March 2nd, 2026

Read John 2:1-4

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

With a typical Jewish wedding feast lasting seven days, running out of wine would have reflected poorly on the groom’s family. It would have meant that they had not fully prepared for the wedding. It was the host’s job to make sure that the celebration continued, and running out of wine would have put an end to the festivities and brought tremendous shame on the groom’s family. The family often went to great lengths to ensure that didn’t happen.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, recognized the potential scandal and shame and brought it to her son’s attention…knowing he had the power to act on it.  

When I think about my own life, I don’t have to try very hard to recognize similarities. I often find that I am ill-prepared for the challenges I face, or that  I have caused my own challenges with the choices I have made. I try to muscle my way through, to avoid the consequences of choices and any shame that might come my way because of the ways I have sinned. But eventually, my attempts will fail.  

But just like at the wedding celebration, Jesus has the power to act on it. He has every right to say back then (and now), “It’s not my problem…they didn’t do what they should have done…they were not prepared. The consequences are theirs alone. Why should I help when they are the ones who messed up?” But that’s not who He is. His love has the power to change it all. His sacrifice for us took all the shame we were due and wiped it away. Our sin didn’t disqualify us from His love, but made us the perfect recipients for His love to be displayed.

Jesus, thank you for your selfless display of love that saved me from the shame of my sins. I am grateful that you see my need for you and that the ugliness of my sin doesn’t stop you from acting on my behalf. Continue to work in me so that I might honor you with my whole life. Thank you for making me new and making me yours. Amen.