Since the latest release of Southeast “Unleashed” Magazine, several members of the church have been sending notes of gratitude and random acts of
kindness. Two individuals recently gave a very generous donation to support (what I consider) my ministry. After praying about how God can continue to grow and instill more fellowship opportunities with these young men, we decided to invest into a new Blackstone grill. Not only can we cook more pancakes to feed hungry teens, but we can give them an opportunity to cook for others. This came at a good time knowing our griddle of 10 years was on its last leg. Adding up how many pancakes we’ve made through the years, I’m willing to bet this old griddle cranked out well over 4,000 flapjacks.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus first miracle was to turn water into wine at a wedding. It’s interesting to note what Jesus used to provide this miracle and whom was willing to help. Jesus used these large, stone water jars. These jars to the Jewish people, were an ordinary, everyday use as they would cleanse their hands for purification. Yet, to Jesus, he saw these ordinary jars as an opportunity to perform a sign; and to those who witnessed, they could see how good God is—that He can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary.
When Jesus’ mother, Mary, came to Jesus for help, Jesus felt the need for the Bride and Groom to celebrate their union. He understood the wine had run out, so he looked to those ordinary six stone water jars as an opportunity to perform his first sign.
The disciples were never mentioned in the Gospel of John to have helped Jesus. It does mention that Jesus looked to the servants at this wedding and instructed them to fill the jars with water. Not provided in the text is what the servants or the disciples were thinking. I feel certain Jesus was judged if not thought of as crazy among those witnessing. Nonetheless, these servants, driven by the desperation to please the bride and groom, did as Jesus commanded—they filled the jars to the brim with water. To make this situation even more uncomfortable, Jesus asked a servant to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. This master of the feast tasted the water now become wine and called to the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
I love that hidden in this dialogue of vs 9, it reads… “when the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew)”. Surely the wedding was one to remember for the ages. Surely the wedding party danced, laughed, and celebrated with joy. Yet, the only ones who knew where this wonderful wine had come from, was Mary, the servants, and the disciples. More than knowing where it had come from... they knew who it had come from. Jesus. And closing this wonderful sign in John 2, it reads… “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
What might look like ordinary… Jesus continually sees as extraordinary.
Might this seemingly ordinary, newly gifted grill, provide countless opportunities for fellowship and a cause to gather. Thank you, Jesus, for giving us everyday practices which can become purposeful; a sign which points to how you bless and provide. Might we continue to show signs unto others that we have been filled to the brim with the wonderful, extravagant love of Christ.
Comments