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.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “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.” 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.

What do we see in this passage? What do we learn from wine in ceremonial washing basins?
For me, this helps me realize that Jesus cares about the large things… and the seemingly smaller things in our lives. No one was dying or had leprosy or needed food to keep from starving here. But the need was personal; he showed up and gave a great gift to this family and this married couple. It showed he cares about the little things and the things that matter to us. And in doing this, he endeared himself to his mother, his disciples and those around him. He understood that the walls around the hearts of men …crumble…when simple acts of compassion break through those walls and meet a heartfelt need.

Jesus broke through in a real way to touch the heartache of poverty, of the broken parents who could not provide all they wanted, or what was expected for their child’s wedding. He made their special day more special!

Sometimes, when our hopes are dashed, when we face great embarrassment or a hardship we think difficult to bear, Jesus can change it into a greater blessing! So let us go forth, and look for the simple, seemingly small ways, we can make a difference today — in Jesus’ name. He reigns over the large and the small things in our lives and he shows up in the moments. He leads us past the curtain, into the “Holy of Holies” where God resides. And he touch lives deeply — past the walls built up around their hearts — and into the flesh. He is the Great Surgeon and we all need to get some heart-work done. Let us be his instruments to heal others today!