Sabbath

We make much of the fact that Jesus’ first miracle in the book of John happens at a wedding, and rightly so. His ministry of signs begins at a party with the Son of God supplying drinks all around. The interaction between Jesus and Mary is adorable and the miracle itself slightly scandalous to teetotalers. It is divine mischief at its best, and the resulting faith is an occasion for sheer enjoyment.

In the book of Mark, Jesus’ first miracle occurs at a worship service (Mark 1:21-28). It is as adorable as an earthquake. While the substance of Jesus teaching is missing in the account, Mark’s programmatic words probably catch the theme. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.