Jesus Turns Water into Wine: When You Need to Know What God Can Do
Inside: Do you need to know that God can make something good out of the bad? If Jesus turns water into wine, what does that mean for us?
Photo by Martin Fennema on Unsplash
I am about to head into something very hard, and while I should be excited, I feel anxiety and fear. A friend reminded me that Jesus turns water into wine, and that got me to thinking: Could he, wouldn’t he, make something good out of the bad?
Jesus and his disciples had been at a wedding celebration, and midway through, the hosts ran out of wine. This was unheard of and highly embarrassing. We don’t really know a lot about Mary, the mother of Jesus, but we see her compassion and also fortitude in this account! She feels the pain of the hosts and knows Jesus can resolve this situation, and so she makes his miracle-working abilities a little too public a little too soon. Might she have been a fixer? Ha! I knew there was a woman in the Bible I could relate to!
What had Mary seen her son do as she was raising him to indicate he could make something good out of this embarrassing lack of wine? It’s not like parents today would go to their sons or daughters to change water into wine! There was something different about what Mary had seen and what she knew Jesus could do.
What Did Mary Know?
I picture Mary burning supper one night, the pungent smell of charred fish filling their little abode. Did Jesus restore the meal to its pre-burnt state? That would be an awesome solution for those nights when I set off the smoke alarms with my culinary efforts!
Or had one of his brothers skinned his knee and had Jesus healed the owie? No need for a stash of Band-Aids in that Nazareth home!
I once borrowed a tiny bit of almond extract from a neighbor to complete a recipe. Had Jesus provided a pinch of mustard seed or a half cup of milk when Mary hadn’t made it to the market in time?
Her child was special, and while angels appearing at his birth would have been one obvious indication, so other characteristics would have confirmed his place in the godhead, his uniqueness among all peoples of the earth, as he was growing up.
The Bible doesn’t tell us these details, but Mary knew something! She knew Jesus could take a bad situation and make it right — and not only right but so much better than anyone could have imagined!
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:9-10 ESV)
When You Need a Water-into-Wine Miracle
Do you find yourself in a rough spot? Are things looking bleaker than you expected?
Did you know that changing water into wine involved an entire change in the molecular makeup of the water? It’s not like Jesus added some food coloring or a teaspoon of salt. No, he changed the atomic structure of the liquid — a feat that required a staggering amount of energy and indicated “a mastery of natural law far beyond our current comprehension.” (See the section with Extra Info!)
That’s what I need him to do for me. I keep asking Jesus to change bits and pieces: mold my heart, make things easier, or change an attitude. But what if he changed the whole molecular structure of a situation for the better? Like water into wine. Ah ha. That would be one fantastic outcome — more than I could ask or imagine! That is how I am going to try to start praying.
When has God shown up in ways you did not expect? How has he worked something good in your life that you could not have pictured? Can you imagine that he can do it again in this new thing you are facing?
Jesus, who turns water into wine, is faithful and true.
It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV)
Digging Deeper: Jesus Turns Water into Wine
For further reflection, ponder these questions. If you have time, journal your responses and talk with God about them.
1. Read the account of Jesus turning water into wine in John 2:1-11 and notice all the good things that happened in this account. Write them down or circle them. The passage is printed for you below.
2. When has God made something very good out of a difficult situation in your life? Recall the depth of the difficulty and the joy of God’s goodness.
3. How does recalling God’s goodness in the past — his turning water into wine — help you for your current prayer concerns?
John 2:1-11 (ESV)
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Extra Info! The Science Behind Turning Water into Wine
I highly recommend this fascinating article by Dr. Cliff Lewis on the science of Jesus turning water into wine. Dr. Lewis writes:
“Jesus really did change the water into wine, thus revealing his glory. At a molecular level, the water, basically hydrogen and oxygen, was changed into wine that contains sugars, yeast, and water, which contain carbon and nitrogen along with oxygen and hydrogen. Thus, by changing water into wine Jesus demonstrated his authority over even the atomic structure of atoms by commanding oxygen and hydrogen atoms to disassemble and reform into other atoms of different configurations.
