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Validated by Joy / John 2:1-11
I wonder what kind of event would reveal the glory of God in Jesus to us, such that we would put our faith in Him? I'm not sure we would have chosen this kind of event. A wedding. One of he most joy-filled, extravagant, lengthy celebrations in the culture. It is remarkable that Jesus was invited. You wouldn't want a party pooper to kill the fun for a week. Obviously Jesus wouldn't have been the one to do that. The interaction between Jesus & His mother is curious. Some have thought it was scolding. Others that she had authority over him in such a way that he was required to do what she asked. I think there is a humor, a light kidding going on between them. Think of it as playful. I seriously doubt that Jesus was going to do § at this point that the Father didn't want or that would inhibit his ministry or his ability to accomplish his mission. So he does the incredible, the totally unexpected, the gracious, the good. Isn't interesting how many times Jesus actions don't fit easily into the right/wrong categories, but always in the category of good. Wine for the wedding when they had already polished off the bad stuff. But in the process, he let the host (most likely a family friend, since mary was invited, and Jesus) save face in the culture. And in the process let fun & celebration be a part of the experience. And most importantly, his disciples saw his glory and put their faith in him. I thought they were already following him, hadn't they already believed? They obviously had chosen to follow based on his acceptance of them, the truth of his teaching and the validation of his ability to heal. But somehow all of us, just like those disciples, have to come to a place where we glimpse his glory and believe he is more than a teacher/rabbi. We trust our lives to him as Lord, God, Savior, Master, King. It happened for some at a wedding feast, probably as good a place as any, maybe better. For we can so easily fail to realize there is going to be joy and freedom in the miracles of Jesus and in the life of those who follow him.
So how does this story illustrate the truth of where life comes from that is taught by John in the prologue? First, this story shows the Word who spoke everything to existence in a present situation. He the same God and still has power of what is. He is also life in so many ways, bringing life in the form of hope and joy and saving face and relationships that are more focused on each other than on performance or right and wrong. This story also illustrates how he is right here and yet people don't automatically believe him and know him. But it can happen for all who will believe and receive what He brings. He truly is the God in flesh come to make his dwelling with us. We see his glory as surely as the disciples saw it on that day and by recognizing his glory, believed him. They believed more than that his teaching was good, everyone was witness to that. They believed he was the one they needed, the one the world needed, the one who would make everything as it should be for any who would believe. And so he shows us God. (1:18). He shows us God in ways wouldn't have guessed God would be. And yet here his is, unmistakable because of the nature of the sign of the miracle, surprising because of his grace. So in the first miracle John records, he displays something of the genius of his creative writing. In the Prologue he said more than could be grasped because of the depth of the symbolic language. Now in the rest of his gospel, he will show us what that means. It makes John seem like more than just an incredible gospel, now it is an adventure of discovery.