Ordinary Miracles
When I talk with couples preparing for marriage, I pose a “trivia” question. “What was Jesus’ first miracle?” The answer is actually in the very first paragraph of the marriage ceremony.
Give up yet? Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galillee, and John tells us that this was the first of Jesus’ “signs.” John called the miracles “signs” indicating that the important thing is the truth they demonstrate, not just the act itself. John tells us about seven signs, and this is the first.
So what? Well, I think the central truth of this “sign” is Jesus’ authority over creation. But I want to set that aside for a moment and focus on the fact that this happened at a wedding because I think the setting can show us several things.
In that time, a wedding celebration typically went for a week. Yes, a week! Life was hard, and reasons to have a party were few and far between, so when they got one, they ran with it! A wedding is a celebration!
This was, apparently, three days into the celebration. And He made MORE wine! Now I don’t take this to mean we should get plastered — there were strong expectations about not getting drunk. But celebrations are a good thing! Gathering in joy and feasting is a Godly thing.
I think this also reminds us that Jesus is truly and fully with us in the incarnation. He didn’t stand apart from the normal, human things. He supported and encouraged the ordinary in our lives. He was even willing to perform His first miracle (something He obviously knew would cause quite a stir) to help a wedding celebration along.
Miracles are not reserved to fix bad things. We often refer to healings as miracles, or the avoidance of some tragedy. That causes us to lose sight of the miraculous sign in the ordinary. Consider the intricacies of your body. I know there may be a few creaks and groans, and some things may not work quite right. But we have never come close to the complex, self-healing and creative possibilities of these bodies! Truly a miraculous sign pointing to a great designer and creator!
What are the “ordinary” things in your life that are really “signs” of Jesus’ presence, if you just learn to look at them that way?
This column appeared in the January 16, 2022 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
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