The Miracle You May Have Missed

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4

I recently listened to a message while driving that I haven’t been able to let go of. The pastor was teaching from the book of John, and he posed a question I’d never heard anyone ask before. Honestly, I think we may even avoid the topic because opinions on what Jesus did in John 2 can be so controversial in many church circles. But let’s not avoid it today.

Why did Jesus turn water into wine?

I mean, at first glance, it appears to be a useless miracle. Unnecessary, at the very least. We can understand Him healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons. We even get multiplying loaves and fish to feed a hungry crowd. After all, it was a “ministry event.” They had listened to Jesus teach all day. And they were hungry. Hunger is a definitive need.

But here, the people had already had plenty. The wine was gone because they had all drunk their fill. Still, Jesus made them more.

And this is how He chose to reveal Himself first as the Son of God. His very first miracle. His opening act. At a wedding in Cana, earth’s sons witnessed His premier event, and heaven’s power entered their lives by Jesus’ hand. Water became wine.

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

So, let’s get back to the question we started with. Why? Why this miracle?

Two significant things stand out to me. First,

Jesus changed the nature of what was served.

He didn’t make more wine from the little they had left like He did with the loaves and fish. He had them bring water—something composed of an entirely different substance than what He intended to provide—and He changed the nature of it. Something ordinary that’s available to everyone became something special that many don’t have access to. The very best wine.

Second,

The purpose of that substance shifted from survival to celebration.

Jesus took something necessary for every human to exist and made it something that’s primary purpose is joy and celebration. It makes one consider: what if joy is just as essential to our human existence as water? And what if our lack of it—and our misunderstanding of this very first miracle—has kept us from launching into the “more” Jesus came to bring us?

Consider these profound statements Jesus made.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

According to Jesus, He didn’t just come to help us survive a miserable life. Or even to take us to heaven once we get through it. He came that we could experience this life abundantly. And that’s not all.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

There it is in black and white, dear one. Jesus is after your joy.

I have to ask, beloved. Are you living in abundant joy? Because according to Jesus’ own words, you’re meant to be. I’ll be honest with you. That joy has seemed more elusive lately. People I love are hurting. I’m hurting. Difficulties keep pushing joy down and crushing it out. Let’s face it. Life is hard. And we need divine strength to get through it. Which reminds me of Nehemiah 8:10b,

“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Behold the primary miracle Jesus wants to perform in you. Water to wine. Survival to joy. A change in the very substance of your nature that shifts your internal world from survival to celebration. And that inner capacity for celebration releases in us a strength that’s beyond us.

 What if the reason we struggle so much in this life is that we’ve missed out on the nature-changing, the primary purpose that Jesus came to accomplish? We remain firmly entrenched in survival mode, grasping at God for nuggets of provision to get us through. But what if He wants to take us back to where He started and change our inner world, creating in us a divine flow of joy that impacts not only us but the world around us? That provides something even better than what’s expected?

Let’s unravel this mystery together. Joy. Not an elusive hope that we tirelessly strive toward, but the launchpad for every other miracle Jesus wants to perform. The new wineskin that keeps us from bursting as He moves us from strength to strength. (Psalm 84) And allows us to carry the fullness of His authority and grace.

That transformation happens one place, beloved: as we encounter and behold Him. And there, in His presence, we discover the fullness of joy,

…in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11b

And that joy becomes our strength.