Jesus Parties On
John tells us that “This was the first of Jesus’ signs” and what a way to start a ministry — not with some grand act of healing or a dramatic raising of the dead, but with a small deed done at his mother’s bidding — getting the drinks sorted at a friend’s wedding.
This is for me one of the best examples of Jesus’ humanity. Not only is he obeying his mother, as instructed by Scripture, but he also demonstrates human care as he participates with, and attempts to please his friends by providing them with wine so they can enjoy the celebration of the Sacrament of marriage. We should not forget he would have been enjoying the wine himself. His miracle meant that the other guests were able to continue celebrating for longer. For a fledgling miracle worker this can surely only be seen in a positive light. (Ed. — we need Jesus behind Vanburgh bar)
The first miracle he did was to make a lot of people happy. He pleased his mum by providing the wine, and his friends. He was also responsible for the compliments paid to the bridegroom, for his excellent taste in wine, probably for years to come!
I think that Jesus was trying to tell us something, even in this small gesture: the best way to help others can be to make sure that they and we are happy and content. Depression does not help others but even a small piece of happiness (just a smile) can go a long way.
On a deeper level, we can perhaps draw an allegory of Jesus with the bridegroom. In Mark chapter 2 he says: “Surely the bridegrooms attendants cannot fast while the bridegroom is still with them?” When the president of the feast praises the bridegroom: “You have kept the best wine till now” he is pointing to the future that Jesus is the true Messiah, not simply another prophet. The act of turning water into wine is a sign of the day when Jesus is to turn wine into his own blood.
I can’t know for sure but I believe most importantly that the story was included to make people like myself see Jesus as that little bit more than human — an extraordinary, ordinary man. If so, it works, because there are few other passages in the Bible, in my opinion, where Jesus seems to me to be so clearly the Son of Man.