Our dear friend Anna from Brazil shared some thoughts about the first miracle of Jesus recently. Anna has a way of teaching that makes hearers continue to ponder God’s lessons long after the meeting has concluded.
A realization I reached regarding Jesus turning water into wine at Cana may already be common understanding, but I can’t seem to quit thinking about it. Here’s the thought: If it had not been for Mary, this would not have been the first miracle of Jesus.
Even the Son of God had seasons of life. He was born in Bethlehem and grew up as an obedient child in the small town of Nazareth. “And the Child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:40) He worked with His father Joseph until He was around thirty years old then was baptized by John the Baptist. Aside from His miraculous conception, no miracles, signs, or wonders were attributed to the carpenter’s son. Jesus was seen as one living an ordinary life.
Luke tells us that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit after His baptism and after He returned from forty days of fasting in the wilderness, He was full of power. Mother Mary must have noticed a change in her Son. No one knew Jesus on earth better than His mother, who over the years, treasured many things in her heart… including an old man saying: “This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.” (Luke 2:34)
Mary understood that the hosts of the wedding feast would be totally humiliated when the guests learned there was no more wine. Susan and I were responsible for Kinsey’s and Jordan’s wedding. If the director came to us as dinner was being served and said, “I am so sorry, but we miscalculated… only half your guests are going to get to eat,” we might have fainted. In the culture of Jesus’ day, running out of wine was worse.
But her Son did not ‘own’ this problem. When Mary asked Him to get involved, He replied: “What does this have to do with Me? It is not yet My time.” In other words, ‘Mother, this is none of My business. God has plans for Me reveal His power, but this is not the moment.’
Mary would not be dissuaded; she absolutely could not bear the thought of her friends entering a disaster that would shame them for the rest of their lives. She ordered the servants: “Do whatever He tells you.” Did she then give a ‘mother’s look’ to her Son?
So Jesus used water and six huge water pots to produce over one hundred gallons of the finest wine ever tasted on earth. “Who serves the best wine last?” asked the master of the banquet after taking a sip. God let His Son first reveal His power while rescuing parents at a wedding feast. What a story!
So here’s a question for those of us who follow Jesus today: How many people will Jesus rescue and bless if I boldly intercede on their behalf like Mary did at the Cana wedding?
Is the Father waiting for us to knock on His door with the audacity of Mary? Do we know the Son well enough realize nothing is impossible for Him? Do we love people enough to ask and seek and knock? I think I hear Jesus whisper: ‘The sky’s the limit!’
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:5-10