Some really cute guy got himself a bride and the wedding was fixed for a time when friends, loved ones, family and friendnemies could attend. Jesus, His mom-Mary and Jesus' disciples were part of the wedding guests.
To get the full gist of what happened at Cana, Read John 2:1-10
Our striking verse is found in John's commentary on the action as recorded in John 2:1-11;" This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.
Some scholars believe that the wedding at Cana was included to show God's approval for a marriage. Others say it is to affirm the potency of faith when we ask the Lord for something He didn't initially want to do; as in the case of Mary asking Jesus to do something about the wine.
While these perspectives are a blessing, I will like us to look at the wedding story with a heart that cries, show me your glory, Lord Jesus. Then we will be able to see more than the letters.
As taught by John Piper (2008), We see 3 glories of Jesus revealed (there could be more) in the wedding story thus;
1. His Glory as an Obedient Son
Let’s read John 2:1–4:
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
That is a surprising response. I think Jesus knew it would be surprising when he said it, and John knew it would be when he recorded it. There was nothing cultural that says a man can’t call his mother by the title “Mother”—“Mother, what does this have to do with me?” (see 1 Kings 2:20). But Jesus says, “Woman.” His response isn’t disrespectful, but it is abrupt. It may be like calling her “Ma’am” in some contexts today.
Jesus is doubly abrupt with his mother: He calls her “Woman,” and he says, “This is not your place to be calling out my power.” It does seem that his mother expected him to do something. We are not told what she expected, but we are told that Jesus did not approve of what she said.
What makes this so significant is that Jesus goes right ahead and takes care of the problem by doing a miracle. So he could have said very gently, “Yes, Mother, I know. I’ll take care of it immediately.” That’s what he did, but that’s not what he said. That makes us ask why he spoke to her this way. If you are going to do what your mother has in mind anyway, why don’t you simply agree with her and then do it?
I think the answer is that Jesus felt a burden to make clear not only to his mother and his brothers and sisters, but to all the rest of us, that because of who he was, physical relationships on earth would not control him or oblige him. His mother and his physical family would have no special advantage to guide his ministry. And his mother and physical family would have no special advantage to receive his salvation.
The reason is that Jesus was absolutely bound to his Father’s will in heaven and to no one on earth. This was the lodestar in his sky, and there could be no competing controls on his life. John 8:28: “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” John 5:17–19: “My Father is working until now, and I am working. . . . [T]he Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” His miracles are not at his mother’s disposal—or anyone else’s. He is entirely in the sway of his heavenly Father. He and the Father are one, and they have one will.
Jesus was saying both by his response and action, "My Father in heaven, not any human being, determines what miracles I perform. And the pathway into my favor is faith, not family or Familiarity.
As the obedient Son of God, he is not swayed by family ties—not Mary’s and not yours. He is swayed by those who despair of pedigrees and trust his grace.
- John Piper
LIFE APPLICATION
What or who influences your action?
Jesus knows He got the power to do Miracles but He never summons that power if there is NO OCCASSION that both glorifies God or compassionately meets the needs of man.
God doesn't give us the gifts of the Spirit for us to show off or oppress others by shouting, "Do you know who I am?"
The ultimate purpose of every gift is to glorify God while benefiting the recipients. IT IS NEVER DIRECTLY ABOUT YOU.
Adoption Strategy: Let God truly be in charge of your life and gifts. Weigh every action and decision against how it ultimately contributes to the purpose and glory of God.
See the Next here
Meanwhile, this post is an excerpt of our study at The Birthplace Foundation.
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Anne Emeka-Obiajunwa
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