Valentine’s Day may remind us of the most romantic day of our lives – our wedding day. Isn’t it interesting Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding? A wedding of all things was used to kick off His ministry. I wonder why? Let’s review the Scripture for clues.
John 2: 1-11
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew) the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
There are many clues here. Surely, the scripture tells of Jesus’ compassion and ability to meet our needs – no matter how small. But is there more? Is there a deeper spiritual meaning encompassed in Jesus’ first miracle?
We can trust God to be intentional in everything He reveals to us through His Word. I find it fascinating that in this brief description of the miracle John tells us how the water jars were used: “For the Jewish rites of purification.” Jesus chose water jars linked the requirement to fulfill the law when He could have used the empty wine jars.
Jesus did not come to provide a better method to uphold the law; He came to replace it with grace. Just as He replaced the water with wine. The water could only cleanse the outside of the body. Jesus came to cleanse our hearts through His blood.
Blood was represented by wine at the last supper and is connected to this first miracle. There was a new covenant, a new way to access the Father.
Not only was a wedding covenant taking place on that day in Cana, but a new covenant of grace to replace the old covenant of the law. Let your heart rejoice this Valentine’s Day that it has been touched by the grace of Christ’s first miracle.
