THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s reading is John 2 (click here for link)

I am no chemist, but I once saw a trick done with water that reminded me very much of John’s account of Jesus turning water into wine. It was like this: Two glasses of water were set before the chemistry class to observe—nothing special, just clear water. But then my teacher took a clever little wand with some special crystals embedded in it and stirred one of the glasses of water. Magically, the water turned a brilliant wine red. My chemistry class was only mildly impressed (I figured I could do the same thing with Kool Aid!). But the trick wasn’t over, yet. My chemistry teacher then proceeded to pour the remaining glass of clear water into the newly tinted red water, and abra cadabra… the red water turned crystal clear once again. Yeah, cool but… Had my chemistry teacher one upped Jesus?

Of course not! My teacher left out one important part… he never gave us a taste. Yes, it looked cool, but it was just a trick. Red water doesn’t make fine wine. However, Jesus’ miracle was no trick, it was the real deal! It was the best wine ever tasted, and it is the taste that makes all the difference.

I know this may seem to be a simplistic point, but then again, there is significance in even some of the most basic details in the Gospel of John. We know the wine Jesus made from water was no tint or dye or trick, it was good wine. In fact, it was no mere miracle… it was a sign! It was Jesus’ first sign that the kingdom of God is at hand. That is significant! In the same way, it is probably no coincidence that this wedding feast took place on the “third day.” Another sign yet to come… interesting! That is what signs do, they point us to the future—to things yet to come. So what was this sign pointing toward?

Maybe it was a sign that wine is a parody of life. There are beautiful wines, quaffing wines, and terrible wines. But even with beautiful wines, some age well, and others turn sour before our very eyes. So then, as with wines, the same with life. We are constantly reminded of the impermanence of life, reminded that "moth and rust corrupts." Disappointment abounds. Everything in this world eventually runs out and we are left dry. And while we can try to be stoic about imperfection and disappointment in this world, this approach doesn’t work for verylong. In the end, it only leaves a bitter taste in our mouth. Or we can follow the signs of the kingdom. We can look beyond this moment to a brighter day when the wine will not disappoint us. The Bible calls it the heavenly banquet—the feast of the kingdom to come.

When Jesus visited a wedding in Cana he performed a miracle that served to remind his disciples of that brighter day, a day that transcends the imperfect moment. His disciples understood the point he was making and decided to trust him to carry them to that day. Do we trust him to carry us to that day? Are you willing to trust the signs he has given you?

Taste and see that the Lord is good. He will not disappoint.

Pastor Aaron