The Best For Last (John 2:1-11)

 The Best For Last (John 2:1-11)

 

A bald man married his comb. He said, “I’ll never part with it.”

 Two florists got married recently. It was an arranged marriage.

 Did you hear about the two cell phones that got married? The reception was terrific!

 

We’re talking about another epiphany. At a wedding in Cana, Jesus reveals his divine power, and his chosen put their faith in Him.

 Weddings in first century Palestine were a major event. It begins when a father chooses a bride for his son. The father of the bride and the father of the groom would agree on a bride price. It was compensation for losing her. Once the bargain was struck, a betrothal was signed. This was a legal document stating the bride price to be paid and the marriage of the bride to the husband. With the betrothal signed, the couple were officially married, even though they are not yet living together.

 

After the betrothal, a date was set for the wedding feast, sponsored by the family of the husband. The bride’s family prepared a room for the consummation of the marriage. On the wedding day, the bridesmaids led the bride to the room to await her husband. The groomsmen lead the men to the room where his bride awaits. Once the consummation of the marriage is completed in the bride’s home, the party moves in festive celebration to the groom’s home. Often the groom lived within a family compound with his parents and extended family. The bride is now part of his family clan.

 

The wedding festival could last up to 3-4 weeks, depending on the distance guests had to travel. Most people traveled on foot. It took Jesus and his disciples 3 days to walk from Bethany beyond the Jordan to Cana northwest of Nazareth.

Travelers would stream into town, where accommodations were prepared. In the first week, the groom’s family would house, entertain, and feed their guests as they awaited the wedding feast. Not until all the guests had arrived did the consummation and wedding feast begin. The arrival period was a week or two, the wedding festivities lasted a few days, and the guests headed home in the following week. The whole affair was a major expense to the groom’s family.

 

John says Jesus arrived on the 3^rd day. Does that mean the 3^rd day of the wedding feast? Or does John mean to tell us it took 3 days for Jesus and his disciples to walk to Cana when he left John the Baptist. I think the latter is the case, but we cannot miss the subtle nod to Easter. The phrase, “on the 3^rd day” carries monumental meaning to the Church.

 

At the wedding, Jesus’ mother, Mary, tells him that the wine has run out. This would have brought shame upon the family of the groom. It communicated to the guests that they had not properly prepared, or did not have the means to provide for the wedding feast. When a betrothal was settled upon, planning and funding the wedding feast began. Sometimes it took years for the family to save the money, and gather the resources needed. Today, families spend $5000, $10,000 or $20,000 on a single wedding day. Can you imagine the cost for your family to house, feed, and entertain, with copious amounts of wine, your family and friends for up to 3 weeks? It was a major undertaking. When the wine ran out during the wedding feast, it meant shame for the family and did not bode well for the future. If the groom’s family clan botched the wedding feast, how are they going to be able to appropriately care for his new bride?

 

When Mary approached Jesus, He wished to maintain secrecy about His divine power and authority. He had only started His public ministry and was early in gathering disciples. It was not time to reveal His identity. So Jesus said to his mother, “What does that have to do with me and you? My hour is not yet.” “Not yet!” Jesus said.

But Mary trusts that her son will act to address the need and save the family honor. She tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

 

That sounds a lot like what the voice from heaven said at the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus was transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James and John as he talked with Moses and Elijah, two great prophets long since dead. But they’re not dead. They are alive, as heaven and earth are joined in that moment on that mountain. Jesus’ clothing shone with pure, glorious brightness. The disciples were awestruck. Then the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” (Mk 9:7)

 

Do whatever Jesus tells you. Are we listening for the Lord to tell us what we should be doing to address the need of others around us? Or are we listening to other voices? Voices that compete with the voice of Jesus include the call to wealth, invest wisely in this or that according to financial advisors. The call of consumerism, you need to buy this new and improved next thing. The call of comfort, the call of fame, major sporting events, partisan politics… There’s all kinds of competing voices. How are you listening for the Master’s voice?

 

My chief source is scripture. Scripture reminds me of what Jesus has said. It informs me of God’s will. God’s heart is to establish the kingdom of God, where His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. It is when humanity and God will be joined as one, just like a groom to his bride. The Church has been called the bride of Christ. Jesus is betrothed to the church, to each of us, in intimate unity of heart and soul, mind and body. Through prayer, study of the word, and other spiritual practices, listen for the voice of Jesus and do whatever he tells you.

 

Jesus directed the servants to fill with water the jars set aside for ritual washing. The jars are important in understanding the point of this miracle story. The jars might represent the prevailing religion of the Jews, the temple, Pharisees, and religious rulers who hold power over Israel. Jesus spoke against the religious elite.

 

 “The scribes and the Pharisees… do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. (Mat 23:2-4)

 

All the religious rules were a burden to the people. These rules did little to bring them to the lifegiving presence of God. Paul, an expert in the law of Moses, said that no one becomes righteous by following the law. Instead the law makes us conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20) Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, who by faith dwells in our hearts. It is by His sacrifice that our souls are cleansed, not by ritual bathing. It is by His grace that we are transformed and become righteous as He is.

 

The servants filled the ritual washing jars to the brim with water. Jesus instructed them to take a sample to the head steward. The head steward was called the table master. He was responsible for the wedding feast, it’s set up, and the arrangement of guests. He’s like a wedding planner, the “go to person” at the wedding reception. He tasted all the food and wine before serving them to the guests to assure they were acceptable. When the steward tasted the sample from the ritual washing jars, he was delighted. The wine was excellent, the best tasting of any that had yet been served! He exclaimed, “Most men serve the best wine first, and when the guests are intoxicated, they bring out the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best for last!”

 

And that is the point of the miracle story! Jesus is like Moses who turned the Nile’s water to blood as the first of the ten plagues of Egypt. Now a new exodus is dawning, freedom from the tyranny of religious systems that burden people, freedom from the very root of all oppression, sin and death. The changing of water to wine is the first sign of this new exodus. And this new exodus brings with it a new covenant in the blood of Jesus. The era of the law of Moses is complete. The new era of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is here! God saved the very best for last!

 

Whoever coined the phrase 'save the best for last' did a huge favor for every procrastinator whoever lived. There was a family who had a friend that came to every family event. He was a funny guy, always entertaining everyone with lots of laughter. The only problem was that he was always late to everything. When confronted about his tardiness, He would joke, “At least I won’t be late for my funeral.”

 

The man got cancer and died. At the funeral, the family waited as the start time came and went. Nearly an hour passed, when the pastor finally informed the gathering that a car accident had delayed the arrival of the funeral coach and casket. The father of the family turned around and said, “What do you know? He’s late for his own funeral!” He saved his best joke for last.

 

We are the church of Jesus, the bride of Christ. And we wait for the Day when we will celebrate our union at His heavenly wedding banquet. In this time of waiting, we listen for the voice of our Lord and do as He says. We do as He says because we put our trust in him. We trust the voice of the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. And where is He leading us? He’s leading us to the best yet to come. For we believe that God is saving the best for last… when death will be no more…when crying and pain will be no more… And by believing we gain everlasting life, as God’s love shines upon us now and forever.