“The amount of energy it would take to perform this atomic deconstruction and reconstruction is staggering. . . . To do so without any visible energy transformation of the liquid (John does not say anything about people noticing the transformation) indicates a mastery of natural law far beyond our current comprehension. And he accomplished it with no physical exertion.
“With this single act Jesus proves that the basic forces in nature are at his command and control.”
Also, see the Extra Info in this article on the miracle of water into wine for an interpretation of this miracle as a proclamation of the messianic age.
Praise and Worship: Jesus Turns Water into Wine
There’s nothing like praise to bring you into the presence of the Lord and wipe away your worries! Sing, dance to, or hum these song!
Beautiful Things (Gungor)
Mighty to Save (Reuben Morgan, sung by many!)
Counting Every Blessing (Rend Collective)
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What an interesting way to look at Jesus changing water into wine. I’ve never dig into this story like this but love how you have. It’s one thing to know that Jesus performed this miracle but another thing to really meditate on the actual miracle. Just the encouragement I needed today. If God works miracles with tangible items such as water, or loaves of bread, or fish, he most certainly can work miracles in me. Even if it’s bit by bit. Thank you for putting in such effort to write this well put together post.
Six stone water jars!!! DEEP.
So interesting, I am really touched this morning through this glorious post. God bless you.
My friend asked about Jesus turning water into wine about (2000) years ago? Both of us being Tourist Guides, I found his statement about the “VIN de Constance” Constantia wine interesting.
Wish to know if this wine could have been used at the Cana Wedding?
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to ask my question. Jesus turned water into wine – was this wine alcoholic or non-alcoholic? Can Christians drink alcoholic beverages? Thanks.
There is no reason to believe that Jesus turned the water into nonalcoholic wine. You have asked a question that you will need to investigate for yourself, as people have strong opinions on this. In my own read of the Bible, I find that drinking alcohol in moderation is not a sin (many people in the Bible drank wine as part of everyday life; also see Psalm 104:14-15, Ecclesiastes 9:7, and Isaiah 62:8-9), but getting drunk is considered a sin (Ephesians 5:15-18, Romans 13:12-14, Proverbs 20:1). Also, there are verses about not causing other people to stumble (Romans 14:20), so drinking in front of someone who struggles with alcoholism or tempting or influencing someone else (including children and teens) to drink more than they normally would is ill advised.
@Reginald Josias: I searched around in good faith and read about VIN de Constance. It is doubtful that the wine at the wedding at Cana could be identified as any particular wine coming from any particular vineyard.
Glad to be a part of this conversation, thank you very it’s indeed a blessing getting deeper understanding of the portion. Thank you.
Randomly I searched : Why did Jesus turn water into wine and basically I read a little on the subject.i really think believing ,having faith.im getting a message also that He wants us to turn water into wine,Im sure He wants me to Believe in Jesus,Jehovah God and the Holy spirit.i believe he wants me to believe all things are possible, have faith to move mountains. He wants me to believe this amazing , super natural things can and do happy. Jesus you are powerful and your answer is yes and amen.
I had the same opinion as to how Mary seemed to know He could do this. Simply that she was His Mother and watched Him grow up. I’m sure there were things here and there – for example, He was unblemished – how many people you know that don’t have some little scar from something in their childhood. I was curious as to if there were any scrolls or old texts found that might give us more insight into these little things, even though in really doesn’t matter.
