not just addressing
one specific need, but considering what is good for our souls,
what's good for our spirits, what's good for our resilient characters.
(19:41):
It's also good for us to understand the heart behind
Mary's request. She wasn't concerned with the guests and their satisfaction,
her eyes were on a bigger problem, the well being
of the bride and groom's families. Even though Jesus knew
it wasn't yet his time, he knew this was his
mother's intention and blessed her for her love for others.
So Jesus decides to help, and he meets the needs
(20:02):
that are brought to him. He begins by instructing the
servants to fill six stone jars used for traditional Jewish
cleansing ceremonies. You might be asking yourself, why not have
all of them fill the wine vessels? Why are we
filling these huge jugs that are used for hand washing.
Though the servants and the others witnessing may not have understood,
Jesus was actually making a statement of the change he
(20:24):
was about to bring. The ceremonial jars are meant to
be a representation of the old covenant between God and
his people. It represents the law of Moses. The tellmod
the central text outlining the Jewish law required that every
Jew cleanse their face, their hands, and their feet every
day for the sake of their creator. Being ceremonially clean
(20:44):
was very, very important. When Jesus instructs the servants to
fill the cleansing jars. He's demonstrating that he had come
to fulfill the old covenant and give them a new one.
What is going to make people clean is no longer
the ceremonies and these hand washings and these feet washings.
But what's gonna make them clean is the blood of Christ.
(21:05):
And what is the blood of Christ always represented by
that's right wine. So Jesus is communicating here that it
is no longer the old Testament, the old covenant, the
old law that cleanses us, but rather the blood of
Jesus and the new covenant, the new promise of a
relationship with him and salvation from the cross and the
sacrifice of Jesus. We're no longer clean centered on rituals
(21:28):
like cleansing of water, but centered in his blood, as
represented by the wine that would soon fill these jars.
We're going to continue on this story in our next episode.
We wanted to give it the proper time and attention
that it deserves, being Jesus's first miracle ever performed, So
make sure to join us next time for Water into
Wine Part two. Thank you again for listening to the
(21:51):
Jesus Podcast. If you've been enjoying this podcast so far,
we would love it if you followed, shared it with
a friend, and left a review. These small little steps
actually make a huge difference. You see, the podcast world
is vast, and it's only getting bigger and getting noticed
by people. It's difficult, and so if you've been a
devoted follower of this podcast for these last few months,
(22:12):
we would truly, truly, truly be grateful if you took
those small steps. If you haven't yet, thank you again
for joining us. See you next time.
I have relied on you from the womb. You are
he who took me out of my mother's womb. I
will always praise you, Psalm seventy one six. Gracious, Heavenly Father,
our hearts swell with gratitude for your tender care. From
our first breaths to this very moment, your hand has
(00:22):
been upon us, guiding us, nurturing, and providing for our
every need. We praise you Lord for your unwavering faithfulness
and attentiveness to our whispered prayers and the unspoken cries
of our hearts. Your love encompasses us a gentle reminder
(00:44):
that we are never alone, for your presence is a
constant source of comfort and strength. In your arms we
find refuge and peace, reassured that there is no need
too small for your attention, no moment too insignificant for
your care. May our lives be a continuous song of
(01:08):
praise for the loving kindness you shower upon us every day.
In the sweetness of your love, we find our joy
and purpose. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today.
This is the Jesus Podcast. Have you ever had an
(01:28):
important moment in your life go terribly wrong? Are you
in need of hope. Today's miracle of Jesus is just
for you. If you'd like to support this broadcast, share
it with a friend. We want the hope of the
Gospel to be shared throughout the world. It was a
(01:49):
warm summer night, clear and bright. The wedding celebration had
lasted all day. The bride in the groom sat on
the far end of the long table. Hovered around them, excitedly,
laughing and digging into baskets of bread. Oil lamps hung
on the fence sides of the party, casting Abigail and
(02:11):
Gersham in a warm glow like Heaven's light. Abigail was
given the choicest foods brought in by eager servants. Her
amber brown eyes shone with love and admiration for all
the guests who had shone up for her. She ran
her hands through her long brown hair, curling it over
(02:33):
her shoulder and down her head dress and veil woven
with the finest red and gold linen. She'd borrowed her
mother's jewelry for the wedding and wore rings of gold
along her fingers. Brilliant crystal stones dangled from her ears
and caught the lamplight. She was the living centerpiece of
(02:57):
the night. Her groom, Gersham, sat beside her. He was
tall and trim, but had gentle eyes. Like a lifelong friend.
He was attentive to Abigail's every word and need. Throughout
the night, they exchanged glances, now and then, small pockets
(03:19):
of unbridled bliss, the mark of enduring love. They were
not children anymore. Gersham was no longer the boy she
grew up with. He was the son of a farmer
on the other side of town. Once, when she was young,
(03:39):
she came down with a painful fever that wouldn't cease.
