Reflection on the first miraculous sign in John

One thing I can't get over is that this is "the first of his signs." It is an incredible thing that he could change water into wine, but doesn't it seem like a major healing or a massive food miracle would have been the more natural opener. But Jesus begins turning water, something that meets our needs for cleanliness and thirst, into wine, something that makes our hearts glad and reminds us that life is good and worth celebrating. This whole scene is about celebration of life.

Another thing I don't quite understand is that it really seems like Mary had a major hand in this happening. It is clear that Jesus was not forced into a miracle. He had a healthy break from the mom-hold that some men struggle with, but it does appear that if she hadn't brought it up, he might not have begun with this miracle. Does this speak to prayer and the value of human involvement with the divine will of God? It appears to me that Mary' concern made the opportunity for Jesus to reveal himself.

And that is the big question we are supposed to be asking this week. What does this miraculous sign reveal about Jesus? Kris encouraged us to not get lost in the gallons of wine but to try and see what is being signified. One large thing I see is that Jesus' values are incredibly different than ours in America and really in every human community. We are always self-promoting. More and more that is the only way to get ahead in our ever changing economy. We learn self-promoting because our world values all forms of promotion: advertisement, packaging, even propaganda. We are constantly choosing new products based on fashion and slick design and in turn we become consumer goods, constantly aware of our own press and dress.

But Jesus doesn't mind that no one really notices his first sign (at least none of the important people). It doesn't even describe Jesus telling the disciples ... we must assume he did or perhaps they were awkward at the party and so stuck close to Jesus and witnessed this miracle themselves. Mary sees it, but she is already a believer. She shows us this with her serious command, "Do whatever he tells you." And the only other witnesses were servants. The people who carried food around and washed feet.

Jesus seems very content to do work that goes unnoticed and that gets me. If we are his disciples and not disciples of America, or worse amoral global economy, then we must turn away from self-promotion and all the worries and frenzies entailed. And honestly, that doesn't sound easy. Especially when I realize how constantly I am bombarded with the American way. I think for me, and maybe for a lot of us, we are getting very confused about how to feel affirmed in life. For so many of us life is about being liked. We self-promote because we want compliments ... but that so easily becomes our driving force since fashion is always changing (good for the clothing and tech industry, not so much for us individuals).

For me, the trouble surrounds a crazy desire for knowledge. I love books. I really love authors but in order to interact with them I have to read their books. This love is not a bad thing, but oftentimes, for me, it comes with a frenzied and worried sort of striving. Yesterday someone was leading me in prayer and they asked me to picture Jesus from the scriptures. Pretty quickly I began to imagine another feasting moment from the scriptures, one of Jesus and his disciples sitting at an earthly table having a long conversation. I thought about how that was the conversation where Jesus called his disciples friends and so it was Jesus with his friends at the last supper. In my mind I saw Jesus there with the others around him and even though I know there was a soberness to that night, in my moment of prayer it felt more like a feast. It really struck me to imagine Jesus coming down from heaven to feast with his earthly friends. And then I was asked if Jesus was saying anything to me. I saw myself sitting with him and my friends (you know, John, Peter, Thomas, etc.). I was sitting at the same table, but reading a book. I knew they were present and I was enjoying their presence, but nonetheless I had my nose in a book. And Jesus was calling me to join the party. It was a sweet invitation.

And that is the other part of this first sign that really affects me. So we are called away from self-promoting and constant manipulation of our packaging and reputation. But the man who calls us and the man we want to follow and learn from, is truly the life of the party. "Wine gladdens the heart of man" is what the psalmist writes. According to some scholars, Jesus had the servants draw wine from a well and it was some of the best their wedding coordinator had ever tasted. What we really want is glad hearts and the world says we can achieve this through purchase and self-promotion. Jesus knows that is a lie and a false path. Jesus knows that way only leads to a weary heart. But if we follow him, the wine is in endless supply. It is a sweet invitation.