The Cana Story Re-told
Wine and Weddings: The Cana Story Re-told
By Larry Adams, Bowen Island, BC
Gospel of John 2:1-11:
A wedding took place in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and His disciples had been invited as well.
When the supply of wine ran short, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They have run out of wine.”
“Dear woman, why should that concern us?” Jesus asked. “My time has not yet come.”
His mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
Six stone waterpots were there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold 75 to 110 litres.
Jesus told the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
Then He said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
The servants did this. When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine (he did not know where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom over and said, “It is customary to serve the finest wine first, and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have kept the best till now!”
This miracle in Cana of Galilee was the first sign that Jesus gave, the first glimpse of His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.
A thin cloud cloaks the moon, and the olive grove darkens. Only the more determined stars can be seen as softened halos, the rest eclipsed entirely. Your prayer shawl is barely discernible.
Stay here, and watch with Me.
I remember the first miracle we saw You perform. There were many special miracles, but this one started us thinking about You as the Messiah.
You had been invited to the wedding of Your cousin in Cana. The families of both the bride and groom were relatively poor, so only close relatives and a few friends made up the guests invited to celebrate each evening in the groom’s house for seven days. Your growing reputation enhanced their guest list. And You brought along the six of us who had begun to follow You.
On the fifth evening, having washed our hands and feet according to the purification rituals, we were reclining at the couches to which we had been directed by the master of ceremonies, one of the groom’s uncles whose wit and charm had enlivened the feasting. Though thin, the man was anything but ascetic. His beard was full, his face etched by frequent laughter. He arranged the guests in different groupings each evening. I was beginning to feel relaxed with these people.
That evening I was at a couch with You, John, and two other guests. The food was being served, the wine poured. Shadows cast by the oil lamps capered on the stone walls. An aunt was recounting a story of the bride as a young girl.
I glanced at the couch where the wedding party and rabbi were reclining under the chuppa embroidered in gold and silver. The bride was obviously happy about her parents’ choice of husband for her. She laughed at the story her aunt told - we all laughed. But the bride’s laughter was brittle. There were traces of strain in her face and bearing which had not been present the previous evenings. The groom also seemed a little subdued.
Your mother came over to our couch and whispered so low that I could barely hear her. “They?re running out of wine.” Her eyes and body tension relayed her concern. Social shame came with the inability to demonstrate hospitality at a wedding feast. And we were only five nights into the feasting! Apparently there were too many guests for the resources of the two families, and soon it would become apparent to everyone that the guest list could not be served by the amount of wine they had. What an embarrassing way for the young couple to start married life!
“Dear woman,” You whispered back. “What is that to you or Me? My time has not yet come.”
Mary, what were you expecting? You had pondered long the nature of your son. It was widely believed that the Messiah would perform miracles to demonstrate His calling. Was that why you thought your son might do something to help? Or did you think that by bringing six extra guests He had contributed to the problem and as a relative should try to help with a solution?
Gesturing toward You, Mary told the two servants dishing out food and pouring wine, “Do whatever He tells you.” The servants nodded. She returned to her place.
You were quiet for awhile, lost in thought (and now I understand, in prayer). Then You got up, and beckoned for John and me to follow. You asked me to fetch the other four disciples. We all went into the hallway.
One of the servants was hurrying by to serve another couch. You asked him to stop and call the other servant. I could sense the man’s frustration, even though he nodded politely and brought his co-worker.
In the hall stood six stone waterpots which we all had used to wash our hands and feet before entering the room where the banquet was being held. The waterpots varied in size, holding between 75 and 110 litres each.
“Fill the waterpots with water,” You told the servants. They filled them to the brim.
“Now draw some out and take it to the master of ceremonies,” You commanded. They looked puzzled, wondering why You would ask them to take a jug of water to the emcee. But they obeyed.
We all returned to our couches, and watched as one of the servants placed the jug of water in front of the master of ceremonies. The groom’s uncle looked into the jug, and then drained what was left in his cup.
He poured - wait! That didn’t look like water! No, it was darker. And he poured it right into his wine cup. He took a sip, and his eyebrows lifted. He took another sip, letting the wine roll slowly along his tongue, savouring it. He glanced quizzically at the wedding party.
The servant behind him was looking at the jug with wrinkled brow. Turning toward the servant, the master of ceremonies whispered something in his ear. The servant went to the groom, and asked him to join the master of ceremonies in a corner of the room.
The groom’s uncle exclaimed, “This tastes like the very best grape aged perfectly! It’s customary for the finest wine to be served first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now!”
“What?” the groom asked in surprise.
“Well, have a taste,” the uncle said.
They both returned to the couch where the master of ceremonies had been reclining. The groom sipped from his uncle’s cup. And sipped again.
“Where did this come from?” he asked amazed.
The servant pointed at You as he explained what had happened. He took the groom and master of ceremonies into the hall and showed them the six stone waterpots brimming with wine then, not water. Over 600 litres of the best wine anyone at the banquet had tasted!
The merriment that night was infectious. The dancing was energetic. Everyone got caught up in the exuberance of the bride and groom who had not only enough wine to last the remainder of the feast, but well into their marriage. Such was Your generous gift to them.
And we, Your disciples, saw the first rays of a glory through which You would convince us eventually that You are the Messiah.
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It seems appropriate to include this short story of Larry’s in the section “Friends” on this wine website as Larry has been a close friend of mine for almost 20 years now. This story was originally self-published under the title: “Jesus, You Make All Things New” in a Lenten reading guide for a small group of his friends. Doug Reichel.