Very soon after Jesus had gathered his first few followers around him, he was invited to a wedding in Cana. His mother Mary was there and his disciples were also invited. A wedding was always a happy occasion. In those days the feasting and rejoicing with family and friends sometimes lasted for days.
Something happened at this wedding which could have spoiled it. Water was scarce and often not clean, but grapes were plentiful, and so the guests would drink wine. However, the wine had run out and the feast was not yet over. When Mary discovered this, she found Jesus and whispered it to him. Jesus realized that she was hoping he would help. As much as he loved his mother and wanted to please her, he knew that he must do his Father's work only.
However, he did perform a miracle at this time as the first sign to his disciples and those gathered at the wedding that he was the Christ.
Mary wasn't sure what he would do but she told the servants to be sure to do whatever he asked them to.
At the entrance to the house were six large stone waterpots. They were there so that the guests could wash their hands before eating, not because they were dirty, but because it was a custom of the Jews. Jesus told the servants to fill the waterpots with water.
When they were full to the brim, he told them to take some and serve it to the ruler of the feast. It seemed a strange order, but Mary had told them to do whatever he asked. To their amazement, they took out not water, but wine from those very large jars they had just filled with water.
When the ruler of the feast tasted the wine, he praised the bridegroom for providing such excellent wine. "Most would pour out the best first, but it seems you have kept the good wine until now!"
The power of God is greater than any power that man can have. When Jesus performed a miracle he was showing the people what great power God had given him. The people saw his miracles and believed his words. In this way, Jesus taught the people to give honour to God, for it was God who had given him this power.
Things to Remember
Discussion
In all the miracles Jesus did he set out to teach the people a lesson. This was the first miracle that Jesus did and it taught a very important lesson. The waterpots were there for people to wash with. It would make them feel clean, but it could not make someone clean in his heart. Jesus taught that we should be "pure in heart". By listening to Jesus and doing what he said people could become clean inside as well. When we read the Bible, the words of God, and think about it and do it, it changes us.
1. What happened to the water in the jars?
2. How was Jesus able to turn the water into wine?
3. Why did Jesus perform miracles?
Activity Suggestions
Fold several small pieces of card in half and draw a picture of a pot on the front. With the card folded, cut out the shape of the pot leaving at least part of the fold uncut. Colour the pots blue on the outside and purple on the inside. Glue pots on a piece of paper with the heading "Jesus turned the water into wine".
Using plasticine or playdough, make small jars. Pinch the dough into a pot shape or roll a long snake and coil it around the edge of a circular base. Decorate by poking with toothpicks in patterns.