John 2:1-5
“Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They’re just about out of wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.’ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, ‘Whatever he tells you, do it.’”
“ The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mothers was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Dear woman, that’s not our problem,’ Jesus relied. ‘My time has not yet come.’ But his mother told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ ”
This was the big day for the bridal couple and their parents. How surprised they would be to know their insignificance. The Eternal One was in their midst.
Again, God acts through the ordinary. It must have been a rip-roaring celebration because they ran out of wine, a loss of face. Jesus’ mother, sensitive to the host’s potential embarrassment, tells Jesus. She didn’t even ask. She just stated the need and left it with him.
The Message says Jesus responded by saying, “Don’t push me.” We mothers of the world sympathize with Mary’s desire to elevate her son. (She was human too!) After the reproof she repents her desire to see her son glorified and tells the servant’s to, “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary’s command is meant for us also.
Lord, I often resist your still small voice. Change my heart so I may not hesitate to do whatever you tell me.
John 1:40-42
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, ‘We’ve found the Messiah’ (that is, ‘Christ’). He immediately led him to Jesus.”
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, ‘We have found the Messia’ (which means ‘Christ’). Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus.”
Andrew was an essential part of God’s plan to launch Jesus’ earthly ministry. His spiritual hunger drew him to John the Baptist. He stepped away from John, for whom he must have felt affection and loyalty, to follow Jesus. His actions illustrate John’s purpose. Then he went to get his brother.
Andrew was hungry and humble. He held his self in check. He was not a blunderbuss like Peter nor was he an orator like thundering John. Perhaps he was the servant backbone of the apostles and the early church, working faithfully behind the scenes.
Lord, I feel most affinity for this kind of service. Thank you for the opportunities you have given me to serve. Please, may there be more. Let me not become an invalid. Give me enthusiasm for the blogging you have called me to. I need help.
John 1:32-35
“John clinched his witness with this: ‘I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.’”
“Then John testified, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’”
Imagine the people around John that day, doing all the things done in a crowd: greeting, eating, coming and going, listening and talking. How many caught the significance of the moment, saw their Messiah in the human Jesus? God works in profound ways right under our noses.
Given the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus’ and John’s mothers, it seems likely they knew of each other. Or perhaps their mothers wisely kept silent allowing the Holy Spirit primacy in directing their lives. If so, did John and Jesus know each other by sight or was their relationship discovered after placing of the Spirit's seal in the form of a dove? Scripture is silent about these details. They would only cloud the essential truths. But they were a part of the ordinary life the Spirit worked in. He does the same today, right under our noses.
Lord, I fear I’m missing the work you do right under my nose. Open my eyes to the ways you call me to work alongside. Give me wisdom in what life details I pass down to our children. Help me celebrate ordinary life, because you are at work there.
John 1:26-17
“John answered, ‘I only baptize using water. A person you don’t recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I’m not even worthy to hold his coat for him.’”
“John told them, ‘I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be he slave and untie the straps of his sandal.’”
God himself was standing amid the crowd and the Pharisees, Israel’s righteous ones, didn’t recognize him. Clearly, keeping rules do not equate to knowing God. Am I guilty of this too? Have I been oblivious to God’s presence and actions though they occurred in the immediate vicinity? Probably.
Lord, forgive my self-absorption. Let me be ever sensitive to your work, the tyranny of my life’s urgent bowed down before your eternal purposes. I want to work along side you. Show me how. Keep me oriented to your presence in the crowd.
John 1:19-23
“When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: ‘I am not the Messiah.’ They pressed him, ‘Who, then? Elijah?’ ‘I am not.’ ‘The Prophet?’ ‘No.’ Exasperated, they said, ‘Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself.’ ‘I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.’”
“This was John’s testimony when the Hewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, ‘Who are you?’ He came right out and said, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ ‘Well then, who are you?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No’ he replied ‘Are you the Prophet we are expecting?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?’ John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’””
I tend to minimize John as he did himself. Yet Jesus makes his status clear. “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11) According to the Pharisees in these verses he was a man that defied description. He described himself as, “thunder in the desert.” He must have been a powerful individual, the kind that are made, not born. How had life prepared him for this moment? Someday we will get to find out. I must remember everyone has a story. No one is just, ‘someone.’ The Lord loves each and I must follow.
Lord, keep me from the snap judgements I was bred to. Let me see people as you do. Let me see the story behind their eyes and react with your love and compassion.
John 1:16-18
“We all live off his generous abundance, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding— all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.”
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
Lord, I’ve always wanted to know your character. After learning of your attributes, I find it all comes down to love. I am amazed to find it so simple! Jesus, thank you for revealing the exuberance of the Father’s love and understanding. Otherwise, I’d still see him as stern, authoritarian and distant. My heart bursts with gratitude. You split the veil so I see you. You satisfy everything I yearn for. In you I find myself actualized, complete, at peace. Praise for your faithfulness in leading me to this understanding. Spirit guide me to share it with others.
John 1:14
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
Lord, help me to “move into the neighborhood,” too. Let me do the same for others as you do for me. May I be a vessel of your glory. Give me a generous spirit. Make me authentic, true from start to finish.
John 1:10
“He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice.”
“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.”
Lord, you convict me with these verbs, notice and recognize. May I ever recognize your presence and work in the world. May I always notice people, the state of their hearts and minds, not be consumed by my own agenda and needs. Give me grace to communicate my noticing in a way that shouts of you, of hope and love, even when I am sallow with illness. I ask this in your name, Lord Jesus, and for your sake. Amen.
John 1:4-5
“What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.”
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
This promised victory should be seared into the brain of all believers. Its certainty should fill each day. The light will triumph though evil wins along the way. Therefore, do not fear. How often our emotional reaction to evil sets us up for failure, allowing Satan to slip in and destroy our resolve. We must be saturated with certainty of victory. God trains this into us through everyday life. Our faith muscles grow strong, and we are ready to face the big assault without fear. We win, live or die.
Lord, thank you for this assurance. I long to see it happen now on earth. Fill me with the assurance of victory. Make me a valiant soldier in your service. By your power I will win, live or die.
Hebrews 12:16
“Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.”
“Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.”
Ouch! What blessing am I sacrificing on the altar of food? How would God use me differently if not saddled by an extra 60 pounds? Eating to satisfy my food lust is wrong and will cost me. I must change.
Lord, I cannot do this alone. Help me!
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”
Jesus is my champion! He will lead me to victory. I need to strip down to keep up with him. He will show me how to finish the race of life.
Lord Jesus, keep my eyes on you. Help me to strip down, burn up spiritual fat and step away from the sin that leaches energy from my soul. Specifically, help me loose weight so I can place more energy and mobility at your service.
Hebrews 10:19-21
“So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.”
“And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”
I love the metaphor; the curtain is Christ’s body. Physical bodies are a mass of swirling particles of energy held together by the laws of physics (God’s power). Our new eternal bodies will be capable of walking through this energy just as Christ’s resurrected body walked through a locked door into a room holding his disciples. (John 20:19) The physical world is a mirage. Looking through it we glimpse true reality, the eternal. This is faith, looking through what we see, trusting in what we see through a darkened mirror. Walking through the curtain of his physical body and blood (bread and wine) is the narrow gate through which all must enter into the presence of our beautiful, loving, eternal God.
Lord, you are deep and wide beyond my imagining. Thank you for reaching out to us, to me. Thank you for giving me this vision of your body, a portal into a new life. I gladly walk through it and trust in the future you have planned for me. I love you.