Thoughts on weddings, Jesus, and filling life to the brim

“Dreary beauty” or “bleak beauty,” take your pick. That's the way it looks outside right now. Mid-winter in North Idaho. Doesn't seem much like party weather, but parties are on my mind. Especially the wedding kind.

This past New Year's Eve — outdoors in the snow — wearing boots, amid a curtain of white lights draped from an evergreen tree and red rose petals scattered on the white ground, I stood with an elegant teenage bride and groom. A sweet and simple ceremony I was honored to be sharing.

Just a couple days later I happened to read of another wedding that took place in Cana of Galilee in the time of Jesus — where He first made Himself known through a miracle. There are some surprising elements to the story.

It was a big wedding. Jesus and His mother Mary had been invited so the wedding host must have been a family friend. Servants were intermingling with the guests offering wine. Then the unthinkable happened. The wine ran out. Mary stated the obvious. “They have no wine.”

What follows is her confidence in Jesus, telling the servants, “Whatever He says to you do it.”

Nearby were six empty stone waterpots that each held twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus directed the servants to fill them to the brim with water. Then told them to “draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.”

This must have taken courage on their part. They knew it was only water. Imagine their astonishment when the headwaiter sampled it and called to the bridegroom, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus didn't want the host embarrassed in running short on provisions for the guests. He recognized this was a special occasion. Wine was part of the celebration. As He always does, He gives the best.

Probably if you asked, many people would not think of this social, party side of Jesus when describing Him. Laughing, joking, sharing wine over a meal or at a wedding. But this is exactly who He is. A celebratory Savior and friend wanting to participate in our joys. Comfort in our sorrows. Always offering solutions.

It's not an overstatement for His mother Mary to have said to the servers, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” The Bible teaches Jesus is both fully man and fully God. He can fill to the brim with the best of wine a life that listens to and follows Him.