My maternal grandfather was a complicated and charismatic man. I thought that he hung the moon and the stars – and if you had asked him, he would have told you that, while it wasn’t all his work, he was there when it happened. I loved him because he was my grandfather and because he told great stories…and because he had his own airplane.

Almost all my ‘Jimmy Rowe’ stories start at the airfield – or in an airplane. He was lots of other things – a mechanic, a race car driver, a business owner, a neighbourhood icon – but I learned about these things later. If I am telling what sounds like an airplane story, you can be sure that it’s really a story about my Papa. The setting is just an excuse to put my childhood amazement into words.

The Bible often uses the same trick. The writers give us relatable detail and historical references so we can relate to their stories of majesty and miracle. Printers and editors put headings throughout the Scripture so we can ‘get the gist’ of the story (and easily find what we’re looking for.) It is easy to make the mistake that the heading is the story. My bible describes todays gospel passage as ‘The wedding at Cana.’

You could be forgiven for thinking that this had something to do with weddings in general, or that some insight into Christian marriage might be gleaned from the second chapter of the fourth gospel. But this is NOT a wedding story.

Jesus, along with his mother and his disciples, are at a wedding feast. Not an unusual social occurrence. Weddings are joyous events, and the celebrations were extended (in those days) over days of ritual and feasting. So, a wedding is where they are. But this is a Jesus story.

Jesus’ stories are the best stories, because they our curiosity to a full boil; they excite our amazement. And in this particular story, we have lots of questions.

The miracle is very particular. Running out of wine is not something a good host will let happen. There was no uproar, just a quiet word from Jesus’ mother – whom we might now see in a new light (Mary – social organizer?) … and the miracle happens in the background.

The source of the wine is a mystery to all but the ones who are told (by Jesus) to fill the jars with water.

The jars are for the ritual washing of hands, so it’s no surprise that they ought to be filled – the surprise is what is drawn from them, by the head caterer.

The use of the jars suggests something else to me. This miraculous and hospitable act means that there is suddenly no water for the usual hand-washing rituals.

Jesus has done several things all at once.

He has ensured that the party will continue in good form (wine will, no doubt make the guests merrier), he has elevated the host in the eyes of his guests (serving the good wine at the peak of the party), and he has interrupted an important religious habit for all the guests…no more can the rules of religious hygiene be followed, for there is no water set aside for that purpose ( but come and have some of this really good wine!)

This is a Jesus story about the kingdom of God – that generous, open and wonderfully hospitable idea that has been promised and shared and dreamt of by countless generations of God’s people. The sign of the miracle is water becomes wine – but that sign merely points to the big new thing that Jesus will go on to promote, discuss, present and proclaim for the rest of his earthly ministry.

So, this is not a wedding story. It is, in fact, a living sermon pointing to the commonwealth of God, where the rituals of faith are swept aside in the name of hospitality and grace. Where the best is offered at just the right time. Where the recipients of this grace are bound to be surprised and delighted, AND at the same time ignorant of the true source of the gift (the steward praised the bridegroom…and still the gift was shared, to much rejoicing.)

What difference does this miracle make?

The gospel suggests that this was the moment that the disciples first ‘get it.’ Jesus reveals his glory and the disciples believe. But what is so glorious about excellent wine? Where is the glory in what is really a small, secret miracle? Remember, no one at the wedding knew that the water had been transformed – only the servants…and the disciples.

And this is how faith is – this is how God is revealed. In a place, and at a time when everyone expects something else to happen…or when only a few actually notice how things have been suddenly and remarkably changed. This Jesus story is about hospitality and generosity and discovering something wonderful about someone his friends thought they knew.

A teacher, yes – but also someone with an intimate and mysterious connection to the goodness of God, which is made known in the sharing of good wine (the best wine) here at this wedding. On the third day.

Oh yeah – did you notice that?

A seemingly innocent opening sentence with world altering implications. Not only is this a Jesus story; it’s also a resurrection story. In the midst of a feast, and the height of the celebrations, ON THE THIRD DAY, the best wine is shared, and God’s glory is revealed. From what might have been a social disaster there comes a triumph. The expected hospitality – the assumed order of business – is upset, and the party takes on new life and abundant joy.

Not a wedding story; at least not the ordinary sort of story we expected. But then, when has Jesus ever settled for the ordinary?