Why did Jesus turn water into wine for his first miracle? (See John 2.)  Did he find water too bland and distasteful?  Not likely.  Was his mother acting as host and he simply wanted to avoid her some embarrassment? Possible—but again, not likely.  Did the disciples want a buzz and so they pressured Jesus into it?  Ah… No!  What then?  Most who have studied the passage carefully believe that the story is used in the same way that Luke uses the story in chapter 4 where Jesus delivers his message in the synagogue in Nazareth. 

The story goes like this: “On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (4:16-21). 

The italicized text is a quote from the prophet Isaiah about the coming of the Kingdom of God.  When Jesus announces that he is the fulfillment of the prophecy—the Messiah in the flesh—he is making it clear that a new reality is present on earth.  Luke uses this story first in his Gospel account to establish the fact that Jesus is the “Anointed One” and the Kingdom is present in the form of Jesus.  This is “good news,” really Good News, as Luke (and Isaiah) declare.  It is cause for celebration… which calls us back to the story in John. 

Jesus’ first miracle takes place at a wedding—a celebration.  It’s a party, for lack of a better term.  And, it is expected that people will eat, drink, and be merry.  If the wine runs out (it does), Jesus will just make more (he did).  All this again begs the question… WHY?   Because Jesus is here!  He has come to save the day.  He has comes to proclaim good news.  He delivers us from the poverty of the soul.  He frees those who are in bondage—all kinds of bondage.  He causes those who are blind to see and those who are oppressed to be delivered.  He declares that “this is the day Lord’s favor comes to you!” 

That, friends, is worth celebrating.  That is good news.  You shouldn’t even need wine to get happy over that… I know I don’t.  It’s the kind of new reality that should joyfully shine on our faces and bubble out of our mouths.