When we think about what Jesus brought when He came to earth, words like salvation, hope, peace, forgiveness, and eternal life instantly come to mind. One word that does not come to mind as often but is undoubtedly true about Jesus is joy. When Jesus came, He brought great joy to everyone around Him. After all, the eternal life that He offers brings about the greatest joy that we could imagine.
Jesus brought joy to a wedding party in John 2. In this passage of Scripture, the wedding hosts ran out of wine, an act that would certainly have left them feeling embarrassed and ashamed. When Mary notified Jesus that the wine was gone, Jesus ultimately decided to do something about it. He instructed the servants at the party to fill nearby stone water jars with water (verses 6-7). Then, He caused the water to turn into wine. It was not just ordinary wine. It was the very best. The master of ceremonies tasted the wine and said, "A host always serves the best wine first… then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" (verse 10). Jesus does not do anything half-heartedly. He brings about the best of the best. This brings great joy. Scripture tells us that "this miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed His glory. And His disciples believed in Him" (verse 11). Indeed, Jesus brought great joy through this first miracle that He performed.
Still today, Christ brings great joy. Because of what He has done for us, we have ultimate joy, knowing that we will experience the joy of eternal life forever if we have placed our faith in Him. As a result, we can live with great joy, regardless of what life brings. We can also spread His joy with people around us so that they may one day experience the joy of eternal life that He brings one day.
How can you bring joy in Jesus' name to someone today? Maybe you can bring someone a coffee, say a kind word, or offer to help someone with a challenging task. Whatever you decide, choose to bring joy today to the people around you, being sure to bring that joy in Jesus' name. After all, the life He offers is the ultimate joy.
1The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
