Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:6-10
Did you ever read this story and ask the question...why? Why waste a miracle on changing the beverage menu? Why do it and then want everyone to keep quiet about it? I mean, what did it accomplish for Kingdom purposes? I know many churches and religious circles don't give this miracle a lot of pulpit time, maybe because it mentions the "W" word, and the "W" word contains some of the "A" word. But I think Jesus is trying to communicate something deeper to us here. Beyond the aged grape juice and dancing is a vital message directed to each of his children.
Even as a little boy, I worried about what I was going to be when I grew up. It was something that I constantly thought about and feared. You would think that a child who's thinking about his future so much would have had no problem figuring things out when the time actually came to choose a career path. But I did. While many of my friends were figuring out whether or not to bring the mini-fridge to the dorm, I was contemplating, "Waiter or lawn care?" without having a passion for either. At around job #13 I surrendered my life to Christ and decided to ask for help. I emptied my cup and asked him to fill it with something better.
When we give our lives to Christ, He fills us with something better, something bigger, and it should leave others around us wondering how it happened.
The few people that were in on what was going on with the newfound wine were also let in on something else, something more profound. They probably didn't fully get it in the moment but as they saddled their donkeys and mules, I bet it hit them. The truth that God cares about the small details of our lives. To run out of food and drink at a wedding ceremony, especially a Jewish wedding ceremony, is embarrassing. Jesus is covering for the groom and his parents. He's showing his disciples that God cares about the little things in our lives. The God who's bigger than life is showing us that He's intricately involved in our tiny world. If we'll just invite him into them. If we'll just give him the chance. If we'll just empty ourselves of all that we think is working, of all that we think is good, fair, right, wrong, and allow him to replace it with something better.
Another interesting detail of Jesus turning the water into wine is the people who were let in on the miracle. Besides the disciples and Jesus' mother, the servants were the only other people who knew of the miracle. Jesus actually used them to help make the miracle happen. Imagine being a servant. You've been waiting on people hand and foot your whole life. You're pretty much at the bottom of the social barrel, and you're told to do this ridiculous task by this guy who isn't your master. But as you pull the lever to release what you know will come out, a splash of red hits your thumb and the taste is like nothing you've ever tasted. Imagine what that did for those servants.
Furthermore, Jesus told them not to tell anyone; it was just for them to know. My kids love it when I'm about to tell one of them a secret. Their faces light up, and they turn their attention from whatever it was on, and they whisper back to me, "Dad, I'm ready, what is it?" Those servants had a special connection with Jesus from that moment on, and so do all who believe that God is not a respecter of persons. He'll give anyone a refill who asks, especially those who've reached the bottom of their glasses.
What area of your life have you refused to empty? What do you need to pour out so there's room for the new? God wants all of us, every part of our lives. Do you believe that God cares about the details of your life? Or do you believe that you're number 5,400,221? Maybe you don't believe that God can turn you into something better, that He can turn your situation around. You're right - if you believe that what you can do and offer is the best, if you're living like everything hinges on you.
Sometimes what God calls us to do seems totally far-fetched and impossible. But we have to remember that our God isn't limited to four dimensions as we are. He's omni- dimensional, and His wisdom is slightly higher than ours (giggles and chuckles). We have to learn to let go of what we think we know, along with our self-made parameters, and allow God to be God. Over and over in the Scriptures we see Jesus, who is a perfect representation of God, meeting individual needs - cutting through the crowds to get to that one hurting person. Essentially, God, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, made a way for us to personally come in contact with Him.
May we come to the place where we believe that without Him we're just a stone jar filled with water. And then may we make the all-important decision of pulling the lever.
Surrender never tasted sweeter. Cheers.
Did you ever read this story and ask the question...why? Why waste a miracle on changing the beverage menu? Why do it and then want everyone to keep quiet about it? I mean, what did it accomplish for Kingdom purposes? I know many churches and religious circles don't give this miracle a lot of pulpit time, maybe because it mentions the "W" word, and the "W" word contains some of the "A" word. But I think Jesus is trying to communicate something deeper to us here. Beyond the aged grape juice and dancing is a vital message directed to each of his children.
Even as a little boy, I worried about what I was going to be when I grew up. It was something that I constantly thought about and feared. You would think that a child who's thinking about his future so much would have had no problem figuring things out when the time actually came to choose a career path. But I did. While many of my friends were figuring out whether or not to bring the mini-fridge to the dorm, I was contemplating, "Waiter or lawn care?" without having a passion for either. At around job #13 I surrendered my life to Christ and decided to ask for help. I emptied my cup and asked him to fill it with something better.
When we give our lives to Christ, He fills us with something better, something bigger, and it should leave others around us wondering how it happened.
The few people that were in on what was going on with the newfound wine were also let in on something else, something more profound. They probably didn't fully get it in the moment but as they saddled their donkeys and mules, I bet it hit them. The truth that God cares about the small details of our lives. To run out of food and drink at a wedding ceremony, especially a Jewish wedding ceremony, is embarrassing. Jesus is covering for the groom and his parents. He's showing his disciples that God cares about the little things in our lives. The God who's bigger than life is showing us that He's intricately involved in our tiny world. If we'll just invite him into them. If we'll just give him the chance. If we'll just empty ourselves of all that we think is working, of all that we think is good, fair, right, wrong, and allow him to replace it with something better.
Another interesting detail of Jesus turning the water into wine is the people who were let in on the miracle. Besides the disciples and Jesus' mother, the servants were the only other people who knew of the miracle. Jesus actually used them to help make the miracle happen. Imagine being a servant. You've been waiting on people hand and foot your whole life. You're pretty much at the bottom of the social barrel, and you're told to do this ridiculous task by this guy who isn't your master. But as you pull the lever to release what you know will come out, a splash of red hits your thumb and the taste is like nothing you've ever tasted. Imagine what that did for those servants.
Furthermore, Jesus told them not to tell anyone; it was just for them to know. My kids love it when I'm about to tell one of them a secret. Their faces light up, and they turn their attention from whatever it was on, and they whisper back to me, "Dad, I'm ready, what is it?" Those servants had a special connection with Jesus from that moment on, and so do all who believe that God is not a respecter of persons. He'll give anyone a refill who asks, especially those who've reached the bottom of their glasses.
What area of your life have you refused to empty? What do you need to pour out so there's room for the new? God wants all of us, every part of our lives. Do you believe that God cares about the details of your life? Or do you believe that you're number 5,400,221? Maybe you don't believe that God can turn you into something better, that He can turn your situation around. You're right - if you believe that what you can do and offer is the best, if you're living like everything hinges on you.
Sometimes what God calls us to do seems totally far-fetched and impossible. But we have to remember that our God isn't limited to four dimensions as we are. He's omni- dimensional, and His wisdom is slightly higher than ours (giggles and chuckles). We have to learn to let go of what we think we know, along with our self-made parameters, and allow God to be God. Over and over in the Scriptures we see Jesus, who is a perfect representation of God, meeting individual needs - cutting through the crowds to get to that one hurting person. Essentially, God, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, made a way for us to personally come in contact with Him.
May we come to the place where we believe that without Him we're just a stone jar filled with water. And then may we make the all-important decision of pulling the lever.
Surrender never tasted sweeter. Cheers.
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