The Surprise of New Wine

There is this wonderful moment at the end of Anne Rice’s novel Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. It’s a fascinating book written from the first-person perspective of Jesus. The book ends at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11).

Jesus’ brothers don’t believe that he changed the water into wine but he disciples believe he did. And an argument erupts:

If I had to describe Jesus’ ministry in one sentence, his ministry in the gospel accounts and today among us,
“He will go on, from surprise to surprise” sounds about right.

People to this day continue to be surprised by Jesus. Like, where did this wine come from? How did you do that? You saved the best for last?

And notice what makes this miracle truly surprising. Darrell Johnson, a wise and seasoned pastor here in Vancouver, makes the case that the wedding at Cana is Jesus’ most miraculous deed, only eclipsed by the deed done to Jesus on Easter morning. How so?

With all the other miraculous deeds, such as his healings, Jesus touches what is there and puts things back together. For the feeding miracles he again takes what is there, five loaves and two fish, and makes more of it. Impressive stuff for sure. 

At Cana however, Jesus doesn’t take something there and make more of it, rather he brings into being what was not there. In nature water could never turn into wine out of just water. There has to be grapes. 
Well…I can’t find any grapes here in the story.

Which means at Cana Jesus is not simply transforming what is there. He is bringing into being something new. He is creating something out of nothing—which the Bible clearly tells us—only God can do.

Here’s the good news:
When Jesus promises to do a new work in you, the ingredients of the new work do not have to be there.

When God promises to bring renewal to our church, our neighbourhoods, to our lives––God does not need grapes to bring that wine.

That’s the surprise of new wine.

I’m learning to ask for and be open to that surprise in this upcoming year. 
And I invite you to join me in being surprised by Jesus.

Invitation to practices and prayer: