I'm reading this morning the Gospel according to John through a commentary by N.T. Wright. I've stumbled across the story of the wedding in Cana. Most know it well: They're attending the wedding and the wine runs out. Mary (the mother of Jesus) asks Jesus to do something and, although his time has not yet come, he turns the water into wine.
Perhaps the more interesting part to me, and something that Wright touches on in his commentary, is what the head servant says to the Groom: "What people normally do is to serve the good wine first and the worse stuff when people have had plenty to drink. But you've kept the good wine until now." John's Gospel is full of hidden meaning, and the thought that ran through my head this morning has to do with our own lives - is this as good as it gets? We believe we are running the good race, fighting the good fight - but can we be better? Is the best yet to come? If so, how do we get it?
Surely, the bride and groom thought they were serving their guests pretty good wine at the beginning of their wedding. But when Jesus got involved, his version of the wine was much better than what the hosts had prepared. How can we relate? I said in my last post that some think of Christianity as a straight jacket, but it's just the opposite - we can actually live life more fully...we can be more human! Some, including me, think I'm living a pretty good life. But maybe there's something more - perhaps we need to invite Jesus into our parties - our lives - a little more often? When someone sees our lives after Jesus puts his touch on them, will they ask why we waited so long to give the world the best part of us? Indeed, the best is yet to come!
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