11th Jan 2011

John 2:1-12 – Jesus turns water into wine

• “Ten to one – a challenge for us all”
• This passage contains the best advise that anybody gave anyone at any time in history.
• The wine runs out and Mary the mother of Jesus immediately puts two and two together and gets five. She has received prophecies about her son, she has watched him grow and receive gifts from very important people and she knows that one day future generations will call her blessed.
• What is going through her mind is fairly obvious… this is her moment!
• Here and now at a big occasion in front of all her family and relatives would be the moment that Jesus did her proud.
• It was time to receive ‘naches’ a Yiddish word that means “The kind of Joy a mother feels”
• Jesus however reacts to this – he sees it within her and politely but firmly using a Hebrew idiom [although translated] puts a little distance between them. Basically he is very gently challenging her motives. He is also helping her to see Him as Lord not as a child.
• She responds perfectly; she lets it go and then with simplicity turns and gives the others the best advise they would ever hear; “do whatever he tells you to do”.
• Now contrast Jesus with Mary.
• As a leader He does not use His gifting for party tricks or to impress his family or His disciples. Again as with 99% of Jesus’ miracles He does not initiate anything; He is asked for help.
• Only when asked does Jesus responds and a wonderful miracle takes place.
• But what I personally get from this is the principle of ten for one.
• Jesus says ‘it is not yet my time’. He was conscious of His preparation. Thirty years of preparation for three years of world changing impact!
• Billy Graham said that if he could go back and change anything he would prepare more and preach a little less.
• Jesus valued the process!
• Do I?
• Jesus protected the process!
• Do I?
• Jesus did not rush the process!
• Do I?