You Get the Credit

John 2:10

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In John, chapter 2, we hear about the first miracle that Jesus ever performed. He was at a wedding in Cana and there was a problem they had run out of something that the people, the guests at this wedding, expected to have: wine. And so we know from that account that Jesus performed a miracle. He changed water into wine. But there’s this really incredible detail at the end of this account that’s important for us, and I’d like us to consider it.

Who got credit for this miracle? When the servants had taken water and dipped it out of the jars and took it to the banquet master and he tried it, he said, Wow, this is really great, amazing wine. Who did he turn to? He turns to the groom, the groom at the wedding, who really was the one who had caused the problem in the first place. He hadn’t gotten enough supplies for the party, for the celebration, for the feast. And yet he is the one who’s credited for the fix.

The banquet master he turns to the groom and says these words to him.

“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have had plenty to drink, then the cheaper wine. You saved the good wine until now!” (John 2:10 EHV)

You save the good wine until now. The banquet master didn’t realize that Jesus had performed this miracle. He thought that somehow the groom was responsible. This is really a beautiful picture of what our Lord Jesus does for us. It’s a beautiful picture of justification. Jesus does all the work. It’s his glory. And yet you and I, we get credit for it, even though we are the ones who caused the dilemma in the first place, it’s our sins that we are responsible for. And yet Jesus comes. He uses his power, he uses his glory, to win forgiveness, and then he shares the credit with us. We get credit for what he has done, just like that groom got credit for what Jesus had done. You have brought more wine.

We are now covered in the righteousness that pleases God. God looks at you and me who should be sinful people, we are sinful people, and yet he says some incredible, amazing words, he says, well done, my good and faithful servant. And he says that not because of anything we have done to deserve it, but because we are covered in the righteousness of Christ. Our Savior has gone to work on our behalf, and he is happy to share what credit belongs to him. He is happy to share that with us.

How incredible that is. And Jesus wants to share this credit with you. And that’s why we rejoice when we get to open up his word and hear this wonderful gospel message. When we get to go to the baptismal font and we have Jesus himself washing us, covering us with his righteousness. As we get to come forward to his altar and we receive the body and blood of our Savior and with it, the forgiveness of all of our sins. What’s happening, the credit that Jesus has won with his life, his death, his resurrection, it now counts for you and for me. What a wonderful detail. Jesus is happy to share credit with you and me.

And we pray thank you, Lord, for sharing what you have done with us so that it now counts for us that we get to take credit for what you have done. We thank you for this, oh Lord, amen. God’s peace be with you.