“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there” (John 2:1).
In which country of the world does a bride carry a small horseshoe in her bouquet or have it sewn into her wedding dress, often in the colour red? This Irish tradition dates back to when iron was considered to be a sign of good fortune. In another interesting tradition, an Amish groom doesn’t typically give his fiancée an engagement ring but gives her china or a clock. On her wedding day, a Russian bride might kneel before her parents during the wedding ceremony asking them to pardon her for any wrongs she may have committed.
In a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom gather beneath a marriage canopy and take a ceremonial sip of wine to signify their commitment to one another. The rabbi blesses them and the groom gives a golden ring to the bride. After the marriage contract is read, seven blessings are given, followed by another sip of wine. Then the groom takes a napkin-wrapped glass and crushes it under his foot in memory of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
Even during the time of Jesus there were wedding traditions. When Christ attended a wedding at Cana with his disciples, the wine ran out. It was quite an embarrassment to the host as it would show a lack of hospitality. Jesus performed His first miracle by turning the water in six water pots of stone into pure grape juice, amounting to twenty or thirty gallons. After tasting the delicious drink, the master of the feast commented to the bridegroom, “You have saved the best for last!”
People often follow the pathways of the world, seeking joy and pleasure, but end up with disappointment and heartache. When the gifts of Jesus are received into the heart through the Holy Spirit, the results do not grow less satisfying over time. Like the grape juice at Cana, the fruit of the Spirit gets better at the end. It’s a tradition worth tasting.
Dear God, I reject the offers of the world and receive the gift of life given by Your blood. Thank You!
For Further Study: John 2:1–11; Matthew 26:29; 1 Cor. 11:26