#DailyDevotion Jesus Revealed His Glory So You May Believe

John 2:6-11 ⁶Six stone water jars were standing there for the religious washings of the Jews. Each jar held 18 to 27 gallons. ⁷“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. And they filled them to the top. ⁸“Now take some of it,” He told them, “and take it to the manager of the dinner.” So they took it to him. ⁹When the manager tasted the water that had been changed to wine, he didn’t know where it was from; only the waiters who had dipped the water knew. So the manager called the groom. ¹⁰“Everyone serves his good wine first,” he told him, “and when people have drunk much, then the poorer wine. You’ve kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹Jesus did this, the first of His miracles, in Cana in Galilee. He showed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

So this reading shows up in the beginning of the season of Epiphany. Epiphany is where Jesus makes himself manifest as the Messiah, the Son of God. He makes himself manifest in his teachings, works, signs and wonders. This one shows up second to his baptism. In his baptism Jesus is mostly passive. He is baptized and the Spirit descends upon him and the Father identifies who he is. But now we have Jesus in action at this wedding.

Now even here though Jesus’ action is somewhat hidden. He is not making himself manifest to everyone. No, only the servants who follow his orders and his disciples know what is going on. You might remember the wedding ran out of wine and Jesus’ mother asked Jesus to do something. Well here is Jesus doing something. There were 6 stone jars each holding 18-27 gallons for ritual purification. Jesus has the servants fill them up with water and then take some to the manager of the wedding. The manager is surprised because this wine which was created by Jesus with just the words, “take some to the manager” was really good wine. Something comparable to a nice Chateuneuf du Pape 1983 or something similar. He notes usually the good wine is served first and then when everyone’s tongue has been saturated the cheaper wine is brought out.

Now in this action John notes, “He showed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” Now this is an interesting thing that sets the Gospel of John apart from the other three Gospels. In those, miracles are for the strengthening of faith. In the Gospel of John they are there to create faith. This goes with what John writes at the end of his Gospel, “³⁰His disciples saw Jesus do many other miracles that are not written in this book. ³¹But these things are written so that you believe Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and by believing have life in His name.” Now these words immediately follow Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We do not see the miracles of Christ Jesus performed. We only have the report of them from the Apostles who are his witnesses. We have their witness that in hearing what Jesus has done we may in that report see his glory and believe in him. If you are waiting on God to do some miracle through Jesus before you believe in him, you will probably be disappointed. The miracles have already been done for you to believe in him. Believe in Jesus. Put your trust in him and you will have life in his name. Jesus has shown us who he is in the Gospel accounts, the witness of the Apostles. Listen to his teachings and see if they are not from God the Father. He is the promised Savior of all mankind. You can trust him.

Heavenly Father, may the teachings, works and signs of Jesus in the Gospels create and strengthen in us faith in him so we may believe and have eternal life in his name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.