Six Jugs-full (John 2:1-11)

The question is this: did they really need more wine? You'd think that they'd just call it quits when they'd run out. That the party would be over and it would be time to leave the proverbial keys at the door. Call a camel. Bring in the designated rider. Why did they need more wine? This wasn't a matter of a cake and punch reception in the Fellowship Hall following the nuptials. Or the uncorking of a bottle or two and sending the guests on their way when it was gone. This was a wedding feast. A seven-day banquet. A real blow-out affair. It would be more than a shame to run out of wine, because the host would literally bear the shame of throwing a party that wasn't up to snuff. Running out of wine was more than just a blunder. It was a serious gaffe that could reduce the host's status on the totem pole.

Jesus, his mother and the new disciples had made the cut. They were on the guest list for this gala affair. At least it was the party of parties until they ran out of wine; the mother of Jesus took it upon herself to alert him to this grave situation. But what did she think that he could do about it? What did she think that he would do about it? He basically told her to mind her own business. His hour had not yet come, he told her. Maybe he wasn't ready to perform a miracle. So almost reluctantly, he told the stewards to fill the six stone jars with water.

Now we're not talking about jars the size of jelly jars here. Or even water pitchers. These jugs held more than twenty gallons each. The Jews did a lot of handwashing; their daily activities left them "ritually unclean." But the jugs were empty. Why hadn't they been refilled? Something tells me that they weren't using Purell. They were far from the holy city of Jerusalem. They were far from the Temple, their most revered place of worship. And their water jugs were empty. All six of them. Out of sight, out of mind?

And so Jesus told the stewards to fill the jugs to the brim with water, turning the water into wine. Not just a bottle or two, but an abundance. Six jugs-full of new wine for guests who had probably had enough, and were feeling no pain. But the fact of the matter is this: it took nothing less than a miracle to keep the party going. Indeed. Six jugs-full of new wine.

It seems ludicrous to be talking about a party where running out of wine was considered to be a social offense in light of what is happening in Haiti. It seems ludicrous to be talking about abundance when there is so much devastation. I don't know about you, but it breaks my heart, because what I don't get is this: How can Jesus be turning water into wine for the guests at a party when there is no clean water for the people in Haiti to drink? Not even six jugs-full? It makes you wonder, doesn't it, where that new wine is?

Yes, the question is this: do we really need more wine? The divine party isn't over, and I don't know about you, but I like the feeling of being filled with new wine. Jesus has performed a miracle. He has changed the waters of baptism into the wine of hope making way for the kingdom of God, for from the extravagance of God's gift will pour forth the ultimate gift, the gift of eternal life. Indeed, God will provide what we need in abundance, filling those jugs to the brim with faith, compassion, hope, grace, mercy and love. Six-jugs-full. Do we really need more wine? I don't think so, for our jugs are overflowing,and there's plenty to go around--six jugs-full.