Mama's Boy
I’m pretty wiped out today. We just spent an eventful weekend in North Carolina, arriving home last night after a long day’s drive. I skipped the weekly men’s prayer breakfast this morning and slept in. I cannot, however, skip tonight’s children’s ministry at our church. I’m the storyteller, a responsibility I relish and look forward to.
Tonight’s story continues our theme of “Jesus fixed it.” I’ll be sharing the story of the wedding party that Jesus and his disciples attended when the wine ran out. It’s one of my favorites! What I love most about this story found in the second chapter of John’s gospel is how it demonstrates both the divinity and humanity of our Lord.
On the one hand, Jesus has the servants at the wedding fill six stone water pots, used for Jewish ceremonial washing, with water. He then instructs them to serve the banquet’s MC with the water, which is now turned to wine. And it’s good wine, the best wine. The MC is super impressed.
That’s the divine component in the story. And there’s a lot more I could say about it, but I want to focus today on the human side: Jesus loved his Mama! And Jesus did what he did because Mama asked for help.
I love the fact that when Mama first asks, Jesus tells her, “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour (time to demonstrate God’s messianic anointing on my life) has not yet come.”
Woman? Really? Isn’t that just a bit disrespectful? Not at all. It’s actually a tender response, The same way Jesus refers to his mother from the cross when he entrusts her to his beloved disciple John.
And if you read the story, Mama doesn’t say another word to her son. She turns to the servants and says, “Do you what he tells you to do.”
I get the feeling Mama knew her boy wouldn’t disappoint. She knew his heart. And especially since this was likely a family wedding, she knew he wouldn’t let her or the others attending the wedding down.
And Jesus didn’t.
Most importantly, he did what he did because he loved his Mama, and he loved and cared for the bride and groom, whoever they may have been. I don’t think he could stand to see them humiliated, which they certainly would have been if the wine ran out!
Motivated by love, compassion, and concern for the lives and feelings of others, Jesus did what needed to be done. May you and I do the same in our relationships with others. Nothing reflects our relationship with God more.
In Christ,
Dan
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