Epiphany #3: Water into Wine.

 When the wine gave out,

   Mary said to Jesus,

  “They have no wine.” (John 2:3)

Somehow, Mary gets wind of it. Maybe there were whispers about all those fishermen she brought with her. She knows something about who Jesus is; and, figures maybe he can do something to save the wedding festivities. Jesus doesn’t want to get involved. This is not the time, he figures. But his mother precedes as if his “no” were a “yes;” telling the servants to do whatever Jesus says.  Somewhere back in the kitchen Jesus speaks to the servants. At Mary’s bequest, the servants do as Jesus says and pour water into six large stone ceremonial water jars, each holding up to thirty gallons of water. “They filled them to the brim.”

By surprise, the chief steward of the festivities discovers that they have more than enough wine for everyone. He lavishes his praise on the bridegroom: “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now" (Jn 2:10). Jesus lets it be. He doesn’t let on. However, back in the kitchen, the servants know where the wine came from; so does Mary; and so too the disciples: “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:10).