Wedding at Cana

This week we are in the early days of Jesus’ public activity, where he is baptized and performs his first miracle in the book of John. Remember, last week, we heard Jesus put out the all points bulletin — Come and See. Come and see what God is doing, come take part, come serve and give and receive and be a part of this blessed work.

And so we also have heard the call — Come and see. God stirs our hearts, shakes out our imagination, and sets us on a path of belonging and wholeness. Come and see the good life.

All of this is shadowed by the political realities of Jesus’ time. The region of Palestine is occupied by Roman forces. Regional leaders have been put in place to keep order among the people. Life may continue on with relative normalcy, but it is overshadowed by an oppressive presence.

The religious orders of the day have also splintered. The Pharisees and Saducees argue about proper liturgical worship and purity laws, which govern people’s access to services in the temple. Trust in the synagogues is waning, as the people cry out for justice and revolution. The priests are generally unable to hear this cry, and instead keep up with the maintenance of things, keeping their noses out of anything that might cause a stir.

This is the context in which we see Jesus do two remarkable things. There’s a river baptism and a wedding banquet.

First, our reading from John 1, where Jesus is baptized by John, the moment of clarity when it is revealed that this man is the beloved Son of God, the Messiah, the light in the darkness.

Preceded by John 1:29-34

John 1:29–34 NRSV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The Prophet John the Baptist has been hailing the coming of the Messiah and now, here he is. John makes it clear his place in the hierarchy of God’s plan, knowing he has been the messenger. But messengers get front row seats to the action, don’t they? And John’s message has been on that has brought together a larger crowd of people, people ready to hear the Good News that God’s lamb has come to take away the sins of the world.

The Spirit of God falls up on Christ, as he is baptized by John. Divine presence surrounds Jesus and affirms his standing as the Son of God.

I’m curious about John’s word of “I myself did not know him…” John and Jesus were cousins. But I think this comment gives us clarity into John’s faithfulness. John does not know for certain that Jesus is the one he’s proclaiming, it seems. Instead, John knows that he is tasked with preparing the way and it is through this interaction that John’s eyes are opened to Jesus’ role. In other Gospels, we hear John and Jesus argue a little, as John claims Jesus should baptize him first. This is more than pecking order — this is genuine revelation to John — he now sees what he has only wondered at, hoped for. Jesus the Messiah stands before the crowd, announced and called by God.

Under the shadow of government oppression and religious apathy, Jesus is ceremonially washed out at the riverside, away from all the center of power, and Jesus emerges as prophet, priest, king — the Messiah.

Knowing what we do about Jesus’ story and the ministry to come, it would make sense for an early marker of his miraculous power be spoken of. Shouldn’t Jesus bring fire down like Elijah or make a way in the wilderness of occupation like Moses? Isn’t that what is expected?

But, you know what happens instead? Jesus goes to a wedding, a party, a celebration. Something ultimately incredibly meaningful, but also aren’t weddings excessive, especially when you’re under occupation?

I was trying to think of a similar analogy to this for our day. But first, let’s hear the second story:

John 2:1–11 NRSV

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 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.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

These are the first signs Jesus offers. He receives the anointing of the Spirit in his baptism, he calls some friends to come walk the road with him, and then, he heads to the wedding.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, accompanies him. Or maybe he accompanies her. He’s not “out” exactly yet, so he’s a little reluctant to do anything when they notice that the wine is running low. Mom, let’s keep it on the down-low for now. Why is the wine my responsibility?

Mary ignores Jesus’ protests. “Hey, you, servant person, smooth move not ordering enough wine. Here, listen to my boy Jesus, he knows what to do. Listen to him.”

The servant pauses their frantic hustle across the room, just for a second. Alright, they say, show me.

Jesus looks to the water jars for cleansing rituals. He remembers his own baptism, just days before. If he’d been a proper Jew, perhaps he should have been cleansed with water from a purification jar, not the river. Oops. Well, might as well go all the way — take the purification jars…I know this isn’t what they’re for…but take them, and fill them up anyway.

The water is deep, the jars are filled. To the brim. Perfect for pouring out and cleansing this whole scenario. But that’s not what they’re for.

Take a drink. Or, perhaps we should say, dip your cup below the waters, baptize your reality, and emerge with the best wine.

This is more than a cool party trick. This is the baptism of the Lord, now lavishly expanded to bless this new marriage. New life needs good news and hope.

The people are surprised. Jesus has revealed his power to a small group and they believe. Come and see becomes witness to the miraculous.

