JOHN 2:6-11:  “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.”  (ESV)

OBSERVATION:  The power and wonder of faith is not the found in the results of our human effort, it is found in the gift of God’s Grace which brings transformation.  Jesus takes what is ordinary and empty and transforms it into something of great worth.  The first miracle of Jesus was a tangible expression of His power to bring transformation to our lives.

The six stone water jars were used for Jewish rites of purification.  This included daily washing of hands and vessels, along with cleansing when one had become ceremonially defiled.  These were not drinking vessels.  They were empty at this time and probably placed out of the area of the wedding celebration.  When Mary asks Jesus to help this wedding celebration that has run out of wine (a social faux pas), Jesus chooses these 6 empty vessels that were not part of the feast celebration to perform His first miracle.

This reminds me that the God always chooses the things that are foolish and despised in the world’s eyes to manifest His glory.  Paul writes – “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭27-29‬ ESV)

This is good news!  God does not choose us because we have accomplished great things, or because we are worthy vessels.  God chooses us, albeit common and forgotten, and brings His transformation to our lives.  Christianity and our life of faith is not a call to become better, it is a call to be transformed.  What we could not do – He does!  He takes common vessels and fills them with the water of life – His Holy Spirit.  When we place our faith in Jesus Christ we are filled with His Spirit, Born Again, and radically transformed.  Our life of faith is the journey of learning how to live within the power and revelation of this completed transformation.

When we are Born Again, it is not a partial rebirth.  We are not gradually saved.  We are fully saved and transformed.  Just like the water was instantly transformed into wine, so we are transformed into new creations through faith in Jesus Christ.  Our spirits are fully reborn.  We are as saved as we will ever be.  Our walk of faith is not one of becoming more and more “saved”, it is a call to begin to enter into a full understanding and outworking of this completed work.  Our fully transformed spirit is willing, but our earthly flesh (body and mind) is weak.  We must discipline the body and renew the mind by the Word of God.  As we do we begin to walk after the Spirit and enter into both the realization and actualization of our full salvation (transformation).

Lord, thank You for Your work of transformation in my life!  Help me to embrace the truth that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.  The old has passed away and the new has come.  You have transformed me by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit.  Grant me the Grace to enter fully into this reality.  May I walk after Your Spirit today and may my body and my mind be fully surrendered to Your Word and will!  In Jesus Name!