The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be First

The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be First
written by Rev. Philip Peacock, Exec. Secretary for Advocacy WCRC

John 2:1-12:  2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6 Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.
The wedding at Cana is recognized as the first miracle that Jesus did. But what is this miracle really about? Is it a magic trick or is there more to it? I would argue that if we looked at the time Jesus performed the miracle it will offer us some clues as to what this miracle is about. 
The first is the statement of Jesus’ mother; she comes and tells Jesus that the wine is over. The wine would probably get over towards the end of the wedding. The second clue we find in the words of Jesus to his mother when he says that his time as not yet come. Usually this has been interpreted to indicate to us that the appropriate moment for Jesus to initiate his ministry has not yet come. Interestingly, Jesus does not use the word Kairos, which would indicate for us opportune time, but uses the word horus, which means the hour has not yet come; Jesus seems to be waiting for a certain moment of the clock. Thirdly, we notice that the six stone jars are empty, and there isn’t enough water to wash one’s hands; this really indicates to us that the miracle takes place towards the very end of the wedding. The last clue we have is the words of the chief steward, who suggests that the best wine is served at the end. It seems that Jesus was waiting for the end of the wedding to perform this miracle.
The most important guests eat at the beginning of the wedding while at the end it is the least important people who eat. The servers, the beggars and perhaps even the dogs. Jesus performs his miracle for these very least. No wonder then that the steward is upset, the important guests are ignored in favour of the least. And this is the way that Jesus is introduced to us, as one who reverses the social order, that the first becomes last and the last becomes first.