When the Wine Runs Out: Trusting God's Plan in the Inconvenient Moments
Today, we’re looking at one of the most famous accounts in the Bible: Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana, found in John chapter 2, verses 1–12.
The scene is a celebration, a wedding. The essential element of a good party, the wine, runs out. As my footnote reminds me, "To run out of wine was an embarrassing and inhospitable offense for a wedding host." This wasn't just an inconvenience; it was a crisis of social standing.
In this moment of embarrassment, Jesus’ mother goes to Him and says the obvious: “They have no more wine.”
The Wisdom in "My Hour Has Not Yet Come"
When we face a crisis, something inconvenient, embarrassing, or just plain bad, our human tendency is to run to Jesus and say, "We've run out of this! Fix it now!"
Jesus’ response to his mother is revealing: “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.”
This challenges our impatience. We tend to imply that it is Jesus’ job to fix every issue the moment we realize it. But sometimes, when Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come,” He is saying that the space between our crisis and His rescue is necessary.
That space, that time of inconvenience or embarrassment is needed "for God's glory to be revealed." We must trust that Jesus has a better plan and a perfect time, even if we are complaining in the waiting period.
The Power of Excellent Obedience
Though Jesus initially hesitated, His mother’s faith was absolute. She simply told the servants: "Do whatever he tells you." (v. 5)
Jesus then gives a seemingly mundane command to the servants: "Fill the jars with water."
The Servants' Response: They didn't question why or how this would help. They simply "filled them to the brim." They did what Jesus told them to do, and they did it with excellence, to the full capacity they could!
The Next Step: Jesus then told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
This highlights a beautiful principle: When Jesus gives us something to do, we must do it. And when we do it, others are blessed. We may have questions. Why am I filling water? Why are you telling me to do this? but our job is obedience.
When God’s Glory is Revealed
The servants were the only ones who knew what had happened. The master of the banquet tasted the water-turned-wine, and he was astonished.
He didn't realize where the blessing had come from.
He didn’t know it was a miracle performed by Jesus.
He only knew that the wine was the best he had ever tasted, saved for last!
The host, who was about to be labeled as inhospitable and an embarrassment, was instead praised as someone who saved the best for last. Jesus, in His humility, took no credit, but allowed the host to be seen as thoughtful, kind, and generous.
The Application for Our Lives:
You will be saved from embarrassment: Jesus saved the host from offense and made him look extraordinary. When we run out of something or face an inconvenient or embarrassing situation, we must trust that Jesus has a plan to overcome it, to save us, and to turn our "whack wine" into the very best.
The outcome is always for God's glory: Verse 11 says, "What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him." This entire inconvenient event was designed to reveal God's glory and deepen the faith of those who follow Him.
A Prayer for Trust
We thank you, God, for sending your Son, Jesus, who always has a plan. Thank you for your omniscience and sovereignty. Grant us the patience to understand when your hour has not yet come, and the obedience to do whatever you tell us to do when it is. We honor you, and we wait for you, knowing that you are working for the good of those who love you.
Lord, please continue to turn all the water in my life into wine. In Jesus' name, Amen!
