6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9 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 10 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."
How like Jesus to choose the jars which held the water used for both the ritual and spiritual purifications as the receptacles to house His first miracle of turning water into wine – 120 to 180 gallons of wine, to be a bit more specific. Indeed, nothing in Scripture is random.
“Christ came to bring in the grace of the gospel, which is as wine, instead of the shadows of the law, which were as water.” Matthew Henry
The servants simply were told to fill the jars with water – and fill them to the brim they did! Christ is in the business of giving abundantly out of His glorious storehouse and His desire is for us to be prepared by faith to receive them – no half jars of water would do! The psalmist states:
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalms 81:10 (NIV)
Paul also encourages us with these words in Ephesians:
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)
All done in quietness – without any ceremony, pomp or splendor; without any gawking spectators or sans any fanfare, the miracle was performed suddenly with great dignity and magnanimity. He wills the thing and then proceeds to work it without a word.
“Christ does great things and marvelous without noise, works manifest changes in a hidden way, without any hesitation or uncertainty in his own breast. With greatest assurance imaginable, though it was his first miracle, he recommends it to the master of the feast first. As he knew what he would do, so he knew what he could do. All was good, very good, even in the beginning.” Matthew Henry
No uncertainty, utter confidence, Jesus quietly goes about His first miracle. I am reminded also of the confidence He exuded when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet:
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:3-5 (NIV)
Jesus was well aware of His sovereign authority, His origin and His coming destiny yet He begins to wash the feet of His disciples, taking the very nature of a servant upon Him. While all things are certainly not under our human power, as believers, we know where we come from and where we are returning and that we carry, through the blood of Jesus, the high rank of children of the King. Having this confidence in Him, equipped with the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to serve freely as well – no service beneath us. We no longer should be wallowing in insecurity, desperately desirous of our works to be in the limelight, constantly drawing attention to ourselves and craving affirmation and kudos to stroke our pride. We can work in quiet confidence, even producing our fruit anonymously, living out our lives for an audience of One. Nothing goes without His notice, nothing:
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:13 (NIV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
It is simply quite freeing. Paul tells us:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:17-18 (NIV)
Lastly, what Jesus provides pales the world’s provisions. Nothing we are offered here satisfies or compares to what He holds out for His children. Just as the master of the banquet remarked on the miraculous choice wine, the products of miracles will always be the best of their kind. King David encourages us to:
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalms 34:8 (NIV)
“There are joys that are unearthly in their power and in their sweetness.” Amy Carmichael