On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
John 2:1-4
Mary tells Jesus that the wedding has run out of wine. He responds with a cool sort of distance. The Greek word does not imply disrespect like “woman” does in English. Woman, who do you think you are? That’s not it. More like “lady” or “ma’am” perhaps reflects the sort of respectable coolness.
Jesus here respectfully listens to his mother. Oh, but even here, he is on mission with his Father.
I think his response is so interesting and insightful. What does that have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. That phrase is going to appear over and over in John’s gospel (7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 12:1). My hour has not yet come.
What hour is he speaking of? The hour of his death.
In essence, Jesus responds to his mother: They need wine? What does that have to do with my death? It is not yet time for me to die. Everyone is having a good time at this wedding party, but even here, already here, Jesus is thinking of his death. One preacher says, “In the middle of this joy, he sips the coming sorrows.”
Quite simply, what does this strange exchange tell us? It tells us that Jesus is already thinking of his death. And to where does this sign point? It points to a cross.
But what sign does Jesus perform? Let’s not lose the big picture. What’s the miracle? He turns water into wine at a wedding. You see this wedding is a sign that points us to another wedding. I think Jesus is thinking about what it will be like and what it’s going to take to get there. Because it’s for a wedding he has come to Earth.
Several places in the Old Testament God refers to himself as a Bridegroom to his people. As a faithful bridegroom he relentlessly pursues, cares for, and loves his people, his bride.
In a couple of places in the gospels, Jesus refers to himself as the Bridegroom. He’s asked by some critics why his disciples don’t fast like the others. Why would they fast when their bridegroom is with them? They’ll fast later. Elsewhere John the Baptist will refer to himself as a friend of the bridegroom who rejoices and gets out the way when the Bridegroom arrives.
Later in John’s life, he will see this great vision of the end of all things. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he records that vision and send it to encourage the churches in Asia Minor. When he catches this glimpse of the end of all things, he describes what he sees as a heavenly wedding.
In Revelation, Chapter 19, he writes:
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come…
Revelation 19:6-7
Then later, in Chapter 21, he writes:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:2-4
This is why Jesus has come to Earth! That man may dwell with God in glory. That the people of God would be gathered from the four corners of the world to know God, love God, and worship God as God knows his and lavishes his love on us.
Jesus knows this is how the story ends, but he also knows what it’s going to take to get there.
What does Jesus provide for the wedding in our story? Wine.
That wine points to the wine he will provide for his own wedding–his blood.
Christ loved the church, Paul says, and gave himself up for her, so that he might present her to himself in splendor without spot or blemish. How will we enter into this union with God? By taking of the wine that Jesus provides.
Perhaps you’ve heard a preacher say that while Jesus was on the cross, you were on his mind. That is certainly true. But you were on his mind even before that. Oh, the love of God that overwhelms us!