January 19th, 2025 John 2:1-11 See Jesus in the Simple Things of Life
When a television series is first started, the creators want to make sure that the first episode grabs people’s attention, otherwise people will tune out and not watch anymore.
When you are interviewing for a job, the first impression is very important.
You would think that if Jesus were to plan His first miracle, He’d want to start with the resurrection of Lazarus perhaps. But instead, He turns water into wine at a wedding, in a small little rinky dink town, and most of the people at the wedding don’t even realize what He did! But isn’t that how God still works yet today? His miracles are often times hidden under things that seem to be chance or coincidence or everyday occurrences that we take for granted.
Most of the time people don’t even realize what He has done. Maybe that’s the problem with so many people’s “faith” today, is that they seek God in the big and flashy miracles, while failing to see the hidden ones that happen every day.
Things were changing for Mary. She had to realize it. I can’t help but think they talked about it - who Jesus was and what He had come to do. Her personal time with Jesus was over. She didn’t get to have Jesus to herself anymore. He had just gathered His disciples right prior to this text. And that’s an interesting thing to think about in and of itself.
Imagine if your son came home from college and brought 12 young men with him, and they all claimed to be his disciples. This would seem odd, unless you were the mother of Jesus. Mary knew it was time for His public ministry to begin. But Mary wasn’t ready to let go.
Mary was at the wedding before Jesus got there. The family had run into a problem, the wine had run out. Now, it’s not a major problem. It’s not like someone was dying. But it would have been an embarrassment to the bride and groom. Hospitality is very important in eastern countries. Maybe they weren’t very well to do. Maybe they invited too many people. Maybe some people had too much to drink? Who knows? But the problem was there. Mary sees what is happening and tells Jesus about it. She knows what He is capable of doing. But Mary is overstepping her bounds a little bit. Mary, was asking Jesus to perform a miracle for this young couple. And Jesus somewhat rebukes her for overstepping her bounds. He says to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not come yet.” Doesn’t that address, “Woman,” kind of strike you? She was trying to use her influence as mother to try and get Him to do something as the Messiah. Jesus has to put some distance between Himself and her, difficult for her as it may be. He has to address her this way as a reminder that she won’t get any preferential treatment in His kingdom when it comes to His office as Christ.
That address and response makes Mary’s response all the more interesting. Even when He corrects her, she still seems undaunted. His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary isn’t so bold as to tell Jesus WHAT to do. She simply presents Jesus with the problem. It is as if she knows the nature of Jesus so well, she knows that He’ll do something for them.
Think about how many times Mary would have seen her child take care of others and be concerned for people. She KNEW His heart. She was confident He would do what was needed. So, she told the servants to do whatever He said. She had confidence that He would work it out.
Isn’t this a great example for us of how our prayers should be and our faith should be? Know the heart of Jesus. He tells you how it is. He is gentle and humble. (Matthew 11:29) Say, “Jesus, I’m having a problem here. I know you want to help. I know you care deeply about me. This is what the problem is. I know you can figure it out. I’m willing to do whatever you tell me to do. Have at it.” Trust that He knows what He’s doing and He can work it out and He will work it out for your good. He wants to give you what’s best. But if your prayers are only filled with doubt and suspicion, and if when you are praying you really don’t think He wants to help, then what kind of a prayer is that? It’s like James said, “let him ask in faith, without doubting, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Now remember, Jesus didn’t have to do this. Jesus could have given them just a little bit of wine. Instead, Jesus decided to give them at least 120 gallons of wine, and He gave them the best kind of wine as well. How many times does God do this with us? He gives us better than we deserve. He gives to us generously and works through these gifts to produce joy and thankfulness in us.
When I think of all of the sins I’ve committed, and all of the stupid and foolish things I’ve done, yet here I am with more than I could have ever imagined. It does lead me to say, “Who am I, that you have been so good to me?” Someone once asked, “If God gave you everything today that you thanked Him for yesterday, how much would you have?”
God wants us to reflect on His goodness, grace and mercy. He gives us more than we deserve and allows us the freedom to use those gifts responsibly or irresponsibly. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
Think also about the meaning of this miracle. Jesus was able to take an ordinary thing like water and turn it into powerful and flavorful wine. He was able to change a potentially embarrassing and shameful situation that would have ended a good night quickly and turn it into a truly joyous and lasting event.
He did this on a much grander scale through the cross. We who should have no reason to stand before God, but to hide in shame over our sins, He was able to change this whole situation through His death on the cross. TThrough our baptism and through faith in Jesus we look forward to it because of how He died for our sins! He is able to take the eating of simple bread and wine and turn it into a powerful thing. We receive the body and blood of the Lord for the forgiveness of our sins. Through baptism He changes us from being sinful and worthless to holy and precious children of God in His eyes!
If you were Mary, wouldn’t you have been tempted to shout out, “My son did this! He saved the party!” Wouldn’t you have thought that Jesus would have called everyone around Him as He waved His hand over the water and said, “Watch this!” But this all happens so quietly. Why didn’t Jesus at least draw more attention to this miracle so that all the people there KNEW what He had done? Who knows? Was Jesus more concerned about their reputation than He was His own? Isn’t that what He did on the cross as well?
And this is why God gives us so many gifts, so that we learn to rely on Him and come to Him. It might seem small and trivial to come to Jesus for a little bit of extra wine at a party. How much more would he be willing and able to take care of the bigger issues as well.
We are willing to confess that Jesus has conquered death. We trust Him that He has paid for our sins and bought our salvation. Yet we fail to come to Him for the seemingly smaller miracles. We don’t think prayer will really do much good. But if Jesus was willing and able to do this for a little couple in Cana, and if Jesus commands us to “come to Him” about anything that is wearying us, then why don’t we?
If you trust God with your salvation, then why not trust what He has to say about our everyday lives? Why not come to Him first when things are going south? Even when He seems to be saying “no,” don’t let that stop you. It didn’t stop Mary. She knew Jesus cared. Don’t we know this too? Isn’t it obvious? We know that He is the giver of all good things. He wants you to see Him at the center of the wedding. He wants you to see Him as the maker of wine. He wants you to trust Him to provide, and to come to Him in need - every day!
So how are you going to live your life? Isn’t that one of the main reasons so many in America go astray? Isn’t that why some have left the fellowship of the church? They lose sight of the giver! Do YOU see how generous and giving He truly is. We see through the eyes of faith what happens behind the scenes. Keep them open! Live in appreciation to the giver of those gifts, and don’t hesitate to come to Him for help, no matter what the situation. Amen.