John 2:1–11 (NRSV)
Key Verse (John 2:10):
“Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
Reflection:
John does not begin Jesus’ ministry in the wilderness or the temple courts. He begins at a wedding. That choice matters. Weddings in the ancient world were not private events but public occasions that connected families and villages. Hospitality was not just for show — it was a moral duty. Running out of wine was not merely inconvenient; it could cause public shame that lasted for years. In that culture, scarcity had social consequences. It influenced how a family was remembered.
When the wine runs out, Jesus does not downplay the issue. He does not dismiss it as minor compared to larger injustices. He doesn’t use the moment to lecture about priorities. Instead, he creates abundance — an overflowing amount. Six stone jars, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. This isn’t minimal action; it’s generosity that breaks through calculation. The steward’s surprise becomes the theological focus: “You have kept the good wine until now.”
This first sign reveals something about the character of God. Before Jesus confronts systems of oppression, before he teaches difficult truths, and before he walks toward the cross, he safeguards joy. The glory of God is revealed not through domination but through restoration—through protecting the dignity of ordinary people. The miracle does not erase suffering from the world. Rome still rules. Poverty remains. But scarcity does not get to define reality. The pressing question is not whether God is abundant. The pressing question is whether scarcity has shaped our instincts more deeply than grace has.
Application:
Notice today one place where you instinctively tighten — in conversation, in generosity, in planning. Ask what fear of “not enough” is guiding that reaction. Then share it with someone you trust.
Writing Prompt:
If you really trusted that God’s abundance is real, how would it change a decision you’re currently making?
Prayer:
God of surprising generosity,
expose the scarcity stories that shape our beliefs.
Teach us to trust that your goodness
is never exhausted.
Amen.