Oh I do love this week’s column. I will get right to the point.
Just after the temptation of Jesus by Satan. Jesus started out and some of John the Baptist’s followers joined Him. Jesus made His call “Follow Me’. These became His first disciples.
Now picture this, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, fasted for 40 days, was tempted by Satan, some of John the Baptist’s followers now join Jesus and become His disciples’¦ then Jesus does the most incredible thing to begin His mission of redemption’¦Jesus goes to a Party!
A party! Yes. A wedding party!
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee , and the mother of Jesus was there.
Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews,
containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee ,
and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (John 2:1-11 in the Holy Bible)
One would think that Jesus setting off on the mission of the redemption of the souls of lost humanity would do something beside go to a party. But no, Jesus is always breaking the normal and being His radical self. Ha, oh I do love it. How I would have enjoyed being there.
I will not go into a description of the wedding of that day; I will leave that for you to study.
What I want to say is that wedding celebrations often went on for many days. It was a time of celebration and community fellowship and joy.
Jesus was there with His mother and His small band of disciples. The host of the wedding ran out of wine and
Mary the mother of Jesus knew the solution! Jesus!
I personally believe that Mary must have seen Jesus work miracles before or she would not have put Him on the spot in public. Now the scripture does not say this, it is only my conjecture.
Anyway you read the story above and Jesus turned the ‘water into wine’! The best wine!
What a way to launch His mission!
This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee ,
and manifested His glory;
and His disciples believed in Him.
Wow,
The Glory of Jesus was manifested and His disciples believed in Him! Awesome.
It all happened at a party and with wine!
Jesus had been in deadly warfare with Satan just days before but now it was party and celebration time. There were days to come that were to be filled with suffering and grief but today was the day of celebration of a marriage!
Some people get so religious they forget how to smile or be happy. They lose their joy. They become grim and filled with doom and gloom.
Enjoy every blessing you can today for tomorrow may be filled with suffering and sorrow and death. Mary was with her Son at a party celebration. Another day soon to come she was to be with her Son in suffering at the cross.
Smile today, tears may come in the morning.
I think one of the keys of my life has been to be able to enjoy the journey even in the knowledge of the suffering and needs all about.
Often my heartbreaks and tears flow but I also celebrate and rejoice.
Jesus honored His mother by following her request. The host was saved from embarrassment and Jesus was glorified and the disciples believed.
I think it is time to celebrate! Jesus is Here! Let’s enjoy the party forever! Wow.
Hey, just do it!
Have a blessed Jesus celebration party!
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1