The Secret Miracle

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." ... His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

-John 2:1-3, 5

[A]nd the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

-John 2:9

There were myriad responsibilities these servants needed to take care of to make sure the wedding feast ran without a hitch. Is the food ready? Are there enough seats for the guests? Do we have enough wine for the guests? Apparently, this last responsibility was not sufficiently covered. Imagine the servants' anxiety at this point. "Out of wine?? What are we going to do? Our master will not be pleased with us." (<-A gross understatement, most likely) Enter a woman who claims that her son has a solution for their situation. Jesus' mother told the servants at the wedding feast to do whatever Jesus instructed them to do. And, without question, they did it. Filling six 20-30 gallon stone water jars with water is no small task (Mind you, there are no garden hoses or other such modern conveniences to assist in this endeavor, so imagine the process involved in obtaining 180 gallons of water. As an analogy, picture filling 180 milk jugs, but replace the plastic with stone... Yes, quite a task.). Yet, they obeyed this most unassuming of wedding guests. These servants looked upon this Man, whom they had never seen before, and one glance at Him assuaged their anxieties. One look at Jesus and "something" about Him told the servants, "He will provide for us a solution." Not only did He provide the solution to overcome this obstacle, Jesus was the solution these servants and the world were seeking.

So, the servants start obeying. They draw the water as Jesus instructed, filling the jars to the brim. Next, they probably expect Jesus to wave His hands over the jars or sprinkle some magic dust into the pots, resulting in a mini-firework display and an eye-popping color change in the liquid, signaling the amazing transformation of water into wine! Instead, Jesus tells them to take some of the water they had collected and bring it to their master. "Ummm," thought the servants (probably), "so you want us to give our master this water which we just drew? That's it? You know we're serving wine at this party, right?" But again, they obeyed. They ended up serving the best wine of the night ... and Jesus didn't have to lift a finger. The servants did all the work - they were the instruments of this miracle. Jesus worked through these obedient servants, whose faith in this Wedding Guest was now filled to the brim, on the verge of overflow, because they "knew" of what just occurred. The master of the banquet, bridegroom, bride and other guests continued celebrating, unaware of what took place to let the party continue. But, the servants "knew" and were content in being a part of the greater work that was done here.

God commands all of us to do - so we must do. Anything he commands, so must we obey. God has given us authority in this world from the time of Genesis. We, being His hands and feet, are the servants, the miracle workers. The same power which raised Jesus from the dead resides in us as well (see Ephesians 1:18-21 & II Timothy 1:7). Even if we don't see the ultimate outcome, we do the work, because God's point-of-view sees what we cannot see. What Jesus wants us to also realize is that miracles don't require great pomp, circumstance, magic powder or overt theatrics to be considered a miracle.

• Helping someone break an addiction? That's a miracle.
• Praying for someone and seeing someone healed from cancer? That's a miracle.
• Mending a broken marriage? That's a miracle.
• Listening when no one else listens and loving when no one else loves? That's a miracle.
• Seeing someone receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his/her life? THAT'S A MIRACLE!

That we are alive in this wretched world despite our wretched ways is a miracle of grand proportions, thanks to the saving grace and blood of Christ. Best of all? When the workers "know" and never forget who is the Source and responsible for it all. Though the world may not know now, the servants do the miraculous work, so that the world will know. For God's is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever ... AMEN!

Jesus' Mission (Should you choose to accept it)

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
They replied, "The Lord needs it."

-Luke 19:29-34

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

-Luke 22:7-13

I find both of these situations fascinating and amazing. Jesus has a plan in mind for what He wants to accomplish. So, He sends His disciples to carry out His instructions. Now, keep in mind: Jesus has not called an "event organizer" beforehand to prepare the details of these events. The owners of the colt don't know ahead of time that the disciples are coming to get it. Who are the man carrying the water jar and house owner? Those details are unknown and not needed. But, Jesus uses those nameless people and the resources they can provide to carry out His plans.

I mean, if some people came from up the street and took your bike from the side of your house, some explanation and hootin' & hollerin' may be necessary. But, these owners of the colt, upon hearing that the Lord needs it, gave their colt without further explanation! Moreover, Peter and John must have thought, "There are many people carrying water jars at this time. How will we know which one to talk to? Also, what random owner will allow us strangers to use his house for our meal?" Yet, as they entered the city, it all unfolded just as Jesus told them, furnished room and all, with the full cooperation of the man with the water jar and house owner. Wow...

God's will be done. God's plans be accomplished. Fully trusting in Jesus opens avenues that we think are impossible to go through, but He makes it happen. It may feel like you may be asked to do things that are way out of the ordinary and, dare I say, foolhardy. But, with God, NOTHING is impossible. In Him, we put our trust and hope. AMEN!

Don't let Him pass you by!

