Daily Devotional For Sunday, September 27, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional reading for today comes fromJohn 2:1-12. This is one of the most famous stories in the Bible because it is also Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine at a wedding. Obviously this was not a Baptist wedding.
The context of this passage has Jesus attending a wedding and since His mother came to Him to fix an issue – they had run out of wine. So, why would she come to Jesus about this? In those days, for Mary to come to Jesus means that in this culture she probably is the wedding “coordinator” and in all likelihood this was a wedding of a relative of Mary. So, with Jesus being the first born son, Mary came to Him to help her solve this problem. This is a celebration for a couple with a party or reception that followed it.
In a Western wedding like in America, the bride is the center of attention. In an eastern wedding, as in Israel, the groom is the center of attention. In a western wedding, after the ceremony, a reception is held for all invited guests. In an eastern wedding after it was over, it was night and everyone proceeded to the bride’s home under the light of torches where speeches were made. Once that ended, everyone proceeded to the groom’s home. In an eastern cultural wedding, the celebration after the wedding lasted 5-6 days, not 5-6 hours as in a western culture wedding. So, maybe now you understand why they ran out of wine.
When Mary came to Jesus about the problem, Jesus’ response seemed almost harsh and disrespectful to His mother. Verse 4 literally translates as, “Woman, what to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.” I would encourage all sons and husbands to refrain from addressing your mother and wife as “woman.” In Jesus’ day this was a term of endearment such as our own word “Ma’am.” The New International Version (NIV) attempts to soften Jesus’ statement as, “Dear woman, why do you involve Me?”
What to me and to you?” could have been a sharp rebuke as found in these verses (Jud. 11:12; 2 Sam. 16:10; 1 Kgs. 17:18; and 2 Chr. 35:21) or it could be taken as a gentle request to be left out as we see in these verses (2 Kgs. 3:13; Hosea 14:8). “My time or hour has not come” is a phrase Jesus used 5 times in John’s Gospel (2:4; 7:6; 7:8; 7:30; & 8:20). Three times Jesus says, “My time has come” in John’s Gospel (12:23; 13:1; & 17:1). Both statements by Jesus refer to His glorification of going to the cross.
It is possible that Mary, who knew her Son was the Messiah, felt it was time for the world to know as well. Maybe she felt that by 30 Jesus needed a little push to let everyone know He, the Messiah, had arrived. We know from other passages that Joseph and her endured religious and social scorn for having a baby before they were officially married. In John 8:41, the religious leaders accused Jesus of being illegitimately conceived, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father” (NLT). Jesus’ response to His mother clarifies 3 misconceptions:
- The Messiah’s glory would come from His death through crucifixion on the cross, not by some dazzling miracle.
- The Messiah’s glory would come from God the Father, not people.
- The Messiah’s glory would take place on God the Father’s timetable, not anyone else’s.
Jesus told His mother to tell the servants to fill 6 water pots full. Each of these pots would contain around 30 gallons of water. That would be 180 gallons of water total. We know from other sources from this time that conjurers in pagan temples used fake pitchers with hidden chambers to create the illusion of pouring water or wine at will. The Greek text implies that from what was in the pots was water. It was not until the water was drawn that it changed into wine and the Bible says it was excellent wine. This was a simple act of kindness done to help save his mother from embarrassment. But even in this, Jesus set the parameters – not his mother.
There is a misunderstanding here. It seems to most that Mary suggests something, Jesus resists, Mary insists, so Jesus does it – sort of a Mom and son kind of thing. But that is not it at all. The truth is this: Mary suggests, Jesus informs, and Mary submits. In Jesus’ day wine was often one part wine and 3-5 parts water – very diluted wine. It was possible to get drunk but it took a lot of drinking to do it. In Jesus’ day water sometimes was contaminated. People had learned to make wine and dilute it with water. The small amount of alcohol would kill parasites, thus making it drinkable. So, why did Jesus do this miracle? To prove He was the “new wine” for people’s hearts and souls.
So, why this story? This is John’s way of putting Jesus front and center as the Messiah, Mary says to the servants, “Just do whatever He tells you” and we really do not see or hear much of her in the rest of this story or all the Gospels. For John, Mary has to decrease and the Messiah Jesus, increase. From this point on Jesus the Messiah is front and centered in this Gospel and the other 3 Gospels and Mary stays back and makes no major appearance again until Jesus’ crucifixion.
This miracle is a miracle about transformation –not of just turning water into wine, but was symbolic of the transformation we go through to be His disciples. Jesus took water and turned it into wine. As long as the water stayed in the 30 gallon pot, it stayed water. Once drawn, it changed into the best wine ever. We are no different. As long as we remain in the pot of this world, we remain sinners on our way to hell. But when we allow Jesus to transform us, we become His disciples, His witnesses and we have the promise of a home in heaven.
Reflection Assignment: This was Jesus’ very first miracle. Why do you think He chose this miracle to be His first? What about this story and miracle raises questions for you? What about this story gives you encouragement? What do you like about this story and why?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 9:17, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, thank You for saving me and giving me the new wine of the Gospel. I no longer have to depend on keeping the Old Testament Law to save me. Your grace is enough. Thank You for showing us in Your first miracle that even the simple things we are responsible for in life You care about also. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly