February 29, 2012
Lent Devotional #1: Water Into Wine / I Am The Vine
Posted by Michael
Read John 2:1—11 & John 15:1—5
Throughout this devotional we will be looking at the seven miracles Jesus performed in the book of John, as well as the seven “I Am” statements He made about Himself. Before we dig in, there are two caveats I’d like to mention upfront.
First, some people would say that there are actually eight miracles and “I Am” statements in John (the eighth miracle being when Jesus walked through a locked door to appear to His disciples after He resurrected. The eighth “I Am” statement is His direct use of the phrase “I Am” [v. 6:20]). While that is a valid argument, we will be looking at the seven miracles performed before His Passion.
The second point that is important to note is that the seven miracles and seven statements are loosely connected. Jesus didn’t perform a miracle and then immediately connect it with an “I Am” statement. Nevertheless, Jesus’ miracles did reveal something about His character, and we will explore them through the statements He made about Himself.
Now that we have that settled, let’s get started!
Water Into Wine & “I Am The Vine”
Yesterday I was talking to a friend about a wedding he attended this past weekend. The wedding was in Mexico, and he said that the reception lasted from 8:30 p.m. until sunrise the next day. Now that’s a long wedding! I wonder what would of happened if all the food and drinks would have run out by midnight. Angry guests? Embarrassed hosts? That situation in not unlike the situation Jesus found Himself in when He attended a wedding at Cana.
I find it interesting that Jesus’ first public miracle wasn’t a healing. There was no life or death situation on the line. Instead, a wedding reception had simply run out of wine. But for the hosts of this wedding (who may have been related to Jesus in some manner), this would have been a major embarrassment.
At this point, Jesus hadn’t begun His ministry yet. He was simply a guest at a wedding, and He brought along some friends (His disciples) to enjoy the party with Him. But when this problem arises, Mary, the mother of Jesus, instinctively goes to her son for help. Although He seems hesitant to get involved, Jesus does turn water into wine and saves the host from embarrassment. This is a great reminder that we are free to bring Jesus our requests, as long as we acknowledge that He knows best. After Mary comes to Jesus with the problem, she leaves it in His hands. She tells the servants to, “Do whatever He [Jesus] tells you.”
In John 15, Jesus makes the statement, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When we look at this in light of Jesus’ first public miracle, several interesting things can be found. Wine, of course, is made from grapes, which grow on vines. Without the vine, there would be no wine (say that five times fast!). In much the same way, we cannot grow into the people God has called us to be without being connected to the vine—Jesus.
The way that Jesus performs the miracle is also very significant. He puts the water in ceremonial washing jars. These jars were used for purification purposes. When the guests (who have no idea of the miracle that was just performed) taste the wine, they comment that the host has saved the best wine for last. Jesus didn’t just turn water into wine. He turned it into the best wine! Likewise, Jesus came to purify us from our sin. Through His death, we can become the best versions of ourselves. Jesus doesn’t just offer us life. He offers it abundantly (John 10:10); it is sweeter than we can ever imagine.
As you go through Lent this season, remember Jesus’ words that apart from Him we can do nothing. Try to see this as a promise, not merely a statement of fact. Because if apart from Him we can do nothing, then that means if we are in Him, anything is possible. This applies to every area of life. Yes, no problem is too big for Jesus. But also (and we tend to forget this), no problem is too small for Him either. He can raise dead people to life. He can also keep a party going by turning water into wine! And it was this miracle that led His disciples put their faith in Him (v. 2:11). Connect to the vine and bring your requests, desires, fears, and prayers to Him. And then, like Mary says, do whatever He tells you.
