Who doesn’t love a good wine story?? But before we 
go there, I want to take us back to the very beginning of the Gospel of John, where we hear some of our favorite Christmas Eve words—
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The writer continues:
What came into being
4 through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
Then we hear:
A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
Right after we’re told who John is, we find him at work testifying to this when he’s questioned by Jewish leaders trying to figure out who he is and just what he’s doing.
“I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,” he responds. “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. 27 He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.”
The very next day Jesus shows up. At which point John says: Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’
And Jesus, the first time we see him in John’s Gospel, seemingly says nothing. But the day after that, he calls some disciples, maybe 5-6 of them, including John, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael.
The next next day, the third day, is where our Scripture lesson for today takes place, at the start of the second chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus’ public ministry is brand-spanking new. Jesus’ mother is at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and apparently Jesus and his handful of disciples have also been invited. And the wine runs out.
Which is when Jesus’ mother speaks up, noticing this critical issue and directing her concern to him. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They don’t have any wine.”
And his response is a little salty even in the most neutral tone I can imagine: 4 Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn’t come yet.”
But this doesn’t seem to deter his mother one bit. I imagine her holding his gaze here for an uncomfortable period of time with that look only a mother can give you…. You know, the one with raised eyebrow, pursed lips, and eye contact that silently says, “You know what I’m talking about! And you better watch that tone!”
But beyond this imagined look that Scripture doesn’t capture, Jesus’ mother simply turns to the servants and says to them: “Do whatever he tells you.”
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I want to pause here to notice a couple of important things together:
The first is the timing of this act of public ministry; this miracle, as we call it. All of this happens when the wine gave out…. Not when resources were running low; not with only a few pitchers left. When the wine ran out.
I wonder who knew that the situation was dire and what they were trying to do about it…. Because surely the wedding coordinator and servants would’ve seen this critical reality coming! Whatever efforts were or weren’t being made to come up with a solution, there isn’t one in time. Because the wine runs out. Which is just when Jesus, nudged by his mother, steps in.
I also wonder what Jesus’ mother—known in John’s Gospel not by name, but only by relationship with him—saw in Jesus in that moment and leading up to it…. What would have made her believe he could do anything about this scarcity of resources, much less that he could do something so miraculous?
John’s Gospel doesn’t offer a nativity story, but surely, so close to our Christmas celebrations, we can still hear the echoes of Mary’s Magnificat song about what the child in her womb will do—the abundance and grace, the restoration and reorientation he will offer. We also shouldn’t miss the fact that the only other time the mother of Jesus appears in the Gospel of John is at the foot of the cross. So this MUST be important.
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New Testament scholar Karoline Lewis reminds us that the first acts of Jesus’ public ministry provide important clues to who Jesus is for the respective Gospel authors. She wonders:
“For Matthew, why the Sermon on the Mount? For Mark, why an exorcism? For Luke, why a return to his hometown? And for John, why water into wine? What do they reveal about who Jesus is and what Jesus will do? We should remember that the miracles Jesus performs in [John’s gospel] are never called miracles but signs. In other words, the miracle itself is not really what we are supposed to see, as miraculous as it is. Rather, the miracles point to a truer revelation about Jesus. This could be an important way to move through the season of Epiphany. Revelation for revelation’s sake is really not the point. What deeper reality is Jesus revealing? What are we supposed to see about Jesus?” —Karoline Lewis, Working Preacher
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Clearly, one of the things that this sign points to is Jesus’ abundant provision. When the wine runs out, he doesn’t just offer a little more second-rate wine to support the needs of this gathered community. Rather, the provision is WAY above and beyond the basics—six water jars, each 20-30 gallons, filled to the brim, of the best wine. Y’all I did the math…. That’s 100-150+ bottles!
Jesus’ grace is MORE than enough, and that, my friends, is good news. Very good news, indeed. Anytime when it feels like the wine is running out in our individual lives, perhaps a miracle is just around the corner. For a congregation whose realities can feel like the resources are running low (at least by comparison to previous seasons of life and ministry)… This miracle story reminds us that when we see and experience scarcity, Jesus can still make abundant grace possible. But how? What are we to do with this Good News in Jesus?
When the wine gave out… The one instruction is simple, but perhaps not easy. “Do whatever he tells you.” Listen and respond.
No matter how little sense it might make; no matter how uncomfortable or counterintuitive his instructions may feel. No matter how arduous it may be. Remember: 6 jars, 20-30 gallons each; that is not easy task. “Do whatever he tells you.”
This miracle of provision, this first expression of Jesus’ abundance and grace, is witnessed only by Jesus’ mother and a handful of disciples, and it is brought to bear with the help of some wedding banquet servants. Interestingly, the story never says exactly how or when the miracle happens. There is no special blessing or prayer, no magic hand wave or gesture. Jesus simply says to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” and they fill them to the brim. Then he tells them, “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter,” and they did.
The headwaiter tastes what he has been given, and the water has become wine. He has no idea where this comes from, but the servants who participated know. And they, alongside Jesus’ mother and disciples have just born witness to the abundance and grace that is possible by participating in Jesus’ ministry.
“He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him” the text says as the story draws to a close. But of course, this is just the beginning of John’s gospel. Chapter 2, remember? There is still so much more to the story!
What if the same is true for us here at First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem? Yes, later this year we’ll celebrate our 150th anniversary, but what if this is just the beginning of Chapter 2?! Friends, when the wine gives out…. Do whatever Jesus tells you. Listen and respond. For in that, a miracle awaits so that his glory might be revealed and we disciples can believe in him. May it be so. This day and each day. Amen.