Listen and Pray through John 2:1-11
Click the button below to listen and pray through this passage. This practice will take about 10 minutes.
Read
John 2:1-11
The 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.
Listen & Reflect
As we prepare to meditate on scripture today, take a few moments to quiet your thoughts and to open yourself up fully to the presence of God. Do what you need to be ready to receive from the abundance of God’s well of love, grace, and wisdom.
Take a deep breath and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you slowly read John 2:1-11. On your first read through, simply let the words wash over you. Don’t feel pressure to analyze or interpret, but allow the Holy Spirit to set the scene for you.
On the surface, this seems like an odd use of Jesus’ divine power…especially for his first recorded miracle in the Gospel according to John. However, there are a lot of thoughts and emotions that are lingering beneath the surface.
Picture the scene: A wedding in Cana. Joyful guests. The music and laughter of a community celebrating. But beneath the surface—concern. Whispers spread among the servants. The wine is gone. An unspoken tension builds. A host’s honor is at stake. Mary notices. She turns to her son, eyes full of knowing.
With that picture in mind, read the passage again, paying attention to what might be unspoken…the emotions and concerns simmering below. How might the hosts be feeling? What triggers Mary to step in? What are the feelings of the servants? The disciples? Even Jesus himself?
Although reluctant at first, Jesus decides to reveal a bit of His glory for the sake of saving this celebration. Why do you think that is? For the hosts, running out of wine was more than a logistical mishap—it was a public shame.
Is there an area of your life where you would desire for Jesus to reveal his divinity? Perhaps an area that seems trivial or even too petty to pray for? This miracle at Cana shows us that Jesus sees beneath the trivial and cares about the underlying emotions and worries.
Spend a few moments bringing your hopes, fears, and desires to the feet of Jesus…even those things you’ve felt are too small or silly to concern him with.
Jesus didn’t just provide what was missing—He gave something better than anyone expected. His first miracle was a quiet act of love, a sign of the abundant grace He pours out.
Rest in God’s presence. Simply be with Him. Let go of words and sit in stillness, allowing His love to fill you. Imagine yourself at the wedding—watching Jesus work, hearing Mary’s words, seeing the joy on the faces of those at the feast. How does it feel to be near Him?
Let this moment deepen your awareness of God’s presence in your daily life. Trust that He is working in ways you may not yet see.
Pray
Lord, I bring before You the places in my life where I feel empty, where I feel like I don’t have enough. I see how Mary trusted You, how the servants obeyed even when they didn’t understand. Help me to trust like that. I offer You my scarcity, my questions, my hesitations—fill them with Your abundance. Jesus, transform my heart as You transformed the water into wine.
I believe You are working, even when I cannot see.
Amen.