This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him (John 2:11).

A wedding is a day of celebration not only for the bride and groom, but also for friends and relatives who are happy for the couple. Preparing to get married can make for some anxious moments. But preparing to just attend a wedding can also cause a little angst as we hunt for the perfect wedding gift, a gift that will be unique, but useful for the newlyweds.

Jesus once attended a wedding with some of his disciples and his mother, Mary. A wedding celebration today will last six or seven hours. In Jesus’ day it lasted six or seven days. It’s easy to see how this celebration could have run out of wine. That would have been a major embarrassment for the couple. But Mary trusted that her son could provide the perfect gift. At first, Jesus’ response might seem startling: “Dear woman, why do you involve me? … My time has not yet come” (John 2:4). Jesus didn’t say he couldn’t deliver a miracle. But he wanted Mary to realize that while he was her son, he was also her Savior who had now begun his public ministry. He would not jump the gun on the work predetermined by his heavenly Father. Mary heard the words “not yet” in her son’s reply and told the servants to follow his orders.

Jesus told the servants to fill six large stone jars with water. Then he ordered them to take a sample to the wedding’s wine taster, who took a sip and tasted wine instead of water! He even mentioned his surprise that the better wine had been saved for the end of the banquet. Jesus saw the need and filled it—abundantly. He provided the perfect gift by his almighty power.

The apostle John calls this the first of many miraculous “signs” that Jesus performed during his ministry. Signs point the way to something, like to the Interstate, the nearest gas station, or a rest area. Jesus’ miracles recorded in the Bible point to him as the way to heaven. He’s more than a great man. He is God’s Son who supplied the perfect life that God demands from us. His death on the cross delivered the perfect gift—forgiveness for our sins and by faith a reserved place at the eternal wedding supper of heaven. His powerful resurrection—the greatest miracle—proves his words and work to be true.

We can depend on Jesus to provide everything that we need for this life and the next. We welcome you to gather with us on Sundays to learn how Jesus uses his power “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).