"Everyone serves
the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But
you have kept the good wine until now!"
It is obvious that somebody in Cana goofed. Somebody failed to order
enough wine for the wedding feast. We don’t know who made the mistake. It could have
been a trusted wine steward or even the host himself. We don’t know why the mistake
was made. Maybe there were more guests than expected, or maybe the guests stayed too long
and were thirstier than usual. Compounding the error, the person in charge of wine also
failed to keep an eye on the supply, and it had dwindled to nothing before anyone was
aware of the problem.
That lack of attention to the welfare of guests in one’s home
would have brought great shame upon the host, had it become known. Middle Eastern culture
required the ultimate in hospitality, and a breach in hospitality was seen as the ultimate
insult to an invited guest. Alienation from the community – and even the family
– could result from such poor planning.
Into this mess came Jesus, who rescued the host from disgrace at a
moment when the host could not possibly have rescued himself.
When I think about this story, I see I have much in common with the
person who goofed at Cana. I make bad or thoughtless decisions. I overlook the needs of
other people. I am shamed by my oversights, and I deserve to suffer the consequences. Yet,
into this mess of my sin comes Jesus, who has rescued me when I could not have rescued
myself.
Because of Jesus, my sins and stupidities no longer alienate me from
God. I still have to face the worldly consequences of my bad decisions, and I should. But
I know that because of Jesus, I am accepted and loved by God. I am changed from a man
condemned to a man forgiven.
That’s the real miracle. Jesus changed ME.
Prayer: God, be gracious to me, a sinner. Like Paul, I do the things I
should not do and I fail to do the things I should. I know I will make mistakes. I will
make bad decisions. I thank you for Jesus – his life, death, and resurrection.
Because of him, I am your child, forgiven and accepted. Help me to do better. Amen.
