I love this story. It is a wedding celebration, much different from now. The feast could last a long time, days instead of hours. I wonder if the "better" ones lasted the longest. If that's the case, we don't want to run out of food or drink. That is just like our wedding celebrations - (receptions). We don't want to run out of anything until we want people to go home. Plenty of food, drinks, music, etc. ....until it is over, or the hosts want it over.
Anyway, as we read the story, we are at the wedding feast. Jesus is there. His mother is there We don't know if any other family members are there. We also don't know whose wedding it is. The disciples are there. We don't know how many but this is the day after Jesus called Andrew, Peter, Nathanael, and Phillip according to the previous verses. It is very, very early in Jesus' ministry. He doesn't have the mobs, groupies I call them, following him everywhere yet. Just a few people have been called and are following Jesus.
Unfortunately, early in the wedding celebration, at least earlier than the hosts want, the wine supply ran out. For some reason, Mary, Jesus' mother, mentioned this to Jesus. He replied that it is none of his business. I wonder why it was Mary's. Why did she worry about the wine supply at this wedding? Was it a family member? Close friend? Or did she have something else in mind?
This is how John records it: The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Picture the scene. Mother, son and his friends at the big party. There is a problem. The mother tells the son to handle it. He says I don't want to. She ignores him and instructs others to do whatever he says. Don't ya love it? Isn't that just like a conversation between mother and son? She knows he just needs a little prodding, not coddling. "Son, do as I say. Help these people. It is time." or "when is a better time to begin your ministry than at a wedding!?"
I think of times when I encouraged my sons in their endeavors. In spite of their fears or reluctance, I prodded them along as though their hesitation was not relevant or necessary. There would be hesitation but just the fact that I encouraged them they were able and willing to take the next step. Was that what happened here? Did Jesus just need a bit of encouragement from his mother? If it was, what more human trait could he demonstrate to prove he was human too? Not just the divine Son of God. Not above human understandings and feelings and trepidations. Yes, Jesus was human to. I often forget that.
Dear Jesus, I appreciate your reluctance to start then your obedience to your mother. Of course, I do not know why You initially said it wasn't Your time but I appreciate that You did and that You demonstrated obedience to Your mother as well as Your heavenly Father. What a perfect example you are. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment