John 2:9-10 — When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

The world has a great trick for hooking big fish. It’s called “bait and switch”. The chances are you’ve run into this, even though it’s illegal in a lot of places. A business offers a really great deal — and when you seek to take it up, the deal is not available but there just happens to be a more expensive item on offer.
Even when it’s not a fraud, the world will often provide you with a great initial deal to hook you, and then cut the service and increase the cost later (think Cable TV!). The ruler of the feast was well aware of this when he teased the bridegroom of having saved the best wine until last.
The “ruler” was saying more, much more, than he really knew. Because saving the best until last is really at the heart of who Jesus is. His fishermen disciples would get to know this! More than once they would go fishing and catch nothing, only for Jesus to come along at the last and fill their nets. If, like me, you sometimes get discouraged witnessing you might want to remember that.
When the ruler of the feast said “but thou hast kept the good wine until now” he was also saying “wow, this is the best wine ever!”. That’s a fact. I’m reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well, and Jesus’s discussion with her about living water versus well water. Jesus’s living water is better than any wine could be. Then, also, there is that wine (or fruit juice for some of us …) that we share in memory of His sacrifice. His blood is a wine that is more powerful, and yet less harmful, than any wine squeezed out of grapes could be.
One other aspect of this idea of “the best of the best being saved to the last” occurred to me. I live in the sure and certain hope if the resurrection and the life to come. Now I have a pretty good life — but it has its ups and downs. I know the life to come, at the last, will be the best of all possible lives. It will be all ups and no downs! Somehow, I know that the wine Jesus made and the ruler relished was like that. All joy, and no hangovers. I know that with a Jesus, the best is yet to come …