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 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.” – John 2:9-10
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. – Matthew 26:27-28
Six stone jars stood toward the entryway of the home. They were humble and sturdy, functional enough to hold several gallons and waiting patiently to be filled. However, as they had fulfilled their use at the time, they blended into the trappings of the household as just another commonplace home furnishing.
Meanwhile, people talked and laughed and ate and drank. It was a wedding, after all. Everyone was having a great time. And the jars stood where they always stood in the entryway, stone sentinels blending into the background, watching silently as the wine ran out.
Mary noticed a small commotion, a slight current of tension being delicately handled. Identifying the issue, she told her son in a low voice “they have run out of wine”. She knew he would help. And he did.
But this story is about more than the miracle at Cana. This story is about stone jars waiting to be filled. As they sat hollow and dry, the humble, commonplace jars were suddenly filled with water and then the miraculous. They were filled with the best wine. And they were filled to the brim. Filled lavishly and overflowing.
Outwardly, they were still the same jars. But inward, they carried something precious. They carried impossible treasure. They bore wine from heaven. As do we who have called on Him.
We also are vessels who carry an impossible treasure. We may have been like the jars of stone at one time, obedient to ceremony and conducting ourselves righteously. We knew the rules and rituals. We did and said the right things. We were “basically good people”. But these things were dry and empty gestures. One day, though, we were filled. And our souls are transformed.
We are transformed by the blood of Christ, and because of His blood, we carry the Holy Spirit in the vessel of our hearts. We bear the miraculous. We have received the best wine, the most precious treasure. Every moment of every day we carry this. We carry God’s blessing. We carry His help. We carry wonder.
Suddenly, humble stone jars became the center of a celebration, of a wedding feast. It was not because they were lavishly carved. Not because they were good at their job of holding water for cleansing. It was not because of anything they did, with the exception of one vital thing. They became vessels for the divine, filled with the miracle wine given by Christ. So it is with us, in our common clay selves.
What is special in us is God in us, but what is special in us is spectacular. What is spectacular in us is nothing that we have done, or except for one act: to yield to Christ. In that one act He brings us the most miraculous wine, His own shed blood by which we are cleansed and our salvation secured. We are humble stone jars, but we have been given the best and most miraculous treasure to fill us to overflowing. Although we are mere stone jars, we are receptacles for miracle wine.
Written by Janet Keefe
