Read: John 2:1-11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11 ESV)
Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast. He used containers typically reserved for a separate Jewish religious observance, the rites of purification, had them filled with water, and changed the water into wine. It was a sign to his disciples that Jesus was more than just another teacher.
It took the miraculous to convince the disciples present with Jesus at the wedding in Cana of who he actually was. Are we guilty of that same kind of doubtful default position? Is the miraculous something that should be a regular occurrence among God's people?
There are almost as many varying opinions about the subject of miracles as there are people who talk about miracles. One thing is pretty clear. Across history Orthodox Christianity has held that the miracles Jesus performed were true historical events.
In an age of automatic skepticism that is of key importance. But even during Jesus' days with his disciples there was a tendency to sometimes lean away from belief in the supernatural. Jesus changed water into wine. In doing so he made a wedding feast a little more festive, but he made his disciples a lot more attentive.
What will it take for you and I to believe in Jesus like that? Or if you already do, what are you doing with your belief? How does it shape the decisions you make or your interactions with others? Or does it?