You have kept the good wine until now!

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

- John 2:1-12

In yesterday's reading, we recall that Jesus has selected some of His first disciples. Through John the Baptist, He has met several followers of John: Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, and (we presume) the author of this gospel, John Zebedee. Jesus had already met Andrew and the anonymous disciple, and through them, Simon whom He named Peter. Yesterday, we read of Jesus' meeting first of Philip, and then Nathanael. Jesus told Philip, "Follow Me." But Nathanael asked Philip, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" when he was told about Jesus. As Nathanael came toward Him, Jesus said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus told Nathanael that he would see many greater things than this -- and then promised to them all: "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. We note that we have several events in the beginning of John's gospel that are happening very swiftly. On the first day, we read of the testimony of the Baptist regarding the One who is to come. The next day, Jesus is baptized and His identity revealed to the Baptist; later on, the Baptist stands with two of his disciples, and says of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God." Later, one of these disciples, Andrew, finds his brother Peter. On the second day, Jesus wishes to travel to Galilee. The gospel tells us that Andrew and Peter are from Bethsaida -- and so is Philip. Jesus finds Philip, and then Philip found Nathanael. Today's reading is about the third day, the wedding in Cana of Galilee. We can assume that this was an affair of extended family and relationships -- including these disciples. All, John is careful to note, were invited. As we have commented in each of the readings so far in John's gospel, relationship and relatedness play a central role in this ministry. My study bible notes that the setting of a wedding is very important: "In the Old Testament, marriage feasts symbolize the union of God with His bride, Israel." We note also that we are in Galilee, largely Gentile territory. These are important clues about Jesus' ministry.

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." Wine is a symbol of covenant, essential to a marriage feast. My study bible points out that Jesus is not insulting His mother by His reply -- rather, He's asking her, "What does this have to do with you and me?" "Woman," it notes, is a title of respect. "My hour" is the hour of self-revelation -- full and public disclosure of His identity, which my study bible says is primarily the time of His "glorification" -- His Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension. But, of course, we must note once again the importance of relationship. His mother, who knows Him best of anyone at this point, is the one who prompts Him. He has already gathered to Himself several disciples; perhaps this is a factor in her prompting. And, we recall, the anonymous disciple, whom we presume to be the author of this gospel, has had by the time of its writing a special relationship to Mary: he is the one who will take on the role of son and caretaker after the Crucifixion.

His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Despite Jesus' reply, she knows Him well. In all things, the gospels teach us that the Mother of God (an honorary title of the Church) has accepted Him, loved Him, and fully accepted the role given her at the time of the Annunciation. She, also, has faith in Him.

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. The waterpots are made of stone for reasons of ritual purification: stone would not contract impurity in accordance with rabbinical teaching. My study bible suggests the number six -- one less than the fullness of a perfect seven -- perhaps symbolizes the old dispensation.

Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" Jesus' first act of ministry, after choosing several disciples, takes place at this wedding feast as a great symbol of His New Covenant that He is bringing to the world. We are in Gentile territory. The change from water to wine is the effect of the Christ, the Logos -- a symbol of covenant, and of fullness, in contrast to the six waterpots of stone, representing the Old Covenant. In Christ, the law is fulfilled, bringing a new dispensation: which comes to both Jew and Gentile. It is the action of grace.

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. John's gospel has been called the Book of Signs, because Jesus' miracles are carefully referred to here as signs. They are signs not only of Jesus' identity but also of His kingdom and what He is bringing into the world. In keeping with the symbolic language of numbers, the signs in this gospel will be seven. A sign is something that points to a reality beyond itself. My study bible says that Jesus' signs point to "the mystery of the Incarnate God at work in His mighty and saving acts; the kingdom of God being inaugurated by Jesus. The disciples see His glory -- His divine power which reveals that He comes from the Father -- and are strengthened in their faith in Him." We note once again the relatedness that permeates this writing; from the wedding, everybody goes to Capernaum (Jesus' Galilean headquarters): He, His mother, His brothers (which likely means extended family -- as it does today in the Middle East), and His disciples. That they did not stay there many days again gives us a feel for the swiftness of this ministry -- a kind of sign of the swiftness with which this kingdom will take root in people's hearts.

The conversion of water to wine teaches us something extraordinary about Jesus, and also about ourselves. It's symbolic of the transformation that takes shape in so much of Christian understanding: it prefigures (according to some Church Fathers) the Eucharist. It also teaches us something about what is to come in the next chapter, the mystery of being "born again" of Spirit. And in a different and subtle way, it also teaches us about the transformation that creates relationship: Jesus' disciples are included with His family. All of this is included in our ideas about Covenant, and we must remember that Jesus is here to declare the presence of a kingdom, into which all of us are invited. Without a word, without any form of show, the transformation of water to wine takes place inside the stone jars, and it is the best wine according to the master of the feast -- it should have been served first! We are given a great secret, a hint of what happens "in secret" and in silence, perhaps without a word, without a great show, the mystery of the holy reality, the presence of the kingdom. In ourselves, we are also transformed, and we are brought into relationship. It's not up to us to explain or to make happen ourselves. It doesn't come with observation. It is subtle. Like the example of Mary, we accept by faith. Let us remember His Covenant within us, and the sign we are given of water transformed to wine. So it is with us, in us. Can you simply accept?