The sign of abundant wine

Jesus turns water into wine, the wedding at Cana
John 2:1-11

Like the feeding of the five thousand, this sign shows us that God’s action in the world is one that is about generosity, grace, abundance: there will always be enough of what God is offering.

God is always thinking about feeding us, and in this instance not only feeding, but giving us great wine to drink! Perhaps this is the most Jewish of signs, one quite difficult for us Christians in 2013 to understand. What do we know of Jewish marriage feasts and culture? What can we understand from this Gospel reading?

There are such odd things about this reading, Mary’s appearance, for instance, unlike the image that we have become so familiar with over Christmas and over the years – the young women – obedient and accepting. Here, to me she seems much older, familiar with her son – he’s a grown-up after all. Used to referring to him for help – ‘they have no wine’; expecting that he has the answers/solutions: ‘do whatever he tells you’; what would it be like to be the mother of such a son? She obviously loves him – understands him.

 And then, the wine – why create such wine at a wedding feast? Of course, yes, people want more wine; it has run out, a potential huge embarrassment for the host, more than that something that would shame them. But, so much of it; what is this sign, what does it mean? Abundance, generosity, overflowing – these words begin to describe something about this sign that we are meant to understand. God is acting, God has acted: He gives us more than we need, more good things than we require. He is a generous God.

 Yet, the experience of much of the world, is lack, is need, is want. We talk about recession, and some people are really suffering in our country, but look abroad for much more severe forms of want and lack. We don’t seem to live in a world where there is enough.

 Well – first of all, it is no mere magic trick to turn water into wine. Jesus’ divinity is being gently suggested at here. It is of course a situation that perhaps could be explained away – of course there was more wine – the hosts forgot what they had left etc. etc. did you actually see it being turned into wine? Doubt is always there. But, if we believe, then the sign tells us that Jesus is able to govern the rules of nature, a sign of his divinity.

 Second, the nature of the sign: water and wine are fundamental elements of life, and they play significant roles in our Christian faith. The Jewish jars of water were for purification rites. Jesus has just been baptised in the river Jordan announcing a new baptism of the forgiveness of sins. The sign reminds us of the new purification that Jesus brings, a purification that leads to eternal life – through the waters of baptism. And wine we know becomes the sign, the way that Jesus keeps offering us himself for all time, in the sacrament of the Eucharist. So the water and the wine are both significant signs and aspects of the faith. Purification and eternal life: unity with God.

 Third: the sign could be called something like, ‘the sign of abundant wine’ – the amount of wine must be significant. Like the feeding of the five thousand, this sign shows us that God’s action in the world is one that is about generosity, grace, abundance, there will always be enough of what God is offering. And what does he offer: something for all – forgiveness, unity, grace, new life, salvation.

 So, this sign of abundant wine, becomes to us who know what Jesus went on to do, a foreshadowing of our inheritance in Jesus. Jesus is the reason for all our rejoicing, the great guest at all our feasts – the guest who offers us himself with a love that never ever runs out. Imagine the huge stone jars overflowing with wine as a sign of God’s love for you and drink of everlasting life in the wine of the Eucharist. Imagine that God wishes you to drink and be merry in the great heavenly banquet surrounded by all the saints and angels and all those you have ever loved.