120 gallons. That’s one estimate of the capacity of the water jugs containing Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding of Cana, water transformed into wine. It’s an incredible amount.
The calculation of the literal amount in the text, “six stone water jars each holding two or three measures,” varies. A measure was 8-10 gallons, so the amount could have been anywhere between 96 and 180 gallons. Even at the lower limit it is huge. One contemporary commentary says “six hundred to nine hundred bottles of fine wine.” The fanciful, lushly set among Graeco-Roman buildings, Renaissance painting above by Paolo Veronese of the wedding at Cana is not really out of line with the extravagance of Jesus’ provision of wine.
John 2:1-11 raises all sorts of questions for us, some insignificant, some large. Who was being married? Why did Jesus take his disciples along with Him to what was probably a family affair? What’s going on in the conversation between Jesus and His mother? Why did Jesus consent to the miracle? What’s with the huge amount of wine? Stepping back, one might simply ask what Jesus was doing there. He had a world to save. Why was He taking time out for frivolous activities like weddings and making sure everyone had enough to drink?
There is plenty of symbolism going on here, with the new wine from Jesus taking the place of water for Jewish purification rites and with a precursor to the great wedding feast of the Lamb John writes about later in Revelation. But I like to dwell one one shining facet of it all, the sheer abundance of the wine. Jesus participated in an ordinary human celebration and blessed it extravagantly. Our Lord joined in celebrating human love with His own lavish love and grace.
Our Lord’s abundant, lavish love here in this text is a reminder to be wary of our own stinginess and even what we call “stewardship” of resources. The economy of the kingdom of God is not based on scarcity but on abundance. There is plenty to around and lavish celebration is not to be avoided but entered into joyfully. Let us remember that as we gauge our resources, formulate budgets, plan for the future, and seek to be Christ-like to those around us.