He visited her home with bread, oil, and fig cakes.
He never asked for anything in return. He came from
that sort of family, humble kind. They made up for
what they lacked in resources with abundant love and laughter.
(04:03):
Years after that first visit, both families lined the table
for the wedding feast. The Abigail leaned her head against
Gersham's shoulder. A perfect night, she scanned the courtyard. Dozens
of people gathered to celebrate their union, enjoying wine and
bread under the lamplight.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
We are truly blessed.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
She refrained again. This time she was looking intently into
her groom's eyes. Nothing could possibly rob their joy.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Have you ever asked God for a miracle? Have you
ever wondered why we don't always see the same kinds
of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Does
it make you wonder how God is at work today?
The life of Jesus was marked by many miracles, signs,
and wonders, from giving sight to the blind to raising
the dead back to life. The power of God God
flowed through Jesus as his notoriety spread throughout the region
(05:03):
of Galilee and beyond. But these miraculous moments were more
than bringing immediate relief to the recipients. Jesus's miracles were
evidence of his divine power in a way to support
and affirm his claim to be the Messiah in the
Son of God. Today, God is still at work in
miraculous ways, using his work in and through his followers
(05:24):
to continue the work that Jesus started. Welcome to the
Jesus Podcast, a year story showcasing the depth of Christ's
love and the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach your
host from Cray dot com, and today we're starting a
new series all about the miracles of the Messiah. Make
sure you follow the podcast as we dive deep into
Jesus's signs and wonders. In our first episode of the season,
(05:48):
we'll take a look at Jesus's first miracle, the turning
water into wine at the wedding of Cana. This moment
was a turning point in the Lord's ministry. It's the
first public display of power that we see in the gospels.
Before this, he was an unknown and relatively anonymous carpenter
from Nazareth. Now, how does Jesus come onto the scene?
(06:10):
Is it some grand display of power? Does he call
lightning to fall from the heavens? No, you see, this
first miracle is something tender. It's something sweet, It's something personal.
It's a favor for his mom.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Gersham's father, the master of the feast, had sponsored the
food for their dinner. His bakery provided the food, and
they sourced the wine from a nearby vineyard. Everything was
done with love. Some women from the community had come
around Abigail for the evening. They arranged all the details
(06:49):
of the feast, crafting the decorations and gathering flowers. One
of them directed the others, an older woman with a
kind smile and strong voice. Her name was Mary. She
had prepared all the servants, given them instructions about food, wine, flowers, everything.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
How is everything, my dear Mary.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Asked Abigail, with a sweet touch on her shoulder.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Everything you could have dreamed. Yes, Mary, thank you for
all you've done. You didn't have to go through all
this trouble. My wedding was rushed and filled with uncertainty.
I never got to savor it. It's my joy to
give this to you as a gift. Enjoy it, bask
in the glow of love and laughter.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Mary took Abigail's hand, kissed it, and left to continue serving.
The groom's father stood at the table and toasted to
the guests.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Friends, we are humble folk, but blessed beyond measure to
have you here. Drink, dance, celebrate, and raise Adu Nai
for his goodness.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
The guests all raised their cups and cheered. The feast continued.
We guests ate, drank, danced, and drank some More. Wine
flowed alongside hearty conversation and laughter. Slowly the wine jars
emptied until there was none left. The servants all looked
(08:25):
at each other, wide eyed and afraid wedding feasts were
a weak, long affair. To run out of wine would
be tragic for the groom's family. It would be a
red mark on their reputation and a premature end to
the joyful celebration. Abigail set her cup aside for the
(08:45):
servants to refill with wine. The servant reluctantly lifted the
flask to her cup, but nothing came out.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
We've run out of wine.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Abigail's face fell. She still down the length of the
longwood table. All the guests who had come dozens and
nothing to give them. Panic sank into her chest, and
her heart began to beat fast. Years from now, That's
what the town would remember of her wedding, the wedding
(09:20):
where the wine ran out. She caught hold of Mary's
arm as she walked by.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Mary. We've run out of wine? Is there nothing that
can be done? Can anyone fetch more? Are there no
more reserves? I don't want my father in law to
reel in shame over this.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Mary, who had been orchestrating the servants all night, had
already asked the servants the same question several times. She
sat on a bench beside the bride and shook her head.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Oh, there is none left anywhere in town. We had
more guests attend than expected.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Abigail's face went hot, and Peach embarrassed for her fa
They were quite poor. Her husband's family had already spent
so much on the wedding. They shouldn't have to pay more.
