Jesus is the Best Wine

It is no secret, and certainly no scandal, that North Carolina is swimming in craft beer, regional wines, and now even Mayberry Moonshine !  What would Otis think?  These wonders go along with our ever increasing desire for recreation and escape from today's troubles.
The most famous regional wine came from Cana, and was made by Jesus from bathwater.  It was so good that the headwaiter at a potentially disastrous wedding thought it was the best (the best he'd ever tasted?)  This headwaiter fortunately didn't know that it was made from bathwater and served out of one of the nasty stone pots.  He complimented the host for "keeping the best wine until now" when most people with common sense serve the best wine first, so people who are inebriated won't notice the quality of the wine dropping as the feast progresses.
This first sign of Jesus is filled with intent and symbolism, and still speaks to us today if we have ears to hear.
The sign shows us that Jesus' ministry was intentional, not haphazard or some "plan B" situation.  Jesus is giving a semi-private sign that is designed to build faith in the disciples prior to beginning his public ministry.  Jesus' divinity, confirmed by the miraculous wine-making, is the fact that created faith among the disciples, enabling them to later be called Apostles.
The miracle at Cana shows us that Jesus' ministry had a point besides the miracles and miraculous, which was the climactic crucifixion in Jerusalem (the ultimate eschatological event).
Jesus is teaching everyone that He has the power to take their lack, their nothing, their bathwater, and turn it into the greatest things, the most needed things, those things which bring glory to God.  Jesus redeems even impossible situations.  Where something looks hopeless, through our prayers (like the Mother of Jesus asking for his help) He will give us hope and provision.
So how is your bathwater?  Are you drinking the "lesser wines" of this life?  Do you fall for the trendy promotions of merchants offering distraction from the real issue (that the wine has literally run out)?
In the words of Dr. Herman Ridderbos, "Jesus is the good wine, reserved until now."  Drink freely.

Dissipation makes no sense to anyone.

I see a relationship between Romans 3:12's cryptic (!) quote of Psalm 14 & 53 and Ephesians 5:18.  That word in Ephesians 5:18b (that is used to describe the cosmic/moral state of drunkenness) has fascinated me.  I've translated it as "unsavedness" because of the quality of warning that gives to the command of 5:18a. But recent meditation in Romans 3 caused the über-harsh word "useless" to hang out there loose also.  Why would God call people "useless?" Now I think the two are theological twins, especially in light of the debauchery of 1st century Ephesus and the presence of the word for the "moral status" or corrupt-ness in Genesis 6 that motivated the Great Flood Judgment there.  If you compare what early Christians must have thought of the religious climate in Ephesus with what ancient Judaism must have thought of antediluvian morals, you can see a conclusion to which to jump.  Some of these passages, like Romans 3, can seem so harsh and judgmental, and VERY many people would have a problem with linking spirituality to Ephesians 5:18a--BUT the problem is there is 5:18b "because that is unsavedness."  Paul is encouraging the Ephesians not to be drawn into any of the habits surrounding their persecuted circle of wagons.  In Romans, Paul is making the case for the saving action of God in Christ, clearly demonstrating the parallel between salvation from the Great Flood and salvation from the apocalyptic Last Judgment.  He sees the same God warning good people everywhere to ESCAPE by faith in God through Christ.  (Peter does also I Peter 4.4, and notice the pun!) So, the Psalms echo the sentiments in the Pentateuch, and Paul echos the Psalms in light of Jesus' mission.  So the selection of this word for Ephesians 5:18 rings like a plea from God not to be fooled by the sauce into thinking it is some escape.  In fact, too much sauce can actually HINDER the most important escape of all!  Then Paul gives the better alternative in the verses that follow in Ephesians 5.