A Table in the Wilderness: A Study on God's GoodnessSample

When I Need to Remember Joy

Despite what we know about the gospel, and although it is called “good news,” most Christians, myself included, miss the abundant joy that’s ours.

The story of Jesus’s first recorded miracle in John 2 reminds us that it shouldn't be that way. I might have expected a hospital to be the location of Jesus’ first miracle. Instead, in His first miracle, Jesus turned about 150 gallons of water into wine—at a wedding! This wasn’t a small feat. It was massive, and it told a massive story about who God is.

Here’s the thing about weddings - they’re joyful! I’ve been to big weddings and small weddings, American weddings and Lebanese weddings, rich weddings, and poor weddings, and the one thing they have in common is joy.

In choosing a wedding feast as the place for His first miracle, Jesus relayed a message to us about who He was and what He had come to do. He came to give life and joy—abundantly!

Joy may be the last thing on your mind right now. You might be burdened with trials. All this talk about God’s goodness might strike you as a concept for someone else living a different life than yours. Trust me, I’m that person too. I wonder how I missed the happiness stop on the train to abundant life. But I’m learning that Jesus is so committed to my joy—and yours—that He is willing to do the unexpected to get my attention.

Some people assume the Christian walk is somber, boring, or too restrictive. The truth about Christianity is far from that. Just look at how the Savior lived! God created food for us to enjoy and set a table for His people in the wilderness. It was God who established the practice of celebrating feasts. Jesus, the Son of God, was even accused of partying too much!

I’m so glad Jesus chose a marriage feast to be the setting for His first miracle. What better reminder to us that God cares about our joy? He is indeed the Lord of the feasts!

What are some of your conclusions based on Jesus's choice to turn water into wine as His first miraculous act?