Day 3

Jesus Displays His Glory

from the John reading plan


John 2:1-25, Psalm 104:14-15, Jeremiah 31:12-14

BY Lindsey Jacobi

The word “glory” usually conjures up for me images that are high and lofty. I think of halos and shining lights; crowns and pageantry; pomp and circumstance. I think of champions receiving their medals and legends earning lifetime achievements. 

Yet, in the person of Jesus—the very Son of God made flesh—everything was different. His glory was displayed in ways that were counterintuitive to our understanding of fame and glory. He received a crown, but it was made of thorns. He had the praises of the people, but they quickly turned to reproach. He chose the most unlikely places and circumstances to put His glory on display. 

It was in the midst of a rather ordinary wedding celebration that Jesus first displayed His glory in a public miracle. It was His mother who gave Him the nudge to do what only He could do. The wedding hosts had run out of wine. Mary probably didn’t want them to be embarrassed by this, so she went straight to the One who had unlimited resources. He didn’t gather the crowds. He simply told the servants to start filling jars with water. 

Sometimes I go looking for God’s glory in high and lofty places. I wait for that experience in a church service that gives me goose bumps or some particularly holy moment. Yet I am reminded in this scene that even something as simple as water can testify to His glory, and any moment can be made holy in the hands of Jesus Christ. 

Those in closest proximity to Him got to witness it. It was the servants, carrying that first glass of water-becoming-wine, who got the first glimpse of the miracle. Jesus didn’t stand up in the temple and perform. His glory was let loose right in the middle of a dinner party. Stone jars became holy vessels and servants got the front row seat. None of it was the fanfare of royalty. In fact, most of the partygoers didn’t even know Jesus performed a miracle. 

Of course, He was doing far more than making new wine. While the party guests and disciples certainly celebrated with glad hearts (Psalm 104:15), Jesus would soon reveal the ways that He had come to make all things new (Jeremiah 31:12–14). 

Let’s not forget, however, that His miracles are never just for the sake of putting on a show. When God’s glory is revealed—either in grand and glorious ways, or in the unassuming ways that are often His habit—it’s always to call people to believe and trust in Him. And that is exactly what the disciples did.

He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. —John 2:11

May this miracle foster in our hearts a posture of belief as we behold His glory revealed to us. After all, we await the even greater wedding feast when we will behold His glory in full (Revelation 19:6–9).

Post Comments (160)

160 thoughts on "Jesus Displays His Glory"

  1. Bailey Koch says:

    A great reminder that it’s important to seek God in the small things each day. I also love this story as it shows how much Jesus honored his own mother and truly how important Mary is. He said it wasn’t His time yet, but He did it anyways, because she told Him to.

  2. Bailey King says:

    Thankful we serve a God who humbles himself in unlikely places and circumstances as the example we should portray

  3. Lizza Streicher says:

    This makes me think about how great Jesus is yet how humble He truly is. It reminds me to always be humble.

  4. Portia Strange says:

    When I imagine a king, from a worldly perspective, I would think He’d show His Glory to all the people. Yet, while they all get to enjoy the fruit of this miracle, they don’t get a front row seat to it. No, at this splendid wedding, Jesus’ first miracle is only witnessed by his disciples & the servants. Jesus chooses to reveal Himself to those whom society perceives as lowly, marginalized, & poor.

    Another thing that sticks out to me is the time, effort, & energy the servants had to exert in order to see the manifestation of God’s glory in this miracle. Although Jesus Himself turned the water into wine, they had to carry the empty jars to wherever the water was (v.7), fill the jars with water to the brim (v.7), & then carry the full, heavy jars back to the master of the feast (v.8). They had to act in faith & trust. They had to do something in order to see God work.

  5. Kylie McAllister says:

    He revealed himself to those considered lowly…how good is He. ❤️

  6. Mindy Shiffert says:

    I love how he chose to reveal himself to the “underdogs”. Incredible testimony to just how good he is ❤️

  7. Leaha Hicks says:

    I love that Jesus’ first miracle was seen only by his disciples and servants of the wedding. How just like God to choose the “lowly” to see the first. ❤️

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