These two stories set the stage for Jesus’ ministry to take off. And both stories point to how Jesus’ way alters our expected reality and ushers in the good news of life abundant in the Spirit.

What does this all mean?

First, I want to pull in a couple of modern examples that illustrate these actions, at least to me, and help me see them more clearly.

Ok, the baptism. In the last couple of years, we’ve worked with a group called Underground Ministries, which supports folks who are leaving incarceration and gathers a community of church folks around them to help walk out of the “tomb” of prison. We walked with our friend Cliff, most recently, and I hope we’ll do this project again to support another prisoner.

One of the ways Underground Ministries lives into the powerful, subversive, life-changing power of the gospel is by approaching Bible study, job training, and even catechism in the church a little differently. One of the joys I’ve witnessed from this and other communities like it, is how important baptism is to their work. They often share stories about former gangbangers and incarcerated folks being baptized in the Skagit River, near where many of the ministries direct participants live and come home to after incarceration. Rather than perform the service in a squeaky clean church sanctuary, they take it to the river. In some ways, it’s a protest — the ones who have been pushed to the margins, thrown out by the system, go to the wild places and find the holy spirit. God shows up in these wild, untamed places. And the Spirit descends upon these homeboys.

I’ve gotten to know another woman from the Underground Ministries program, another person recently reentering society after time in prison. She is a part of the preaching cohort I’m leading this year. She tells stories about her own baptism, the ways God has miraculously changed her life through the faithful work of Underground Ministries.

In the face of destructive incarceration system, our friends in ministry are baptizing and sending disciples of Jesus anew, under the radar, outside in the wild. Perhaps this is what it felt like to stand beside as Jesus entered the waters. This is a subversive, world-changing act, baptism.

The analogy I want to make for the Wedding at Cana is similarly subversive and joyous.

To hold a wedding amidst a time of foreign occupation — this is resistance. It reminds me of Jeremiah’s instruction to the exiles — build homes, plant crops, marry your children off…even in exile or under the empire, keep living the good life.

So here’s my analogy.

Jesus y Maria are invited to a quinceañera. For those who aren’t familiar, a quinceañera is the 15th birthday party for a Latina girl. It’s a coming of age celebration. And in many Latin cultures, it’s a BIG deal — big dresses, lots of decorations, almost to the degree of a wedding. We can think of it like a bar or bat mitzvah. But I pick quinceañera as my analogy on purpose.

It’s 2026 and Jesus y Maria are invited to a quinceañera. The problem is, it’s in Whatcom County and Jesus y Maria know that ICE agents have been spotted in the area. While many of the community members, including Jesus y Maria, are citizens, there are others among their people who are undocumented. So throwing a big celebration is fraught with danger — do we risk it? What if ICE shows up? Is it worth trying to do this? Should we cancel or just keep things very low key?

Jesus y Maria arrive and they witness this joy — the party is in full swing. In the face of oppression and fear, the people are still celebrating this young girl, welcoming her into adulthood.

I’m not saying that the wedding at Cana was somehow unsanctioned or in voliation of some law. What I am say, though, is that this story shows us that, even in the face of fear and the presence of malicious forces, Roman or United States, or otherwise, the people of God keep celebrating. They keep the party going. In protest, yes, but also because while the forces of the world may try to control us, try to keep people in line, there is still so much celebration and life that will be had, nonetheless. It’s worth the risk.

In fact, this celebration of life and the good life that surrounds it, this is the priority. Rather than skimp and hide away, they’re doing it, out in full view. And so, to add to this protesting, subversive blessing of the wedding or the 15 year old — the people of God persist in celebrating with joy. And Jesus aids this.

Perhaps they ran out of wine because they were being cautious. Perhaps they were afraid.

I love how Jesus uses the purification jars — hey, we’re just filling these jars up with water for our religious practice at the wedding, nothing to see here.

But in fact, the tools of the establishment, religious or civic, are used to bless the outsiders and the merrymakers. Joy and celebration are acts of resistance to oppression and suffering.

So here’s my big question — how are you living into the joy and celebration of God’s kindom, even amidst the oppression and fear?

How does the light of Christ in us shine, even in the darkest places?

The Spirit is revealed at the riverside, blessing Christ. The water becomes wine at the wedding, blessing new life together in the midst of a world that would tear us apart.

Christ invites us to the good life, even in our sorrow, grief, and loss. The Good life is one that sees hope in the darkness, joy in the struggle.

How is Christ inviting you to the good life today? Will you come and see, experience the ways God turns the world upside down, where joy comes through the pain and wholeness is found in kindom with one another.

Amen.