Let’s Set The Stage

Jesus, Mary and the disciples were at a wedding. I love weddings, especially ones with wine. However, during the reception the family ran out and in those times it was a HUGE deal and brought much dishonor to the family. Mary tracked down Jesus and here’s their exchange.

Mary: They have no more wine.

Jesus: Dear woman, that’s not our problem.  My time has not yet come.

Well…it makes me laugh because Mary went ahead anyway and told the servants to do whatever he tells you. Evidently, even Jesus has a hard time saying no to this mother as he complies and begins instructing the servants. He instructs them to fill six nearby stone water jars with water. After the jars were filled Jesus tells them to give it to the master of ceremonies and they were blown away because it was supposed to be water.   Then it’s just not wine but it’s the best wine at the party. Typically, the hosts served the best wine first and then brought out the cheap stuff after some of the people over indulged themselves and didn’t know any different.

I just love the story. They are out of wine but submit to Jesus’ instructions to use what they have and in turn he give them what they need. Jesus takes what they have and then creates and multiplies it to give himself glory. He transforms the natural into the supernatural and it all starts with submission to his will.  That’s what he wants to do for each and everyone of us.

In the New King James Version of this story it mentions that each of the stone jars held 3 firkins and here comes the math…

1 firkin = 8 7/8 gallons

3 firkins * 8 7/8 = 26.625 gallons

6 jars * 26.625 = 159.75 gallons

159.75 gallons = 604,719.54 ml

604,719.54 ml / 750 ml (bottle of wine) = about 806 bottles

In Jesus first miracle he turned about 806 bottles of water into 806 bottles of really good wine.