It was a festive occasion. Not unlike today, weddings were marked with eating and dancing, an abundance of laughter, chatter, wine and sweet smelling flowers. The guests were not a few, as many were invited to celebrate this significant occasion. You can almost hear the exchanges of stories taking place through the crowd, and the laughter growing with each little secret someone knew about the bride or groom. Jesus was there. It would be the first public event He and His disciples attended together. Jesus' mother was there as well. Perhaps in some official capacity, since it was she who came to Jesus with the embarrassing dilemma. "They have run out of wine," she whispered in His ear, not wanting to make it public knowledge. She came to Him in a situation for which she had no answer. What she was expecting, I cannot say, because He had never performed a miracle before this time. But Mary knew Jesus, she trusted Him and trusted His judgement. She knew she could always rely on Him. His response was not one of irritation toward His mother, but one that implies a mutual understanding. "Why are you getting me involved? My time has not yet come"
There are several points here worth noting:
1] Mary never asked Jesus to perform a miracle: she merely presented a need.
2] Mary counted on WHO Jesus was, not on what He did, because Jesus had never performed a miracle before this occasion.
3] It appears that Jesus had some sense of a previously ordained schedule, for He stated that His time had not yet come. Perhaps the Father hadn't given Him the go-ahead as yet, perhaps His go-ahead came through Mary, but as of that moment, it seems this was not in the plan.
4] Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. She did not outline or even suggest what that was to be. Even if this were some kind of test of faith, Mary gave herself up to "whatever" "whatever" you decide, Jesus, is good enough. You see, that kind of faith, that kind of trust, Jesus finds very difficult to deny, even to the point of rearranging His schedule to accommodate such a request. When Jesus told them to fill the empty wine jars with water, and then go and pour it out to the guests who had run out of wine, what do you suppose those servants were thinking? A pretty sure guess would not be wine coming out of those huge jars. They were just obedient; which also took great courage and a measure of trust. Not in Jesus however, because they didn't know Him, but in Mary, the one who represented Him.[Which is material for a whole different blog] The one who comes to Jesus and presents his need without also telling Him what He ought to do about the situation is taking an extraordinary leap of faith, for few of us do that; then to put ones confidence in Who He is, rather than what He can do for me, makes that prayer the kind He wants to honor, even in miraculous ways.
The more I pursue having a relationship with Jesus; actually bringing Him into the right now of my life, making Him ever present, the more I am willing to accept whatever. Whatever He decides, whatever He wants will always be the right choice. It's the knowing of what kind of Father Jesus is, that causes us to reach out our hand to meet His outstretched hand, and makes "whatever" a place of rest.
Your assignment for this week; if you choose to accept it is:
List 5 ways to build a more meaningful relationship with Jesus, and each day apply one of them. Let me suggest that the 1st one be to make Him present. Not way off in the great beyond, but right there, with you, right now.
Here are a few text that may suggest some ideas for you.
1. Hebrews 4:7, last part. - responding
2. 1st Peter 5:6 - humble
3. Isaiah 55:1,2 - listen
4.Psalms 119:105 - His words
5. Mathew 5:14-16- light
6. Philippians 4:4 - rejoice
7. Philippians 4:6-7 - prayer
8. Philippians 4:8 - thinking
There are several points here worth noting:
1] Mary never asked Jesus to perform a miracle: she merely presented a need.
2] Mary counted on WHO Jesus was, not on what He did, because Jesus had never performed a miracle before this occasion.
3] It appears that Jesus had some sense of a previously ordained schedule, for He stated that His time had not yet come. Perhaps the Father hadn't given Him the go-ahead as yet, perhaps His go-ahead came through Mary, but as of that moment, it seems this was not in the plan.
4] Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. She did not outline or even suggest what that was to be. Even if this were some kind of test of faith, Mary gave herself up to "whatever" "whatever" you decide, Jesus, is good enough. You see, that kind of faith, that kind of trust, Jesus finds very difficult to deny, even to the point of rearranging His schedule to accommodate such a request. When Jesus told them to fill the empty wine jars with water, and then go and pour it out to the guests who had run out of wine, what do you suppose those servants were thinking? A pretty sure guess would not be wine coming out of those huge jars. They were just obedient; which also took great courage and a measure of trust. Not in Jesus however, because they didn't know Him, but in Mary, the one who represented Him.[Which is material for a whole different blog] The one who comes to Jesus and presents his need without also telling Him what He ought to do about the situation is taking an extraordinary leap of faith, for few of us do that; then to put ones confidence in Who He is, rather than what He can do for me, makes that prayer the kind He wants to honor, even in miraculous ways.
The more I pursue having a relationship with Jesus; actually bringing Him into the right now of my life, making Him ever present, the more I am willing to accept whatever. Whatever He decides, whatever He wants will always be the right choice. It's the knowing of what kind of Father Jesus is, that causes us to reach out our hand to meet His outstretched hand, and makes "whatever" a place of rest.
Your assignment for this week; if you choose to accept it is:
List 5 ways to build a more meaningful relationship with Jesus, and each day apply one of them. Let me suggest that the 1st one be to make Him present. Not way off in the great beyond, but right there, with you, right now.
Here are a few text that may suggest some ideas for you.
1. Hebrews 4:7, last part. - responding
2. 1st Peter 5:6 - humble
3. Isaiah 55:1,2 - listen
4.Psalms 119:105 - His words
5. Mathew 5:14-16- light
6. Philippians 4:4 - rejoice
7. Philippians 4:6-7 - prayer
8. Philippians 4:8 - thinking
Meet me again next week.
Your comments and thoughts are always welcome
copyright Dec. 28, 2013
Your comments and thoughts are always welcome
copyright Dec. 28, 2013
I like the idea of presenting my need to God without trying to control how He meets it!
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