Seeing Jesus On The Front-Side

There is a unique story in the gospels that tells about a particular miracle of Jesus, and it makes me smile every time. Jesus and His disciples are invited to a wedding, and they go. It's a festive occasion, and I can imagine them having a good time. Jesus isn't preaching or healing or being asked a lot of questions. In fact, most people aren't aware of who He is yet, because He hasn't begun His public ministry. He's just Mary's son who brought some new friends to the wedding. Jesus isn't the center of attention, the Bride and Groom are, even if their names aren't mentioned in John's narrative.

The story goes like this: Jesus is enjoying the party along with everyone else, and then His mother comes to Him and says, "They have no more wine." Apparently this was a big deal at a Jewish wedding, and His mother is concerned for the family. We don't really know if this was a result of poor-planning on the part of the bridegroom and his family, or if some of the guests were being a little too greedy. This may have been a poor family pulling together a wedding on a shoe-string budget, and the wine they had was all they could afford. But whatever the reason behind it, the wine was gone, and Mary asks Jesus to solve the problem.

"How does that concern you and me?" He asks her. She doesn't respond and simply turns to the servants and says, "Do whatever He tells you to do." She seems to have confidence in her Son to get some more wine from somewhere, and He gets it. But He doesn't make a trip to the wine shop to pick up a few more bottles. He just asks the servants to fill up some water jars and turns the water into wine. The best wine, and plenty of it.

I can imagine John sitting down to write about the man he called Jesus. He starts out with some grand, eloquent words...In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2) He continues on in this eloquent style for awhile, but eventually his description of the Messiah gets a little more personal. He talks about meeting Jesus for the first time, the little conversation they have, and then he tells how several of his fellow disciples first encountered Him and why. Each of their stories is a little different, but they're all intrigued by Him. And they follow Him when He says, "Come, and follow Me."

They end up following Him to this wedding. How they interacted with Him that day, we don't know. We just know they were all there together, having a nice time most-likely. And then these ordinary men witness their new Friend do something truly miraculous. I can picture them rubbing their eyes and shaking their heads in bewilderment. "Did he just do what I think he just did? Did you see that? Holy cow! Who is this guy?"

John puts it this way. This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:11)

I think it's interesting that Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples in this "little" way. I say, little, in comparison to things Jesus did later, like healing people of their diseases, giving sight to the blind, and raising people from the dead. Turning water into wine is just as miraculous as anything else Jesus ever did, but not as significant in terms of life-and-death issues. As I was jotting some notes down in my journal on that, however, I thought, 'How often do I see Jesus in the "little" things?' He doesn't have to raise the dead for me to see His glory. I've seen Him do some "big" things once in awhile, but thank God I haven't had to see Him do those big things too often. Why? Because He takes care of so much on the front-side.

I haven't had to ask Him to heal me from an incurable disease because He's kept me healthy for 41 years. I haven't had to see Him provide in "supernatural" ways very often because most of the time I've had plenty. I haven't had to ask Him to restore my sight because I've never been blind. I haven't had to see Him raise one of my children from the dead because He's kept them healthy and safe. No, the things I've seen are a lot more like Jesus turning water into wine. The everyday things that I often don't even think about because they just happen like clock-work. Most of the guests at that wedding never even knew there was a problem. They didn't see the miracle because there was no need for that. Jesus didn't go around telling everyone what He had done, not even the Bride and Groom, but everyone there benefitted from it.

Sometimes obvious miracles are needed. And sometimes the healing or answers we're looking for don't come. But Jesus always saves the day somehow--just how we need and however we can best see His glory, even if a lot of waiting or sorrow is involved. But we don't have to wait for those "big" things in life to see the faithfulness of our God. We can see it every day. Learn to recognize miracles on the front-side, in the "little" things, and you will see how blessed you truly are. Because a lot of little things add up to Something Big: His love for you. His care. The peace, joy, and hope He wants for you. And enough of those things to share with those around us.

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let Him sing songs of praise. (James 5:13)

Asking The Right Question

Flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

2 Timothy 2:22

"What does God want from me?" Have you ever asked yourself this question? I ask myself this all the time, and I come up with plenty of answers and hear plenty of answers from others. I feel like I spend a lot of time trying to give God what He wants and a lot of time feeling like I fail. Even when I am doing the things I know are right, I feel like it's never enough. I could do more and do it better.

The best answer to the question 'What does God want from me?' is that it's the wrong question. The better question is, 'What does God want for me?' Why? Because the things He asks of me are ultimately for me.

Take for example the command Jesus gave to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another." (John 13:34) This can be a difficult road. Forgiveness, patience, sacrifice, and persistence may be involved. And often we simply don't have it within ourselves to love as God loves. So why would He ask me to do such a thing? Why set the bar so high? Just to set me up for failure? Does that make Him a loving God?

No, it doesn't. But this does: To love others as God loves me, I must experience God's mercy and love for myself.  I must recognize how patient, forgiving, persistent, and sacrificial His love is toward me before I have any hope of loving others that much. His love for me is the source of the peace and joy I can have no matter what is going on around me. And when I find myself in a place where I am not loving others as I know I should, God doesn't say to me, "You have failed." He says, "You need more of My love. Come to Me, and I will give you rest. I will give you more of My heart. I will make you more like Me." And loving others as God loves them, even when it's difficult, even when that love is not returned—ultimately I am blessed.

God wants me to trust Him. He wants me to believe and live by faith. But again, it's not about me living up to unrealistic expectations. It's not about setting me up for failure. It's not about what He wants from me, but rather, what He wants for me: peace, joy, hope, comfort, rest, purity, righteousness, goodness, and fellowship with Him.

David said, "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh the joys of those who trust in Him." (Psalm 34:8) David knew what God wanted from him: He wanted his trust. But David was focused on why: for his own good. For the joy he could experience. David also said in Psalm 19, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

God commands us to flee immorality, to get rid of lust, greed, malice, and fear. To pursue love, purity, and peace. To care for others and be generous people. Why? Because He wants these things from us? No, because He wants them for us. Holiness is not a goal to pursue, it is a gift to embrace. We can be like Jesus because He empowers us to be. And wanting this for myself is about opportunity and joy, not obligation.

What does God want from me? Nothing. What does He want for me? Everything. Everything good. He wants the same for you. Ask yourself the right question: What does He want for me?

Confident Words; Uncertain Days

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my soul rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm, he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but he has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

As I read these words this week, I was greatly calmed and comforted. Even as I write them now, they bring me much peace. You could say that the author of them knew how to look at the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, because the times and circumstances in which they were spoken were difficult and filled with uncertainty. Any idea who said them? I'll give you a hint, they come from Luke 1. That rules out Moses, David, and the Prophets of the Old Testament, along with Jesus since He isn't born until chapter 2.

They are spoken by Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had just received the news that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah. Great news, right? Well, except for the fact she wasn't married and only had a disappearing angel to vouch for her claim to virginity. I can hear her parents now. "You saw an angel, and he said what?" Uh-huh. She had a reason to be freaked-out. She takes off to go visit her cousin. