February

In His Timing, According to God's Plan — February 1 ^{[Description]This passage centers on the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine—not just to meet a need, but to symbolize the joy and abundance of His grace. It underscores that salvation comes only through Christ—not through lineage, position, or ritual. Even Mary, His mother, stood in need of a Savior.
Jesus’ timing and actions followed a divine plan, not human expectations. While Mary hoped He’d reveal Himself as a conquering Messiah, Jesus came first as a suffering servant. Yet, He honored Mary’s faith and used the moment to strengthen His disciples against future opposition.
The miracle also served as a symbol: the water representing baptism and death to self, the wine representing Christ’s blood and the joy of salvation. Unlike the world’s offerings, which fade and disappoint, Christ’s gifts grow richer over time. His presence at the wedding also affirmed the value of community, marriage, and innocent celebration.
Ultimately, the wedding feast prefigures a far greater celebration—the final union of Christ and His redeemed people at the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” The joy, purity, and unity of that future moment is the ultimate fulfillment of what Jesus began at Cana.}

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

The Desire of Ages pp.147-153: 365D 32.1

The only hope of redemption for our fallen race is in Christ; Mary could find salvation only through the Lamb of God. In herself she possessed no merit. Her connection with Jesus placed her in no different spiritual relation to Him from that of any other human soul. This is indicated in the Saviour's words. He makes clear the distinction between His relation to her as the Son of man and as the Son of God. The tie of kinship between them in no way placed her on an equality with Him. 365D 32.2

The words, “Mine hour is not yet come,” point to the fact that every act of Christ's life on earth was in fulfillment of the plan that had existed from the days of eternity. Before He came to earth, the plan lay out before Him, perfect in all its details. But as He walked among men, He was guided, step by step, by the Father's will. He did not hesitate to act at the appointed time. With the same submission He waited until the time had come. 365D 32.3

In saying to Mary that His hour had not yet come, Jesus was replying to her unspoken thought,—to the expectation she cherished in common with her people. She hoped that He would reveal Himself as the Messiah, and take the throne of Israel. But the time had not come. Not as a King, but as “a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” had Jesus accepted the lot of humanity. 365D 32.4

But though Mary had not a right conception of Christ's mission, she trusted Him implicitly. To this faith Jesus responded. It was to honor Mary's trust, and to strengthen the faith of His disciples, that the first miracle was performed. The disciples were to encounter many and great temptations to unbelief. To them the prophecies had made it clear beyond all controversy that Jesus was the Messiah. They looked for the religious leaders to receive Him with confidence even greater than their own. They declared among the people the wonderful works of Christ and their own confidence in His mission, but they were amazed and bitterly disappointed by the unbelief, the deep-seated prejudice, and the enmity to Jesus, displayed by the priests and rabbis. The Saviour's early miracles strengthened the disciples to stand against this opposition. 365D 32.5

Christ is pleased with His followers when they show that, though human, they are partakers of the divine nature. They are not statues, but living men and women. Their hearts, refreshed by the dews of divine grace, open and expand to the Sun of Righteousness. The light that shines upon them they reflect upon others in works that are luminous with the love of Christ. 365D 32.6