when you need a miracle...
It was their wedding day. The day they had spent months planning out. Honestly, she had spent the majority of her life thinking about this very day. Planning it out with her great imagination after every wedding she attended. As a little girl, she would swell with excitement when she saw a bride, anticipating what that must feel like. She couldn't wait to be the one in the dress, all eyes on her. She couldn't wait to stand at the alter with the man of her dreams, whoever he might be, and promise her life to him. She loved the idea of love. Of belonging to someone. And today was her day, their day. Their wedding day.
It was hard to believe the day had already arrived as it seemed like it was just yesterday she was making her guest list. She had given much thought to who she would invite. Who should be there to celebrate this momentous occasion with she and her beloved? She wrote down name after name after name. They poured from the tip of her pen as if they were stored in the ink. It was so easy, too easy. Then again, she was pretty excited. The more the better, she thought. And as she made her way down the list, his name came to mind. She knew he needed to be there. She wanted him there. And so she wrote his name on her guest list.
Jesus.
"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." - John 2:1-2
He showed up with the rest of her guests just as she was hoping. Of course, it was her wedding day, so she was pretty busy. She didn't have the chance to visit with everyone as she would have liked to, but she could tell they were having a good time. So was she. Everything, as far as she knew, was going according to plan. All of the little details had come together so beautifully. It was exactly like she had imagined. And as the guests celebrated, as they broke bread and enjoyed a meal, the wine began to run out. She had no idea. It was her wedding day, and everyone vowed to make sure she wasn't aware of the mishaps that might occur. She had worked hard on this day, and they were determined she would enjoy it. But this was a problem. This was going to cause her some stress if she knew. And how could they hide that? The wine jars were empty, people were still thirsty, and the wedding was far from over.
"When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” - John 2:3-5
When Mary caught wind of what was going on, she knew exactly what to do. Go to Jesus. He always had a solution. He was, he is, the solution. And sure enough, in true Jesus fashion, he did the most unthinkable, unexpected thing.
"Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” - John 2:6-10
In the back with the servants, the lowliest of lowly, Jesus showed his power in true humility. He didn't run up on stage with a bucket of water for all to witness his first miracle. He stood with the serving staff, the ones whose feet were tired from working, who were there to wait on others rather than enjoy the celebration, and he gave them simple instructions. Fill the jar with water. Little did they realize, they were obediently following the instructions of the one who would later refer to himself as the Living Water. And as each drop entered the bucket, they had no idea what to expect. They certainly didn't expect it to turn into wine. Good wine, at that. But that's how Jesus works. Never as expected, always more than we can imagine. And as the master of the banquet tasted the best wine, and as Jesus saved the happy couple from stress and embarrassment, no one but the servants knew of the miracle had taken place that evening all because Jesus was invited.
And so we ask Jesus into our lives, into our personal spaces, because he always shows up to the places where he is invited. He wants to be there. Big moments, little moments, celebrations, heartaches, he desires to attend them all. We go to him because we know he is the solution. When problems arise, we remember he is a miracle maker. That he doesn't always work as we expect or think, but that his ways are higher. And, we remember that he cares. He cares about everything. Small things, seemingly insignificant things, the things that we may never even know about, Jesus is aware and he cares. That's why he came. To be with us, to help us, to love us, and to fellowship with us.
Thank you, Jesus, for caring about us!
It was hard to believe the day had already arrived as it seemed like it was just yesterday she was making her guest list. She had given much thought to who she would invite. Who should be there to celebrate this momentous occasion with she and her beloved? She wrote down name after name after name. They poured from the tip of her pen as if they were stored in the ink. It was so easy, too easy. Then again, she was pretty excited. The more the better, she thought. And as she made her way down the list, his name came to mind. She knew he needed to be there. She wanted him there. And so she wrote his name on her guest list.
Jesus.
"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." - John 2:1-2
He showed up with the rest of her guests just as she was hoping. Of course, it was her wedding day, so she was pretty busy. She didn't have the chance to visit with everyone as she would have liked to, but she could tell they were having a good time. So was she. Everything, as far as she knew, was going according to plan. All of the little details had come together so beautifully. It was exactly like she had imagined. And as the guests celebrated, as they broke bread and enjoyed a meal, the wine began to run out. She had no idea. It was her wedding day, and everyone vowed to make sure she wasn't aware of the mishaps that might occur. She had worked hard on this day, and they were determined she would enjoy it. But this was a problem. This was going to cause her some stress if she knew. And how could they hide that? The wine jars were empty, people were still thirsty, and the wedding was far from over.
"When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” - John 2:3-5
When Mary caught wind of what was going on, she knew exactly what to do. Go to Jesus. He always had a solution. He was, he is, the solution. And sure enough, in true Jesus fashion, he did the most unthinkable, unexpected thing.
"Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” - John 2:6-10
In the back with the servants, the lowliest of lowly, Jesus showed his power in true humility. He didn't run up on stage with a bucket of water for all to witness his first miracle. He stood with the serving staff, the ones whose feet were tired from working, who were there to wait on others rather than enjoy the celebration, and he gave them simple instructions. Fill the jar with water. Little did they realize, they were obediently following the instructions of the one who would later refer to himself as the Living Water. And as each drop entered the bucket, they had no idea what to expect. They certainly didn't expect it to turn into wine. Good wine, at that. But that's how Jesus works. Never as expected, always more than we can imagine. And as the master of the banquet tasted the best wine, and as Jesus saved the happy couple from stress and embarrassment, no one but the servants knew of the miracle had taken place that evening all because Jesus was invited.
And so we ask Jesus into our lives, into our personal spaces, because he always shows up to the places where he is invited. He wants to be there. Big moments, little moments, celebrations, heartaches, he desires to attend them all. We go to him because we know he is the solution. When problems arise, we remember he is a miracle maker. That he doesn't always work as we expect or think, but that his ways are higher. And, we remember that he cares. He cares about everything. Small things, seemingly insignificant things, the things that we may never even know about, Jesus is aware and he cares. That's why he came. To be with us, to help us, to love us, and to fellowship with us.
Thank you, Jesus, for caring about us!
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