Water into wine....

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. (John 2:6)

I have been reflecting on the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana that is written in John 2:1-11. What captures my interest is not so much the sign of God's power that is revealed in the event, but the stone jars.

These 6 stone jars had one purpose. They were to hold water. Water that was used for washing. For the most part they would have been placed in the background somewhere, out of the way, undisturbed until someone needed some water. Jesus uses these jars in such a new way that they become a key in the celebration of life and love that is going on all around them. He changes them from water containers to wine dispensers. One author, whose name escapes me at this time, wrote that though water is life and most certainly in place such as Cana, wine brings a fullness to life. Celebration. Joy. Richness.

I like this image for a number of reasons. For one thing, sometimes it is easy for us, as Lutheran Christians, to feel part of the background. It might be age, traditions, reserved nature, ethnic background, who knows, but there are things that often make us believe (and feel) that we are left standing in the background while much of the world and the church celebrate. Another thing is that when we do think about change there is the immediate temptation to abandon who we are and what makes us unique as a part of the body of Christ. But in this story Jesus uses these stone jars whose role to this point has been to hold water and fills them wine. They were still the same stone jars. Probably remained in the same place a little to one side in the celebration and yet through his divine power their role was changed. From them the wine, the fine wine, flowed and the party continued.

When I reflect on this it reminds me that God never abandons one part of his church for another. God does not expect us all to be the same nor to become something we are not. All God asks of us is that we be willing to be useful for him in whatever role he gives us, in whatever opportunity he opens before us, in whatever manner he requires of us. Whether that be as water containers or wine dispensers.