"[Jesus] saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'" -Mark 6:48-50

Isn't this fascinating? Jesus saw the struggles of His disciples in the rough waters, and when He walked on the water, He was about to pass them by. If it weren't for the disciples' cries, Jesus might have kept walking along. But, He knew (and we know) that He wouldn't pass by - Jesus heard the cries of His disciples and reminded them how safe they really were. But, that's the thing - Jesus is always within earshot; He sees our struggles and makes every part of Him available to us. All we need to do is call upon His name - He is faithful. Though the disciples did not recognize Jesus walking on the water (being fishermen, they had experienced many situations in their life on water - despite all of that, this encounter was one-of-a-kind), their cries still drew their Savior near. It's just like a baby who is crying. The reason for the baby's tears could be one of many: hunger, fatigue, being frightened. Whatever the reason, the baby's parent will come, upon hearing those cries, to meet the needs of the child and assuage him/her. Our Father in heaven is no different:

"Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me." -Psalm 86:6-7

Christianity is a very believer-driven way of life.

• "Thou shalt not steal." -Exodus 20:15.
• "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." -Deuteronomy 6:5.
• "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." -Matthew 22:39.
• "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Matthew 7:8

These are commands of God and acts of men. God wants us to enact His will here on earth. If we are proactive, then God will work mighty things through us. But, we must call out, in full confidence that our Lord is close, He will hear us and He will come to our rescue.

"Where is Jesus in all of this?"

I was blessed by the Lord with an opportunity to speak on behalf of Him through His Word at the St. John's MTC Christmas Coffeehouse this past Friday, 12/26. God gave me such a boldness to speak for Him that day - praise Him!! I'm tellin' ya - not even six hours prior to the event, I was still unsure as to how to effectively present what I had put together. Content was coming together, but the remainder of the content, connections, and applications were still up in the air. But, God just literally told me to be quiet, focus in on Him, and let Him take care of all the details. He revealed Scripture to me in ways I had not seen before, solidifying everything. As the wise proverb says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). How true that is! Thanks, God.

So, I've placed my notes for the message below. It might seem a little haphazard, but hopefully it'll be easy to piece together:

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Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus [12/23]: a holiday for the "rest of us" popularized by Seinfeld's Frank Costanza) - Be proud and attest that assertion.
Notice how Christmas seems to be starting earlier each subsequent year (near Halloween now).
COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE HOLIDAY: Vacation time, Opening gifts, Family get-togethers, Pre-Christmas sales - 2 Black Fridays & 1 Cyber Monday (which is what draws people to Festivus)
Christmas in Japan (a traditionally Buddhist/Shinto nation) -> to promote goods and sales.
On the flip side, first public Christmas in Baghdad.
Multiple movie openings on Christmas Day:

1. Bedtime Stories (Adam Sandler)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. The Spirit
4. Marley & Me
5. Valkyrie

Also, notice in previous Christmases the opening of a horror movie, without fail!

...Jesus in all of this?

So much talk about a Savior prior to His birth (via the prophets):

1. Isaiah 9:6-7
2. Isaiah 7:14-15
3. Isaiah 11:1-9
4. Zechariah 9:9

So much "hullabaloo" in the community when Jesus ministered and walked the earth:

1. Magi travelling thousands of miles from the East to see the newborn King
2. John the Baptist's proclamation (see Luke 3:16)
   
3. Crowds in the thousands following Jesus
4. Three-year ministry (crowds, Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, rich people, poor people)

But now, absolute silence about Jesus centuries after He ascended to heaven (You may argue that we talk about Jesus all the time at coffeehouse, praise nights, Sunday mornings at church, and the such. Great, but where else?)

Questions people ask nowadays are: Who is Jesus? What was Jesus? (As can be seen in the numerous Discovery Channel specials, such as "The Mystery of Jesus," "Decoding the Bible," "Bethlehem's Star," etc.)
The question should be: Where is Jesus?
To answer this, two people in the Bible provide one convincing answer.

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Paul - Acts 17:22-28

Paul's defenses of the Gospel against Felix, Festus, King Agrippa, the Sanhedrin, the Areopagus are like the trial portions of Law & Order episodes.
Paul spoke to the Areopagus like a skilled lawyer, making his case (recall the educated background of Paul).
vv. 27-28 -> All we need to do is turn and, lo and behold, He will be right there before us (He was there the whole time, right by your side.). (see also Revelation 3:20)
We live in Him! We move in Him! We have our being in Him! Every part and facet of us is enveloped in Him and by Him.

Jesus - John 14:8-11, 15-20

v. 8 -> Jesus actually answered Philip's request in the previous two verses, but his request should be our single-greatest request.
v. 10 -> Intimate relationship between Jesus & His Father. No relationship in history can match what is seen here. This puts into perspective (vividly clear) the agony that Jesus experienced in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, because of the pending separation He knew He would experience from His Father. If we have an intimate relationship with our Father, being separate from Him is not where we want to be. We long for the closeness.

** vv. 8-11 -> Dynamic relationship between Jesus & His Father
** vv. 15-20 -> Man's access to that dynamic relationship!

The Holy Spirit gives us access to that relationship. The sacrifice of Jesus tore the veil and we are not separate from our Father and His Son anymore. We are in Him, and He is in us! See where Jesus is now? He never left us our side. Barriers of sin and worldly desires cause blockages of view, but Jesus will never abandon the ones He love
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:20

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"And the name of the city from that time on will be:
The LORD is There." -Ezekiel 48:35

Reflect on 2008, go forward confidently in 2009. Wherever you are, whatever you do, THE LORD IS THERE!

Immanuel = GOD is with us