Chinese people place great importance on food, with a strong food culture and food tradition. Especially during festivals like the Spring Festival—the most grand and lively celebration of the year—people gather to celebrate and give blessings. This essential shared meal brings hearts together and strengthens relationships.
Recently, Pastor D from a church in an eastern Chinese city shared a sermon titled "Sitting at the Table Together." The goal was to help believers recognize Jesus' presence in life, feel his compassion, live in the companionship of Jesus, and prepare to sit at the eternal table with him.
Pastor D referenced the wedding at Cana, where, when the wine ran out, Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine—his first public miracle and the beginning of his public ministry. She pointed out that a wedding symbolizes great hope in life and a desire for harmony and happiness. But on such an important day, how could the hosts fail to prepare adequately, so that the embarrassing situation-the wine had running out of wine appeared?
A wedding is like a microcosm of life, and wine is like a symbol of joy in the soul. Pastor D noted that in Jewish life, both new and aged wine were household staples, and the process of harvesting grapes, pressing them, and making wine was filled with joy. This is why wine in the Bible represents many beautiful meanings such as "harvest," "blessing," "love," and "joy." On the long journey of life, there are moments when, unexpectedly, all joy and hope seem to vanish, and it becomes unclear where to find them again.
Pastor D said that it was not just a distant, ancient story that wine ran out at the wedding. The believer was guided to imagine whether he would blame each other for such an oversight if he were one of the newlyweds at the wedding, whether he would continue to trust and maintain harmony if he were a relative of the newlywed, whether he would face a major career mishap that could tarnish his reputation if he were the wedding steward, and whether he would step out the limelight and seek greater help if he were Mary who saw the real crisis.
When they had no wine, people struggled and thought it was the end after exhausting every option and effort. At this critical moment, Mary turned to Jesus and reported the situation to Him.
The miracle of Jesus changing water into wine came when Mary, as a representative of humanity, made a heartfelt plea to Jesus. Jesus heard the instruction from His heavenly Father, bringing divine mercy, hope, and transformation.
Everyone will face moments of running out of wine. If we turn our hearts and minds to Jesus, we will discover his presence in all things—he is right here. When you see him, you will find hope and a way out at the end of human effort. He can turn the embarrassment of "no wine" into the blessing of "fine wine."
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
