{"id":19281,"date":"2022-05-10T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-10th-may-2022"},"modified":"2022-05-10T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-10th-may-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-10th-may-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion 10th May 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

St John 2: 1 – 12<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, \u2018They have no wine.\u2019  And Jesus said to her, \u2018Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.\u2019  His mother said to the servants, \u2018Do whatever he tells you.\u2019  Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.  Jesus said to them, \u2018Fill the jars with water.\u2019 And they filled them up to the brim.  He said to them, \u2018Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.\u2019 So they took it.  When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom  and said to him, \u2018Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.\u2019  Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

John notes that Jesus\u2019 glory is revealed in seven signs of which this is just the first. It is not just transforming plain water into high quality wine but the sheer quantity involved is almost beyond imagining – the equivalent of over 1000 bottles.  The steward is so mystified he asks why the best wine has been kept till last. <\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t know what the bridegroom said. We don\u2019t know if the servants told everybody of Jesus\u2019 miracle. Why did Jesus speak like that to his mother? What did he mean by \u2018my hour has not yet come\u2019?  Annoyingly none of these loose ends is tied up and we are left to draw our own conclusions. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s always tempting to try and dissect or deconstruct miracles with rational explanations and scientific reinterpretations but at the heart of each  there remains a kernel of inexplicable glory which we can\u2019t really ignore. <\/span><\/p>\n

It also raises the question of how we distinguish between good and bad wine. There is an element of common sense but, as anyone who has been to a tasting session knows, it\u2019s very easy to lose sight of what you are assessing after a few mouthfuls.  Are we so caught up in everyday life and its difficulties that we can no longer see the profligacy of God\u2019s love and provision for us? Have we lost the ability to discern God at work in every part of our life?  Have we simply domesticated the miraculous? <\/span><\/p>\n

This account is to do with our glimpse into the nature of God who sees a need, meets it,  and goes way over the top in providing a solution.  Walter Brueggemann describes this as \u2018the tension between the myth of scarcity and the reality of God\u2019s plenty\u2019. God\u2019s provision stretches our vocabulary and our ability to grasp the immensity of God\u2019s love beyond the use of words or even actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Why have you kept the best till now?\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n

A very good question!<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018We limit not the truth of God <\/span>
to our poor reach of mind, <\/span>
by notions of our day and sect, <\/span>
crude, partial and confined. <\/span>
Now let a new and better hope <\/span>
within our hearts bestirred: <\/span>
the Lord hath yet more light and truth <\/span>
to break forth from his word\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

George Rawson (1807 – 1889)<\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

St John 2: 1 – 12 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, \u2018They have no wine.\u2019  And Jesus said … <\/p>\n

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