Gersham leaned over, joining the conversation. There has to be
some way to bring more. Is there anyone at all?
(10:18):
Mary tilted her head down the length of the table
where a group of men laughed loudly and spoke with
animated gestures breaking bread. A smile slightly curled on the
sides of her cheeks.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Don't lose heart.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
She warmly squeezed the bride's arm.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
I know someone who.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Mary gave them a knowing look and.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Stood my son. He probably knew this would happen.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Abigail tilted her head. How she followed Mary's gaze down
the length of the table, where one man held the
crowd's attention. He sat between baskets of yeast filled bread
and candlelight. The one they called Rabbi. A group of
men had been following him for days now and still laughter.
(11:06):
Being around him, learned from him constantly. They hung on
his every word, like he was from a different world,
like he might tell them the secrets of the stars
if they listened in close enough. And the excitement of
the party, Jesus, their rabbi, was calm, joyful, but calm.
(11:28):
Jesus drank with them. Their conversation was all laughter and
knowing glances, like he was the best friend they'd ever had,
more than a mentor a friend. Down the table, packed
with guests, shouldered shoulder muttering spread. The men caught the
(11:51):
guest's words. None left, and it's empty. Mary walked behind
the bench line and leaned over to where he sat,
hovering over his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Whispering, they have no more wine.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Jesus listened, then leaned back, laughing still. He adjusted over
his shoulder to her so they were face to face. Woman.
He asked, with a pretend oblivious tone, why do you
involve me? It came out like a question, but he
didn't look confused. He looked pleased about something. The others
(12:27):
around him leaned in, trying to hear. Perhaps they thought
he didn't care, but Jesus gave his mother a soft,
almost somber look. My hour has not yet come. He muttered,
almost to himself, and turned back to the group, slowly
taking a sip his cup. It seemed never ran out.
(12:51):
Mary stood upright and clapped her hands at the servants.
They snapped their heads around to her.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
This is my son. He's going to help with our situation.
Do whatever he tells you to do.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
She looked down at Jesus in a way only a
mother could. Although he was a rabbi growing in popularity,
she was still his mother. She winked at the servants.
Something shone in her brown eyes, something like hope. Jesus
smiled and shook his head. He stood up, kissed his
(13:28):
mother on the head, and gestured to the servants. Let's go.
They walked around the corner. Beside the group of men
sat a line of clay jars, nothing fancy jars for
a typical cleansing ceremony. But Jesus looked from them to
the servants. He didn't sound demanding when he spoke to them.
(13:51):
He sounded kind. Fill those jars with water. The men
glanced sideways at each other, but did as they were told.
The servants left to the well and trudged back with
the jars filled to the brim. They sat them down
on the table in front of Jesus. Calm, cold water
(14:12):
rippled on the surface, reflecting jesus face, kind eyes, long
thin cheeks, surrounded by starlight and soft lamps above Jesus
followers noticed the commotion. They went quiet and watched as
Jesus stood over them. A hush spread down the length
(14:36):
of the table. Crickets jerked in the nearby brush. Above,
the stars hung low, and bright insects snapped around their shoulders.
Mary watched at a distance, leaning back in the dark
shadow behind the bride and groom, with a knowing look
(15:00):
book that said, something extraordinary is about to happen.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Jesus's miracle at the wedding of Cana is a staple
of his ministry. There are a few people, including those
with a religious upbringing, who don't know about Jesus turning
water into wine. It's kind of a cultural norm, whether
we learn about it on Sunday school or from a meme.
Understanding this miracle gives us intimate insights into the heart
of God and the purpose of Jesus's ministry. What we
(15:37):
learned teaches us about who Jesus is and how we
should respond to him as disciples. It shows us when
and how and why we should approach Jesus and what
we can expect from him when we do. Traditional Jewish
weddings typically began with a ceremony for close family members
before opening up the festivities to large parts of the
family and people in the neighborhood and all throughout the town.
(16:01):
If you've ever tried to plan a party, you can
likely relate to the issue of running out of food
or drinks. But for us that might just sound like
an inconvenience, but to a first century family, running out
of food or wine was a big deal. It marred
the reputation of the community. So naturally, when it became
apparent that the wine had run out, Jesus's mother, Mary,
(16:23):
who was helping at this wedding, came to Jesus with
a situation. This moment was significant because it was the
first time that Mary approached Jesus, not as his mother,
but knowing that he was more than her son. This
is noted actually when Jesus addresses her as woman. Now, listen,
I'm a grown man with kids. If I called my
(16:45):
mom woman, you better believe I would get spanked. But
we have to put this in cultural context. Jesus isn't
being disrespectful when he's calling his mother woman. Typically, Jesus
would have addressed Mary as ema, which was a word
communicated to proximity and closeness. It was the word for
mom or mommy, if you want to get more intimate
(17:06):
than that. However, Jesus calling Mary woman symbolized a transition
in their relationship. You see, the term woman was actually
a term of endearment, but it was meant for acquaintances.
