Miracles

[June 19, 2009]   -- "Now standing there were six stone waters jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, 'Now draw some out, and take it ot the chief steward.' So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine...he said, 'everyone serves the good wine first and the inferior win after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.'"-John 2: 6-10

In the Gospel of John, the above passage recounts Jesus' first miracle. It is not the type of miracle we typically associate with him, but instead a miracle that seems almost pointless. He is the guest at a wedding when the wine runs out. His mother immediately suggests that he solve the problem and, after some discussion, he does just that. Over 100 gallons of water is transformed into good wine and the party continues, despite the fact that the text implies that most of the guests were already drunk. Since this is the first of Jesus' miracles we can assume it was pretty important yet it also raises some questions. Why did he do this? What did it accomplish? Why not heal someone or do something, anything, more useful than helping some drunk people get more drunk?

The answer to these questions is pretty simple. In all the other gospels Jesus seeks to keep his identity a secret. He does not want everyone knowing who he is and what he is all about. But in John he is different. He is very open about his status as the Messiah and he wants everyone to know that they are in the presence and company of the Son of God. And that is what this miracle is about; it is about making sure people know that this Jesus is no ordinary man. He is the man who can turn water into wine almost on a whim, with no thought or special energy. The passage concludes by saying his disciples believed in him. Indeed! When we think of a miracle in our lives or we pray for a miracle on our behalf we often forget that miracles are more about God than us. We might be healed, we might be spared, we might be blessed, but the miracle that is delivered unto us is delivered that God might be glorified. The two go hand in hand. If we have been blessed then we should remember that any blessing we have recieved is a testimony to the God who loves and saves each of us.

Prayer: Holy God, thank you for the blessings in my life and help me to attribute those blessings to you. Should you choose me to recieve a miracle help me to use that miracle to glorify you. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

[Text from file received by Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church]