“But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10
The first miracle that Jesus performed was at a friend’s wedding. It was customary for the groom’s parents to provide a feast with plenty of food and wine for all the wedding guests, which was probably the whole village! Hospitality was a thing of honour and still is, in this part of the world. To host a party and not have enough wine to last throughout the celebration was a shameful thing. Jesus turned six stone jars of water, each holding between 20-30 gallons, into wine. But not just any old wine. This was the finest wine they had ever tasted. What can we learn from this wonder that Jesus performed?
At that time in His life, Jesus was very well liked. He was invited to the wedding. People wanted Him there. He obviously enjoyed celebrations or else He wouldn’t have gone. He understood the pang of shame the groom’s parents were feeling when the wine ran out. He removed the shame. He gave them something even better than they had had before.
Stop and think about these points. Jesus was a really nice person who people wanted to be around. He still is. Although no longer with us physically, Jesus is still present with us in Spirit. He is still around for people who want to get to know Him.
Jesus enjoyed celebrations. He still does. Jesus wants us to know true joy in every area of our lives. The caricature of a stern-faced kill-joy who can’t enjoy himself or allow others to do so, is a false picture painted by the enemy of our souls, who wants to stop us from knowing Him. Christians have the best parties! They are not drunken get togethers where people regret what they said or did when under the influence of too much alcohol. They are parties full of fun and laughter that stay as fond memories forever.
Jesus knows the pang of shame. Maybe the groom came from a poor family who couldn’t afford much wine. Maybe more people turned up than expected. We are not given the details of why they ran out of wine. I don’t think it was because everyone had drunk too much, for Jesus does not condone drunkenness and wouldn’t have provided more wine for those who were already intoxicated. He provided what was lacking at this important occasion for that family. Jesus knows our shame too. Shame when we have done something that we know is wrong. Shame of being humiliated by other people. Shame in our own lack of ability or learning. When Jesus died on the cross for us, He took not only our sin, but our shame. He bore it, so that we don’t have to. In the eyes of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords we have nothing to be ashamed about when we have Jesus in our hearts.
Jesus turned the water into the finest wine ever tasted. He provided the best when everything else had run out. He still does the same. The eternal life that Jesus offers to everyone, is the finest life ever. There is no comparison. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
The Lord Jesus Christ is perfect company, filled with love and joy, knows our needs, bears our sin and shame and has made an eternal home in Heaven for those who take refuge in Him.