It was meant for people who are close to you,
and specifically people that you're addressing in respectful situations. Jesus
wasn't just her son, he was her God. And so
(17:30):
now there is this separation that's occurring here. Jesus is
drawing a line because Mary is coming to him not
just as her mother, but with the knowledge that he's
the Messiah. This is a turning point in Jesus's ministry,
and it's a turning point in Jesus's relationship with Mary.
Three years from this moment, Jesus is going to be
hanging on a cross as her lord and her savior.
(17:53):
So this is the beginning of her beginning to recognize
him as such. Mary doesn't demand Jesus to come and
fix the situation. However, there is some levity to the situation,
as she knows exactly who Jesus is and what he's
capable of. She simply and humbly asks for the problem
to be solved by Jesus. And what Mary is showing
us is how we can approach God in our difficulties.
(18:15):
We don't want to come to God with demands, expecting
him to respond in the way that we think best. Instead,
we should come to him with humility, sharing our burdens
with God and trusting him to respond in the way
that he thinks his best. And we should also recognize
that there is a separation between us and God. He
is a holy God with holy plans. However, that doesn't
mean that at times he won't bend down to completely
(18:36):
and wonderfully surprise us with his blessings. Jesus could have
told the servants to explain the problem to the feast master,
or taken a moment to address the guests and teach
them to be content with what they already had, And
if that was his decision, it would have been good
because it would have been deemed as such. When we
share our struggles with God, we can trust that He's
going to provide in the best way possible for us.
(18:57):
And the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says in Matthew
six twenty five, Therefore, I tell you do not worry
about your life. What you will eat or drink, or
about your body what you will wear is not life
more than food in the body, more than clothes. God
knows what we need even when we don't. Life is
more than just physical needs. Even if it feels like
all of our problems are we should understand that the
(19:18):
way Jesus responds to our requests considers not just our
physical health, but also our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
You see, God sees the whole person, and so sometimes
when he's answering our prayers or responding to our requests,
he keeps the whole person in mind, not just addressing
one specific need, but considering what is good for our souls,
what's good for our spirits, what's good for our resilient characters.
(19:41):
It's also good for us to understand the heart behind
Mary's request. She wasn't concerned with the guests and their satisfaction,
her eyes were on a bigger problem, the well being
of the bride and groom's families. Even though Jesus knew
it wasn't yet his time, he knew this was his
mother's intention and blessed her for her love for others.
So Jesus decides to help, and he meets the needs
(20:02):
that are brought to him. He begins by instructing the
servants to fill six stone jars used for traditional Jewish
cleansing ceremonies. You might be asking yourself, why not have
all of them fill the wine vessels? Why are we
filling these huge jugs that are used for hand washing.
Though the servants and the others witnessing may not have understood,
Jesus was actually making a statement of the change he
(20:24):
was about to bring. The ceremonial jars are meant to
be a representation of the old covenant between God and
his people. It represents the law of Moses. The tellmod
the central text outlining the Jewish law required that every
Jew cleanse their face, their hands, and their feet every
day for the sake of their creator. Being ceremonially clean
(20:44):
was very, very important. When Jesus instructs the servants to
fill the cleansing jars. He's demonstrating that he had come
to fulfill the old covenant and give them a new one.
What is going to make people clean is no longer
the ceremonies and these hand washings and these feet washings.
But what's gonna make them clean is the blood of Christ.
(21:05):
And what is the blood of Christ always represented by
that's right wine. So Jesus is communicating here that it
is no longer the old Testament, the old covenant, the
old law that cleanses us, but rather the blood of
Jesus and the new covenant, the new promise of a
relationship with him and salvation from the cross and the
sacrifice of Jesus. We're no longer clean centered on rituals
(21:28):
like cleansing of water, but centered in his blood, as
represented by the wine that would soon fill these jars.
We're going to continue on this story in our next episode.
We wanted to give it the proper time and attention
that it deserves, being Jesus's first miracle ever performed, So
make sure to join us next time for Water into
Wine Part two. Thank you again for listening to the
(21:51):
Jesus Podcast. If you've been enjoying this podcast so far,
we would love it if you followed, shared it with
a friend, and left a review. These small little steps
actually make a huge difference. You see, the podcast world
is vast, and it's only getting bigger and getting noticed
by people. It's difficult, and so if you've been a
devoted follower of this podcast for these last few months,
(22:12):
we would truly, truly, truly be grateful if you took
those small steps. If you haven't yet, thank you again
for joining us. See you next time.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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