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Seeking Abundance Over Fear

Writer's picture: The Rev. Beth KnowltonThe Rev. Beth Knowlton

Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "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.”

John 2:1-11 


For those of us raised to value hospitality, running out of food or wine at a party can cause our hearts to stop, especially at a wedding. This well-known miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is a lesson in abundant provision in the face of scarcity. John doesn’t give us much to really flesh out the details of the “why” of the miracle—just Jesus having a brief conversation with his mother. I think this conversation is key to witnessing the miracle. John doesn’t want us getting hung up on the mechanics. He doesn’t want us psychoanalyzing Jesus’ family dynamics.


Instead, he wants us to look at those six giant jars of wine. John wants us positively gobsmacked by the abundance of what Jesus does in this first sign. Jesus doesn’t just cover the deficiency; he provides a level of abundance that would put any host to shame. He provides more wine than would be needed for weeks and weeks of celebration, not just the wedding feast at hand. Wine that is of such high quality that the wine steward can do nothing but approach the bridegroom and commend his generosity in holding the good stuff for last.


Abundance is there at that wedding, and abundance is here in this moment if we simply open our eyes to see it. Those six jars of wine represent the abundance that is present in our daily lives; we only need to pause, recognize, and appreciate it.


How do we improve our eyesight when we fear that what we need is running low? One way is to remember we are servants of Jesus. While the wine steward is unaware of the miracle that occurred, the servants saw everything. The servants, who are often invisible in these situations, were the chief witnesses to the miracle. They are the ones who listened when Mary instructed them to do what Jesus said. They are the ones who filled the jars with the necessary water.


Servants come from many walks of life, and though they take on varying appearances, they are the people who witness things in such a way that show abundance is there in those places that appeared lacking. Who helps you see abundance? Give thanks for those people and spend time looking for abundance alongside them. It is easy to be gripped by fear of the future, but this miracle of abundance reminds us of what God wants for us.


Peace, Beth +

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