Intro for week Three: Fast for Purity by Jacob Powell

John 2:1-11 (our cornerstone for the week)
Recently, I was reading a story that is told in the Gospel of John. There was laughing, excitement, anticipation, familiarity, and joy. Like any good story, there was also a problem, climax and a resolution. It was a wedding feast. It was not just any wedding. The people, the place and the miracle performed are historically important to our faith.
Like any proper Jewish wedding, the ceremony was held on a Wednesday. We also know that the Mother of Jesus was taking part in this festival. In other writings that did not make it into the New Testament, additions to this story are added; primarily, Mary was the sister of the mother of the Bridegroom, and that it was possible that the bridegroom was John himself, the one writing this account. I am not saying this was the case; just food for thought. The point however, is the invitations had already been sent out. Jesus was on the list, but he didn’t come alone. We learn from previous verses that by the time that Jesus arrived at the party, he had with him five disciples. This posed a potential problem. Consider planning a meal at your home for some neighbors. You are expecting 8 guests, and have worked that day to make sure that everything is just right – that you have enough bread. Two minutes before the hour, the doorbell rings. “ahh… our guest”, you say to yourself. Unlike our family, they are actually known for being on time. When you open the door, you see not only the eight invited guests, but also five others. Imagine the feeling of “preparation” panic. What do you do? More than likely, you smile and invite everyone in, slip a concerned glance to your “invited” guests, and make do with what you have. Near the end of the meal you discover a problem- the wine is gone.
In the Jewish culture, hospitality is essential. Remember the passage that talked about the man who has need in the middle of the night and persistently knocks on his neighbor’s door? Taking care of your friends, family, neighbors, etc, is certainly no joke in this culture. To have run out of something as essential as wine would have been humiliating for the Bride and Bridegroom. As some religious leaders were known to say, “Where there is no wine, there is no joy.” (continue with the days devotion)