Believe to the Brim

Imagine a wedding. Your wedding. Beautiful. Joyful. Abundant. You’re rejoicing with the people you love the most. But you’re running out of food and don’t even know it.

Recently, while reading John 2, I noticed Mary’s words to Jesus: “They have no more wine” (v. 3). She doesn’t ask or tell Jesus how to solve their problem; she may not have known what to ask. She also doesn’t emphasize their mother-son relationship as the basis for which Jesus might listen to her. Rather, she confides in the One she trusts like any of us might. She sets the stage for Him to work, honors Him, and points others to Him, knowing that being the Son of Man supersedes being the Son of Mary. Her focus is not on what she desires but on the present needs of others and glorifying Jesus.

Next, we read that nearby stood six stone jars used for ceremonial washing, which Jesus instructs the servants to fill with water. They do and fill the jars to the brim. Of course, He could have filled them immediately or just made the wine appear, but he doesn’t. He allows others the space to obey so that they can share in the blessing.

Charles Spurgeon draws from this implications for our obedience: “When you are bidden to believe in him, believe in him up to the brim. When you are told to love him, love him up to the brim. When you are commanded to serve him, serve him up to the brim.” When Jesus gives a command, listen and fill your jars. Don’t just strike the ground three times and settle for incomplete victory (2 Ki. 13:18-19). Obey fully. His intention is not simply to offer your guests improved water but to transform your obedience into something new.

In the Old Testament, we see an especially interesting comparison with Moses and water being transformed. Moses sweetened the bitter water at Marah using a piece of wood (Ex. 15:25). In the New Testament, Jesus needs nothing but chooses to use the acts of His servants. Moses’ first “miracle” was turning water into blood (Ex. 7:17). Jesus’ first miracle, in contrast, was turning water into wine, a symbol of joy, abundance, and blessing. Moses came with the Law to Israel, but grace and truth came through Christ (Jn. 1:17). As New Covenant Christians, we need not fear the blood of judgment, for we have the precious blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:19), the Fulfiller of the Law and Prophets (Matt. 5:17) and the One greater than Moses (Heb. 3:3).

When Jesus provides, as for this new couple in John 2, He does not give us His Plan B or second best. Miraculously, somewhere between the servants drawing the water and taking it to the master of the banquet, Jesus transforms it into the best of the best—and the master of the banquet credits the groom! As revealed through this example, when Jesus blesses, He does so abundantly. I wonder how often like the groom Jesus provides in ways we don’t even recognize are works not of ours but of His. Truly, all we have done He has done for us (Is. 26:12), even if the master of the banquet gives us the credit.

When we invite Jesus to our wedding, the best is yet to come. We have been rescued from the power, purpose, presence, and penalty of sin, and as we pray that He would reveal wonderful things in His law (Ps. 119:18), may we yet find our souls singing, “My Lord, You have saved the best wine till now!”

"They Have No Wine"

The joy was contagious in Galilee.

The guests were many. The wine was free.

Yet amid the glee of the groom and bride

His mother there approached His side.

His time had not come to perform a sign,

Yet she confided, “They have no wine.”

No sea had He stilled, no loaves multiplied,

No talk at the pool or crowds satisfied,

No stories or miracles, no leper healed,

No call to go to God’s harvest field,

No teaching on Bread or the mustard seed,

No temple clearing or demoniac freed,

No standing, judged, as a silent Lamb,

Yet see Jehovah Jireh, I AM.

Do you lack? Has your wine been drained?

There is a plenty that can’t be explained.

Guest at each feast, Friend in each task—

Our Christ will listen if we ask.

The groom and master never knew.

Won’t surely God provide for you?

There is one choice you won’t be regretting—

Inviting Mary to your wedding.

And if you find choice wine when wedded,

You may be to a Mary and Guest indebted.

Now whose Mary might you be,

Pleading for those who do not see

That while they at the table recline

Their laughter will end when they run out of wine,

Or those who need but aren’t sure where to go,

For this One invited they do not know?

Confide boldly, then observe

What the groom and bride do not deserve.

She knew not the answer but knew the need,

And He worked a hidden deed,

Their name and family there preserving—

And those knew only who were serving.

It may not be the hour; still make a request.

If it’s not His time, ‘twill be the best.

The worst He can say is not a crime:

“Dear woman, it is not my time.”

And yet his mother the servants told,

Like Joseph’s Pharaoh of Egypt old,

“Do what His instructions are.”

And then they filled each water jar,

Not half-way but to the brim,

Not faithlessly but trusting Him.

Let us rejoice in grateful tears

The wine multiplied was not that of three years,

Bitter and mark not of joy but of loss,

Death, and thirst on a Roman cross.

And yet, he shall in three days rise

To do what all will recognize

And achieve what none shall be forgetting—

Wine abundant at His wedding.