On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” . . . What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Devotion based on John 2:1-4,11

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Normally, it’s the other way around. Normally, children are impatient with a parent. Dinner isn’t ready fast enough. The car trip is taking too long. Normally children are impatient with a parent.

In John chapter 2, it is the parent who is impatient with the child. Mary, the mother of Jesus, thought Jesus was taking too long to do something. The wedding party ran out of wine. Mary knew her son Jesus could do something because he is the Son of God. Mary knew that Jesus had begun to publicly preach and teach. To Mary, this seemed like a great time for Jesus to do something. So, she prodded Jesus, “They have no more wine.”

But Mary’s timing wasn’t Jesus’ timing. “My hour has not yet come,” Jesus lovingly said to his mother. It was his way of saying, “I don’t need you to tell me when to do something. As the Son of God, I’ve got this.”

What do you want Jesus to do? At dinner, do you want Jesus to change your water into pink lemonade? At school, do you want Jesus to change your grades into straight A’s? At home, do you want Jesus to turn your used clothes into a brand-new wardrobe?

Whatever you want Jesus to do, how patiently are you waiting for it? Like Mary, we prod Jesus along. Do it now! But we need to remember that Jesus knows exactly when it is best to act and what is best to give. It all reveals his glory as the Son of God.

That frustrates our sinful nature. This side of heaven, we do not have a guarantee from Jesus that he is going to turn our water into wine, or every “C” grade into an “A,” or every sickness into perfect health. But we do have Jesus’ promise that he will reveal his glory in his way and in his time.

Ultimately, this means that Jesus, the son of Mary and the Son of God, will reveal his glory to you when he takes you to heaven. And, just as Jesus’ turning water into wine exceeded everyone’s expectation, heaven will exceed every expectation you have.

Dear Jesus, you displayed your love and power when you turned water into wine. As you find ways to show the same in my life, help me wait patiently and trust you completely. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above