The Gospel of John: John 2.1-12

Read and meditate on John 2.8, 9.
It pleases the Lord Jesus to reveal Kingdom secrets and mysteries to the humble and obedient (cf. Matt. 13.11), and He does so here, in this first manifestation of His glory.

                                                 ⁸And then 
He said, “Draw out some water now, and when
you have, go quickly and convey it to
the wedding host.” Which they were quick to do.
⁹The host then tasted of the water (now
made wine), but knew not either where or how
such wine had come to be (the servants, who
had drawn the water from the vessels knew,
however).

- John 2.8, 9

Reflect
1.  In all His other miracles, Jesus either touches someone or speaks to or about someone. How did He accomplish this miracle? Complete this prayer: Lord, when You think about me…

2.  The chemical symbol for water is, as everyone knows, H₂O. While there is no chemical symbol for wine, a molecule of wine contains a lot more than just hydrogen and oxygen, including ethanol, glycerol, acids, tannins and phenolics (whatever those are). Meditate on John 1.1-3 and Hebrews 1.3. Where did all those other molecules come from? You are sovereign, Lord Jesus, over all creation, and over all my…

3.  Meditate on 1 Corinthians 2.16 and Ephesians 3.20. We may not be able to think molecules into existence, but should we expect more of the mind of Christ in us than what we typically experience? Explain. Lord, help me to see my life with Your mind, to think like You think, plan like You would plan, and today…

4.  Let’s go back to those servants for a minute. They knew the secret here. Do you think they wanted to tell anyone what they knew? Why? Lord, I get so excited about what You’re doing in my life that…

5.  We note that Jesus was glorified here, and the result was that the joy of many people was extended and enhanced – even though they had no clue how. The celebrating continued with gusto, and no one credited Jesus for anything. Is there a lesson here about living for God’s glory? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Addressing the expectant servants, he said, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ The servants promptly obeyed, and suddenly in a marvelous way the water began to acquire potency, take on color, emit fragrance and gain flavor—all at once it changed its nature completely! Now this transformation of the water from its own substance into another testified to the powerful presence of the Creator. Only he who had made it out of nothing could change water into something whose use was quite different.” Maximus of Turin (d. 408/423 AD)

Jesus can make something out of nothing, and, in the bargain, bless and bring joy to all kinds of people. What nothing in your life will Jesus turn to something for blessing others today? How can you prepare for this even now?

Closing Prayer
He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction and sorrow,
He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.
Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Psalm 107.33-43

Psalm 107.33-38, and 1-3 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
You make the desert a river o’erflowing;
You make a wasted life fruitful and strong!
You bless the hungry with fields for the sowing;
Bless and increase us who to You belong!
    Lord, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love,
    We give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
    We who from east and west, north and south gather,
    Boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.