(I’m thinking about presence and Jesus).

Jesus went to the wedding. Cana was 16 miles, a day’s walk, from Capernaum.

Turning water into wine has become a humorous reference. We often preach (or laugh) about the miraculous sign, but there’s a story wrapped around the wine. The story is about Jesus going to a family celebration with his mom and with his disciples. It’s about being in conversation with his mom, talking with the servants.

It was being present with people he knew, and likely, who knew each other. The disciples were friends and family of each other.

And the miracle comes as he was in the middle of the feasting. As a guest. With his newly-formed group of followers. Who he wasn’t necessarily trying to impress. He didn’t have to be, didn’t choose to be, in charge.

He was simply there to celebrate.

What are the other celebrations he talks about?

He looked forward to being with the disciples for Passover.

He tells stories about a celebration of a wedding.

He ends a story about a repentant son by talking about the feast thrown by the father.

A woman finds coins and has a party.

He goes to a feast at a Pharisee’s house and tells him to invite the people who can’t do anything for him: poor, crippled, lame, blind. Because people need to celebrate, even when, or perhaps especially when, they don’t have to think about the party they will plan that will be even better than this one.

Because I’m exploring the ways and places Jesus was present, I’m not going to make a deep application here. Although, because I’m not so much of a party person, I’m struggling a bit. As I reflect on Jesus simply being present at celebrations, I wonder why this mattered so much. There’s something here about sabbath and rest and restoration and relationships.

And, at the heart of it, is that presence wasn’t to make a point, wasn’t to accomplish work. I think it was to be human.