Have you been on a zoom call when someone on the call didn’t reveal their face? How did that feel? Perhaps it left you feeling disconcerted? Perhaps you were irritated? Perhaps you wanted to take control and turn on their video? At least a picture would be good manners right?
Our passage today describes a moment like that. The moment when you really want to see someone’s face.
The wedding party had run out of wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, knows about it. So she goes to Jesus and tells him, “They have no more wine.”
Jesus gets it but He tells her, “Why do you involve me? My time has not come.”
This is the equivalent of asking Jesus to turn on the video function and reveal his glory. He is being asked to reveal the presence of God in Him. It’s not the first time He was asked to do this — to show His face.
But, what a wonderful occasion for the reveal!
A wedding is the start of a new day in relationships. A new covenant is going to be entered into. A new family is going to be formed. The commitment revealed in the wedding is the foundation that takes the friendship to a new and holy space.
But the holy moment was under threat by the couples’ lack. Their lack of wine. Perhaps there had been more guests than anticipated. Perhaps the guests capable of consuming more than imagined. Whatever the reason for their lack of provisions, it was going to be to their shame.
This is the occasion of Jesus’ reveal.
“Do whatever he tells you,” says Mary. Mary insists that Jesus show His face — His true nature, His very Presence. This is part of what is meant in the Scripture by God’s glory. Remember John has introduced this idea to us in Chapter One: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
The glory of God was also what Moses pleaded for after a shameful event: While Moses was up the mountain meeting with God, Israel and Aaron shaped idols for their worship. Moses was devastated. Moses seems to feel inadequate. He tells the LORD:
You have been telling me, “Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said ‘I know you by name and you have favour with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here…”
And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Then Moses said, “now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
Moses meets with the LORD again and realizes that He hardly knows God at all even after all the miracles and His deliverance from Egypt. God in fact does meet Moses.
Moses seems to realize that knowing God is what he truly needs in order to enter the demands of reality and leading. Moses needs to know God. Moses needs to see the glory of God. (Read what happens next to Moses in Exodus 33:19-23)
Now back to Jesus in Cana of Galilee and the wedding that ran out of wine.
Jesus turns a large amount of water into wine. Good wine. The best was now being served at the end of the wedding party and even the master of the banquet was surprised!
Here’s how the Apostle John summarizes the impact this “miracle” had among Jesus’ disciples: “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11)
Here’s the discipleship move the church of Jesus: When we pray and intercede with God at the point of heartfelt need we are participating in the moment in which again Jesus may reveal his glory and others will put their faith in Him.
We are in a season where supplies run out and we feel that we are not enough.
We are in a season where bold prayers are needed.
We are in a season where the Presence of God is needed.
We are in a season where new beginnings are possible.
Let’s pray together.
Heavenly Father,
May your glory be revealed as we read your Word. May your glory be revealed as we contemplate Jesus. May your glory be revealed in the people of Jesus. In all our inadequacies we come to you surrendering our efforts to you. Grant us the grace of making more of our service/ministry than we can for your Kingdom’s sake.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
AMEN.
Our next reading will be John 2:13-25