Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Today’s reading starts with Jesus turning the water into wine at a wedding. This is the first public miracle that is recorded. At first glance, this can seem like a pretty trivial miracle compared to healing the sick or raising someone from the dead. I think that’s maybe why this one section of scripture can sometimes be easily skipped or skimmed over. I have to remind myself that if it’s in the Bible, it’s important and worth looking at in depth. So that’s what we’re going to do!

In Jesus’ time, wine was a key factor in weddings, and weddings could go on for days. It was the duty of the hosts to provide well for their guests, and running out of wine would’ve been a big social disgrace. Most hosts would even mix water with the wine to ensure that what they had would last. Some scholars believe that the spiritual significance here is that running out of wine could have been symbolism for the spiritual barrenness of the time.

Jesus takes six stone jars that are filled with water to perform this miracle. The word “stone” here is important because that lets us know that Jesus has chosen water jars that are religious vessels used for ceremonial purity washings. This matters if we’re following along with the symbolism of spiritual barrenness; the water and the vessels that hold it symbolize spiritual cleansing.

It's also important to note that this is a miracle done mostly in private. At this point, only Jesus’ mother, the disciples, and some servants know what Jesus is doing. Verse 11 tells us that after this miracle “His disciples believed in Him.” I don’t know this for sure, but it seems like this miracle may have been one to provide the disciples with a stronger foundation before their hard work really began. This miracle wasn’t for the crowds. I think it was for his disciples (and later for us) to see that Jesus held power over the things of the earth and that He provides abundantly for His people. He didn’t have to turn that much water into wine, and He didn’t have to turn it into the best wine…but He did.

When I read back through this passage of scripture with this background knowledge in mind now, it definitely doesn’t seem like such a “trivial” miracle. It’s actually a great reminder of how powerful and gracious Jesus is. It also made me think about the hosts of this wedding and how they may have never known what Jesus did for them.

How many things does He do for me on a daily basis that I don’t even realize it? Today, I am praying that God would remind me of my many blessings, and I am so thankful for the way that He constantly provides.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Take a moment to thank God for the way He has blessed and provided for you and your family.
• This week on the Venture Church App, check the app every day from Palm Sunday to Easter for new content to prepare your heart and mind for Resurrection Sunday. Walk through the sacred timeline that forever changed humankind’s relationship with God by taking a personal journey through Holy Week with our daily guide.

Family Application: John 2

By: Brooke Davis-Jefcoat

Have you ever had a stuffy nose? The kind where it’s hard to breathe and it gets all aggravating, especially when you’re sleeping? We’ll do just about anything to clear that up! Maybe you blow your nose a lot or start taking medicine that helps clear up your sickness. I bet you had a grown up in your life that helped you with that! In today’s scripture from John 2, we’re going to learn about how Jesus did that very same thing for people! No, He did not give them cold medicine, but He began to help clear up any confusion people had about God.

Specifically, let’s talk about how Jesus helped clear out the temple. The temple was a place to go to hear from God, but with so much stuff in there, the people weren’t paying attention to God, so Jesus had to go and clear it out. This happens all the time when our lives just get too stuffed up and the only solution is allowing Jesus to clear it out for us. Just like He cleared out the temple, He can clear out the distractions in our lives and help us pay better attention to what God is doing in our life.

• What are some distractions that you could ask God to clear out of your life?
• List some examples that could help us start focusing on listening to God and being intentional with your time together.
• Prayer: God, we thank You for Jesus. His example and His grace are unmeasured. Thank You for always clearing out the distractions and being persistent in Your love for me. Amen.
• Check out the “Holy Week Family Guide” on the Venture Church App! On the homepage of the app, click on the “Journey through Holy Week” button to find a daily guide. On each day of Holy Week, you can watch a short video, reflect on scripture, and download the “Holy Week Family Guide” PDF. Use this tool with your family and share it with friends!