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John 2:1-25 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link on links page)

Miracle at Cana

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, that does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” ⁶ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. ⁷ Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. ⁹ When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, ¹⁰ and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹ This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

¹² After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

¹³ The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. ¹⁵ And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; ¹⁶ and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” ¹⁸ The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. ²² So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, ²⁵ and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

In today's text John records this first miracle of Jesus, turning water into wine. As I reflected on this account there were two things that impressed me about this. The first thing is that this was not a situation of needed healing or deliverance. There was no life and death circumstance here either physically or spiritually. There was a celebration going on and there was something that was lacking at the celebration. Jesus demonstrates through His actions, that He cares about things in our lives beyond just deeply spiritual matters or our physical health. Jesus cares about the things that cause us human joy and happiness as well. He cares about the things that are important to us in our everyday lives. He says:

 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.(John 10:10)    While certainly this abundant life that Jesus came to give us is first and foremost a life of victory over our old sin nature and a life of walking with and serving God. Jesus also wants us to enjoy life, to be blessed by the things God has given us  and to be a blessing to others. Romans 12:15 says: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Jesus joins with us in celebrating the things of this life.

The second thing I see in this account is that Jesus doesn't make a big deal in meeting this need. He  initially says: "My hour has not yet come.” Jesus simply instructs that the containers be filled with water and then the contents be taken to  the headwaiter. There is no fanfare, no spectacle, we aren't even told when the transformation happened. Look at this though:

 the headwaiter called the bridegroom, ¹⁰ and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”   

There is no reason that we should think that what was normal practice was not done here as well, meaning the wine that had been served, the wine that they had run out of was the best that they had to offer. Yet, what Jesus provided was better. What is normal and natural to God is far better than the very best man can do. We  can work and strive to do well in our own strength and accomplish some good in this world, or we can do as it says in Epphsians 3:20-21.

 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.   

We can rely on God and do all that we do according to the power that works within us, yielding to and relying on God and the power of the Holy Spirit rather than on our own abilities, we will do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. What is normal, natural, what is easy for God is better than the best man can offer.   

In the last part of today's text we see a tremendous contrast from the first part. At the wedding celebration Jesus remained somewhat anonymous, not wanting to be seen or noticed for what He did. He said His hour had not yet come. When He arrived at the temple, I guess you could say His hour had definitely come. Jesus is no longer willing to lay low. This is not a celebration that Jesus wants to be part of. What He sees in the temple is an offense to His Father.  

He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; ¹⁶ and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”

How many of our own houses of worship have become places of business? If Jesus were to show up at our door on a Sunday morning would He feel the need to drive out the business of church in order to restore and cleanse our temple as His Father's house? Both collectively as the institutional church and individually we do need to pay attention to financial and business matters. It is an unfortunate but very necessary reality. It is critical though that we keep our priorities right. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus says:

 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Jesus cares about everything in our lives. The Father knows all the things we need. If we will keep our priorities straight, if we will truly seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, if we will fulfill the first and great commandment and   LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.', then surely He will provide all that we need. If we will trust God and depend on Him we will come to know and understand that what is normal for God is better than the best ant man can offer. We will partake of the best that He has for us.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, precious Holy Spirit, thank You that You do care about every aspect of our lives. Thank You that You provide us with an abundant life. Thank You that if we will yield to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the power that works within us, then we will have and do abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine. Your ways surely are higher than our ways. Thank You that there is no need to strive to work in our own strength, what is normal for You is better than the best we could do. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in and through my life.   Amen