I LOVE that His first miracle is at a celebration! The Father tells us to rejoice! To be grateful, to enjoy the many blessings of life He has given us. God does not wish us to suffer, we suffer only as consequences of sin. Even when God forgives us, we still have Ceaser’s laws to cope with, etc. When God steps in and protects from the brunt of that, rejoice! When He wakes us up each morning, when we small a flower, bite into a ripe fruit, when our electric bill is paid and we’ve been out of work for six months – rejoice! For we serve a wonderful loving God. Some other little points – The stone jars were “purification jars” for He comes to make us pure as snow with His precious blood (red wine). It’s better wine – Duh! He made it! A wedding – one of the first things He says to do in Genesis – go forth and multiply! Celebrate and enjoy the many Blessings of the Lord! The servants filling the jars with water when He could have himself – the servants showed their faith by fetching the water. All miracles are preceded by an act of faith. Just asking Him shows you have the faith to know He can do it. Was the wine alcoholic? Yes! Wine is healthy for you, it strengthens the blood. You drank wine with meals, and when you celebrated, you might have some after dinner also, it simply says not to become drunk.
I also love this passage because it shows a little Mother/Son relationship. As a Mom, I don’t “ask” my son’s either, I just let them know. I always took His answer as kind of an inside joke kind of thing. If you think about it, Jesus being perfect would never NOT honor His Mother by being snarky with her. So I always hear it play out iny head like they’ve had this little secret all His life. I kind of see the “So, what do you want ME to do about it?” being said out of the side of His mouth with a smile and a wink cuz they both KNOW what He, and only Him, can do about it.
I much rather think of my Lord and Saviour as a joyful, full of life King ruling a joyful, full of life Kingdom. I’ll never forget His awful suffering He went through for us, and will always be grateful for His mercy, but that horrible event is done and over with, and as the Angels tell us Rejoice for He is Risen!!!
It actually doesn’t say it but I believe their may had had some of the wine leftover but not enough to go around . Jesus could have told them to evenly distribute the leftover wine into the water containers and then Jesus multiplied the wine much like he did with the loaves and fishes.
How is all this relevant to today? If I am running out of wine in my life ( sparkle, energy, passion, etc) I must turn to Jesus and do as Mary said in verse 5 of John 2 … ” .. everything He tells me ” me. It’ll be an ordinary everyday thing. I must just be obedient. Then I will be blessed by abundant wine .
Unbelievable stupidity. Really!!!! No wine at a wedding so we need our supernatural fairy tale friends to turn water into wine? What wine? Red wine, chardonnay, moscato? What about people who like beer? What about whiskey? Do you religious Christians really think this is an historical event? If so, that’s scary.
Please don’t email me saying it’s just a “parable or hyperbole”, just an excuse for the bad stuff in the Bible. And, plenty of parables and hyperbole in the Quran and other holy books too(yes! there are others holy books of other religions too!!!!).
Is that really to appreciate alcoholic drinks? Is that the truly aim of Jesus? Loving alcoholic drinking is differ in context of us( Christians) it is the sight to look at Jesus do something odd!
Randomly searched for miracle meditation verses today and I came to read about Jesus turn water into wine. What a profound post. Thank Jesus for turning my joblessness into a scholarship for my son who is about to start his University training journey on the 22/7/2021 in Botswana.
I love how although it was not his hour to show the public his miracles, at Mary’s request he came through and curated a miracle at a molecular level. What a God we serve, one that listens and responds to our needs.
I think Jesu turned the water into wine as His 1st miracle to reflect back to the very 1st miracle of creation. The Earth and everything in it was created in 6 days compares to 6 jars. The Earth isn’t as old as it appears and neither was the wine. It is deep! And good to meditate on. God is amazing!
the water MADE into wine (a marriage)
every man at the beginning SET FORTH good wine (Marriage)
6 Waterpots (Vessels)
Male (husband) & Female (his wife) 2 firkins apiece (Children Male & Female)
and then AFTER that which is worse (Divorce)
MADE wine Sanctification of Marriage
This Beginning of Miracles JOINED (Male & Female)
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Would you say it’s it like the wedding of his return, the new earth best for last,
Terrible interpretation. You make christianity stupid. The whole story like all the Biblical stories are metaphors.