John 2:1-12 

(please take a few moments to read this passage now)

This week, as we continue looking at Your Messy, Beautiful Family, we’ll be listening to two stories of Jesus with his mother (and Happy Mother’s Day ahead to all our moms, grandmoms, spiritual mothers and all Important Women!).

With two passages for this week, we’ll do a Part One today on John 2 and a Part Two on the Mark 3 passage tomorrow.

John 2 tells of a family celebration – and family crisis!  The beauty of a wedding, and the mess of running short on wine.  Social celebration – and social disaster!  And Jesus, his disciples and his mother (John does not mention her name) find themselves in the middle of it all.

Somehow Jesus’ mother becomes aware of the situation.  There’s an odd conversation: “Son, they’re out of wine!” “Woman, don’t bother me about it, my time has not yet come.” Then a strange command to the servants, “Fill those six large stone jars with water” (and how is this helping anything?), and then, suddenly and inexplicably, abundance!  And not just abundance of the cheap stuff, but around 150 gallons (more than 500 bottles!) of the best!  Wedding celebration saved!  Social disaster averted!

Some observations:  

First, when it comes to our families, start by remembering that Jesus has already placed himself in your midst, made himself readily available.  Even if not everyone is a believer.  Even if everyone is a mess, making a mess, or just messed up. He’s already with you, making himself at home in your home.

So, second, in the midst of whatever mess there may be, pay first attention to Jesus.  And as you do that, pay attention to his mother’s word to the servants at the wedding feast: “Do whatever he tells you!”  When the mess looks like it’s heading into crisis, it can get really loud and noisy.  What releases the power of God into a situation is someone who is willing to pay attention to Jesus and to do whatever he says to do.

Finally, be alert for the miracle God sends, not the one you expected.  How did Jesus turn the water into wine?  We don’t know, John doesn’t show us Jesus doing anything (“Let there be – wine!”) other than ordering some empty jars to be filled with ordinary water, and then telling the servants to take a sample to the master of ceremonies.  (Do you think they might have taken a small sip?  Giving a gulp of water to an already over-stressed MC is a good way to get fired!)

Pay attention to Jesus.  Do what he says.  Don’t dictate how he is to turn your mess into something beautiful.  Wait, pray and watch for his abundance.

Where do you need the abundance of Jesus in your messy, beautiful family?  What is he telling you to do?