There seems to be a lot of wedding venues springing up?
There’s one just down the road from where we live. Now imagine during a wedding weekend, they ran out of food or beverages.
Although I can’t imagine it would ever happen, it would be a disaster for the venue and for the wedding party. But something like that did happen in Cana of Galilee.
“Two days later (after Jesus’ encounter with Nathaniel) there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
When the wine had given out, Jesus' mother said to him, ‘They are out of wine.’ ‘You must not tell me what to do,’ Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” Jesus' mother then told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2: 1-5
Jesus and Mary walked the 5-10 miles north from Nazareth to Cana of Galilee as wedding guests. I say 5-10 miles because there are two possible sites for Cana of Galilee.
It’s about five miles to Kafr Kanna which is the traditional site, although there’s very little evidence that it’s the actual site. It’s about 10 miles to Khirbet Qana which is the more likely site. Kafr Kanna was likely chosen because it’s closer to the tourist routes and it’s an easier trip for the tourists.
But what I really want you to notice is the small conversation between Mary and Jesus. It’s a model prayer.
Rosalyn Rinker wrote a small book about “conversational prayer” in which she says prayer is really a “conversation with God.”
Mary begins, “they’re out of wine.” Not make some wine, just “they’re out of wine.”
Jesus responds, “Don’t tell me what to do.” There is the key to prayer, and we need to remember it when we talk about healing prayers.
Mary tells Jesus there is a problem and then she leaves it with him, although she does tell the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
The first thing we learn is to be honest with God; “they are out of wine.” The second thing we learn is to obey God, “Fill these jars with water.” And the third thing we learn is to wait and expect the best, “… you have kept the best wine until now.”
The Son of God at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is the same God who fills our lives and our sanctuaries with “the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God the Father, and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 14: 13)
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
