The Best

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE BEST

John 2:1-11

2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."  5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.  7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

NIV

First, we should note there is some discussion among our scholars as to what the third day meant. Was it the third day after the conversation between Jesus and Nathanael or was it the third day of the wedding feast? In all reality, it really doesn’t matter except John, as inspired by the Spirit, included that fact. What we do know historically is wedding feasts usually lasted seven days and so it most likely appears from the context of the narrative this would be the third day of the feast as the bridegroom’s supply of wine had run out. Either more guests showed up than expected or he and his family did not expect their guests to drink so much, or simply they under calculated or maybe even could not afford any more then what that had supplied. Either way, the wine had run out and as Mary, the mother of Jesus had been invited along with Jesus and his friends, which would only be four at this point, Phillip, Andrew, Peter, and Nathanael. Would we not know or expect a woman to notice her hosts’ predicament of running low or having completely run out of wine? It always seems women are more sensitive to situations, but then we are also talking about the mother of Jesus. Mary knew more about Jesus than anyone else. She knew he was conceived within her by God and not by a man. She held all those memories about the gifts from the men from the East, and the stories the shepherds told her about the hosts of angels who told them about her baby. She held all those memories and more, like the time they accidentally left him behind in Jerusalem and later found him in the temple courts and his response that they should have known he would be in his Father’s house. Interesting as he was being raised in Joseph’s house, but Jesus referred to the temple as his Father’s house. Mary had so many memories, she had to know Jesus would be able to do something extraordinary for their host. It is also interesting she did not ask him, but simply informed him of their need, perhaps with full knowledge he would not refuse her. What we learn and also know full well that Jesus never refuses when we have a need. Can anyone say, Jesus said no to them? Well, maybe if we said our need was a million dollars or a big yacht, or a trip around the world or some other bizarre request which would be totally out of the will of God in our lives. But then we have so been instructed about those kinds of requests. Nevertheless, Jesus said that we could ask anything in his name, still, we have to contain ourselves to the will of God. Mary just told him the need and his response to her was not disrespectful at all by not calling her mother, but dear women. He used the same exact word when he spoke to her from the cross. His mention that his time had not come may have been to forestall any miracle, but it also may have been to wait for the exact time when everyone, especially the hosts realized they were completely out of all sources of wine so that what he provided would be the only wine there. Whatever the reason, Jesus did provide the best there was as he always does. We can be assured that when Jesus provides something for us, it is the best for us. Yes, we might be able to see someone who we think as something better than us, but that is also Jesus providing the best for them, as he does for us. What we have, we have from the hand of God, provided by Jesus. The first and foremost thing Jesus has provided for us is forgiveness of sin, redemption, and eternal life. Could anything be any better? Sure we might have a good life here, as the host provided good wine for his guests, but not the best wine. Jesus provided the best, and he also does that in our lives. There are some people throughout the world that may not have a good life, even believers, who suffer under the rule of tyrants, even killed because of their faith, but Jesus has provided them with life everlasting, and their pain and suffering will be no more. Jesus always provides the best. Let us always be glad and thankful for the provisions of Jesus and that the Father provided us with Jesus. He is the best provision of God.