New Wine (John 2:1-11)

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. (John 2:1-2 NIV)

It's easy to wonder if Jesus really is someone worth following.  After all, there have been many great spiritual leaders and teachers throughout history.  Why does Jesus deserve all our attention and not the others?  After all, Jesus was just another man like the rest of us, right?  He had parents just like us.  He had friends like us.  He even attended weddings just like us.

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." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:3-5 NIV)

His relationship with his mom was even "ordinary."  Jesus knew his mom so well that she didn't even need to ask him for help.  He knew what she wanted.  When he objected to her request, his mom knew Jesus would do it anyway.  She knew her son that well.  Again, they had a normal family relationship.

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." (John 2:6-10 NIV)

What's not normal, though, was their solution to the problem.  If I were asked to help out at a wedding reception that was running out of wine, I would go down to the corner market and buy some more wine.  I wouldn't even consider the idea of miraculously transforming water into wine.  Clearly, Jesus is different.  There is something about him that is extraordinary.

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11 NIV)

Jesus performed miracles.  Those miracles happened for a reason.  They were "signs through which he revealed his glory."  They happened to convince his followers to believe in him.  It worked.

How about you?  What kinds of signs do you need before you believe in him?  Do you believe in him now?  Are you his follower?  What convinced you?