One reason I fell in love with Jesus is because He set women free. He honored and respected women, and He treated them as just as much potential citizens of heaven as men. He raised their status from chattel to equals, and we still see the impact of that today everywhere people have basically followed His teachings. Jesus loves women, and I love that because I am one!

The story of the wedding at Cana in John chapter 2 has always fascinated me. This story is not in any of the other gospels. And as I wonder why, I remember that John was the disciple Jesus assigned from the cross to take care of His mother, Mary. So John spent a lot of time with her over the years. He must have heard this story from her point of view, and that’s what I’ve been pondering.

To me, the miracle of turning water into wine at this wedding feast has always seemed so different from the other signs and miracles of Jesus. This week, the involvement of Jesus’ mother has caught my attention.

We know that Mary had been observing her firstborn son for thirty years. We don’t know all that Jesus did during that time, but John does say that this was His first miracle. This leads us to conclude that He had a normal life, “growing in favor with God and man.” Yet all this time, Mary was “pondering in her heart” all that had taken place surrounding Jesus: His conception, including the announcement from Gabriel that she would bear “the Son of God”; the prophetic words from Simeon and Anna at the dedication of baby Jesus in the temple, especially the words of Simeon that now he had seen God’s salvation, and that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart; the magi coming in splendor from the East, bringing luxurious gifts and worshiping the King of the Jews; the words of the twelve-year-old Jesus, found after three days in the temple courts, saying that he had to be about His “Father’s business.”

Now Jesus has become a rabbi and has disciples following Him. They were invited to the wedding along with Jesus. Mary sees all this, and continues to ponder, to wonder, to dream….. and to worry? Then a social crisis occurs at the wedding — no wine — and somehow Mary is involved enough that she goes to her eldest son and tells him the problem. I wonder, what is she expecting Him to do?

At first, Jesus seems to rebuff her, but still she tells the servants to do whatever He tells them. Then He calls the servants and instructs them to fill the jars with water and take a cup to the master of the banquet. Of course, when they do, the water turns into wine, the best wine of all.

The next moment is the one that fascinates me. As Mary sees what has happened, what Jesus has done, I can see everything falling into place in her mind. All her experiences, the prophecies, the angelic words — they all come into focus as she, for the first time, sees her Son as truly the Messiah. It must have been a tremendous moment — one of instant insight and revelation.

And in my mind’s eye, I can see the looks Jesus and His mother give each other. His, a tender look that said, “See, this is what it was all leading up to. This is what you suffered the humiliation of being an unwed mother for. This is what all the prophecies and signs pointed to. The time has come, and you are the one who nurtured me and wondered for all these years what it was all about. Here it is. The revealing of the Messiah, your Son, has come.” And Mary’s look, her gasp, her flash of understanding, her brand new love –not just for her Son — but for the Messiah of all mankind.

Jesus chose to honor His mother, Mary, through His first miracle. It was a simple miracle just for her. It was a great, big thank-you. It was tender and sweet and kind.

And I’m falling in love with Jesus all over again.