It's not the signs; it's the wonder

We had a Bible Study this morning. We're early into John's Gospel, and the question popped up about the first miracle, known this way because the writer of the gospel says it is the first miracle, "why did Mary react the way she did?" The secondary question is "Why was this party worthy of a Christ miracle."

Let me say that I did a piece a couple of days ago that cried out for attention and/or discussion and it go no attention and/or discussion. None. I'm down to twenty something readers a day, so I don't know how far this will go.

But this is a worthy question, I think.

It's a party. A wedding party. The culture was completely different than our own, but still, it's a party. They're drinking wine. Lots and lots of wine. And then it happens, they run out.

The host of the part will be completely embarrassed. But...so what? What's the eternal, God-moment here? A party has been wrecked.

Is that worthy of a cellular change of water into wine?

We can talk forever about the theological implication here, but let's get down to the root of it all.

This is a sign, as John describes it. There had to be a beginning. This  is it. Thee had to be a first, this is it. Perhaps it's as simple as that.

Is it significant that it was a wedding? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Look, for me the last line of the passage is the one that is most significant. It reads, "He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him."

Far, far too often we need a boost to our faith. Things are going great since we decided to follow Jesus. Then, they're not so great and we begin to waver. I see it far, far too often. But we get just a little boost, like coffee in the afternoon, and boom, we're going again. Is that fair? Is that right? But it happens, correct?

The disciples had fallen head over heels for Jesus and his teaching. But there's nothing like a miracle to get the juices going.  Was that fair? Was it right?

Notice who saw the miracle first. The servants. Did we hear from any of them later? Were they at the cross?

It's not just the miracles that saves us. It's the man named Jesus. That is the point, after all.

Oh, it could have been a wedding for one of Jesus' sisters, and Mary would have felt responsible when the wine ran out. And Jesus being the oldest son would have been responsible, as well. Could have been. We don't know.

But it was a first. Is it on the degree that we would have come out of the shoot, miraculous guns ablaze? Probably not. But it's a first. There had to be one.