Read John 2:1-11.

Parties are fun…parties are exciting…parties are interesting…parties are surprising.  I remember the time in my youth, how I loved to go to parties.

Up to the ages of 9 or 10, the focus is on playing group games.  During my youth, parties were held in the home with hot dog sandwiches, ice cream and cake, as well as punch and take-home prizes.  At birthday parties the children placed the pin the tail on the donkey, played Bozo the clown grand prize games, and enjoyed the musical chairs race.  Today, most children parties are outside the home held at places where the food is ordered and prepared – places  like Chuck E. Cheese’s_®  or McDonalds Restaurants.  Between the ages of perhaps 11 or 14, parties were still in the home and the focus was on playing group games and becoming sociable with the opposite gender.  Sandwiches, popcorn, potato chips, ice cream, cake and soda were the refreshments.

Parties had parental supervised games like spin the bottle, post office, and partner dancing.  Now, the guests stand around and watch a couple or individual dance or they gather at videos games – individually spending their own money for their choice of games and food from vending machines and snack bars.

Between the ages of perhaps 15-18, I experienced and participated with my friends and family at Quarter Parties with dancing, Skating parties, and the neighborhood Social Center that provided dancing, sports activities, as well as arts and craft activities.  TODAY, because of the devaluation of life and respect for others’ property, parties are mostly held at school gatherings with teacher sponsors or private game rooms or restaurants with family and the owner present.

As young adults – even today – going to dances in clubs, homecoming affairs, organization, fraternity/sorority parties, college dances, etc., are all fun, exciting, high energy, and expensive!  Some called those gatherings sets; and some called them gigs.  Whatever they were called, depending upon your age, your tradition, and your view.  A “party” was “a party.”

Weddings, however; always had a subdued party feeling.  Perhaps, it is subdued primarily because the event focuses on the bride and the bridegroom – a celebration and recognition of a sacred commitment.  Hence, generally, when mixing with guests, individuals do not freely exhibit their frivolousness, their flirtatiousness, their candidness, their coyness because weddings are predetermined by design: the setting, the dress code, the timing, the invitees, the expectations, the protocol or etiquette, etc.  You just can’t get loose!

Wedding are special.  It brings families together; friends together; strangers together and at the apex of the wedding is LOVE.  But, one can not anticipate what would happen at the wedding or at the reception.  We do expect order, we do expect timeliness, we do expect friendliness, we do expect patience, we do expect kindness, we do expect acceptance, we do expect good food, good music, good conversation, and, perhaps, happiness.  However, when something is array or out of order, what do we expect?  We expect some type of intervention – perhaps a miracle

The evangelist John in this pericope tells about a wedding in the region, Galilee, in a small village called Cana – 9 miles northwest of Nazareth – the region where the town of Jesus was born, Nazareth.  It was three days after Jesus called Philip to follow him (Ch. 1:43).  The neighborhood was invited.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jesus, and his disciples were also there, among the invited guests.

• The Bible does not say how long the party lasted, but it does say, that the “wine was gone.”
• The Bible does not tells us the economic means of the family or the couple, but it does say, that the “wine was gone.”
• The Bible does not say whether it was a big or small wedding, but it does say, that the “wine was gone.”
• The Bible does not tells us whether certain person(s) took advantage of the hospitality and consumed more than others, but it does say, that the “wine was gone.”
• The Bible does not say whether the wine had been moved or carried away by others, but it does say, that the “wine was gone.”
• The Bible does not say what happened to the wine, all it says is that the “wine was gone.”

Wine is the fermented juice of fresh grapes grown in the vineyards of the region and is a beverage. Depending on the aging process, it can be invigorating or intoxicating.    In other words, it brings liveliness to the personality of the individual who consumes it.  Other than water, wine, in those days, was the prevalent beverage.  The Harper’s Bible dictionary says about wine that “it was considered luxurious and sometimes dangerous.”

When Jesus’ mother noticed that the wine was gone, she mentioned it to Jesus!  It is here where the Bible lifts up a mental sense or perception that something will happen!  Mary says to Jesus, “They have no more wine” (2:3).  Jesus’ mother did not tell him what to do!  She just stated, “They have no more wine.”  Mary was only bringing the situation to the attention of Jesus.  The mother was aware that the element that brought folks together in harmony and joy was gone.

Have you noticed that there is no more wine in your situation; in your circumstance or relationship?  Is the wine gone?

• Is there no more vision
• Are there no more dreams
• Is there no more growth
• Is there no leader – (Malcolm, Kennedy, Martin?”
• Is there no more joy
• Is there no hope
• Is there no more energy
• Is there no more enthusiasm
• Are the resources gone

Is the wine gone?  Ask yourself, “Is the wine gone?”

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