2023 Fasting Devotional

Author: J.D. Walt

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’.”

John 2:3

Today we find ourselves in the somewhat remote village of Cana in Galilee. We have been invited to a wedding with Jesus. (See what I just did there?) Who knew at the time it would be the most famous wedding in the history of weddings? And we can't even remember the names of the bride and groom—because we never knew them in the first place. We are left remembering only Jesus from this occasion. And that's fitting for the Lord of marriage, isn't it?

Think of it this way: The world began with a wedding in the venue of all venues—the garden of Eden and the wedding of Adam and Eve.

The world will end with a wedding on the occasion of all occasions—the return of Jesus Christ to receive his bride the Church.  Is it any wonder the first miracle of Jesus happens at the wedding in Cana of Galilee?

Each of these occasions is an opportunity to behold the miracle of transformation. In Eden the two are for the first time transformed into one. At the wedding of the Lamb at the end of the age, the bride of Christ, the church, will be transformed to be like him—in the twinkling of an eye, according to Scripture.

He gives us a first glimpse of his transformative power on this day in Cana at a wedding—at the behest of his mother, no less. Whether it was the whisper of his word or the wave of his hand we know not. What we know is he transformed ordinary water into vintage wine. Watch this:

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” (John 2:6–8)

Now, behold the awe on the face of the master of the feast as he tastes this libation:

“Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” (John 2:10)

This is a picture not only of comprehensive transformation but of supernatural abundance. Did you pick up how much wine we are dealing with here?  Picture the sprawling wine section in your local grocery store. That's a glimpse of the amount of wine Jesus rolled out at the wedding in Cana. (180 gallons of wine equals 456 bottles of wine).

This is Jesus. It's who he is. It's what he does. That blessing in the waters of his baptism is now being poured to overflowing in the cups of everyone there. That's what he's doing for us, and in us, and through us to others. And though we are personally and intimately involved in it all, it is Jesus who is glorified and remembered.

There was a great billboard campaign a few years back called "Messages from God." They were black billboards with simple white lettering. My favorite message in the campaign:

"Loved the wedding. Invite me to the marriage." —God

That's how a wedding becomes a Christian marriage. It doesn't just happen. It takes a kingdom.

We are told, almost in passing, this wedding took place on the third day. It is a divine wink here at the first sign of the glory of the last sign. "And on the third day . . ." you take it from here.

PRAYER

Our Father, I am praying that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know you better, that I might become truly humble; which is to awaken to the person you imagined when you fashioned my inmost being and that I might rise up into the real life for which you created me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

An excerpt from the book: "Wake-Up Call Devotional"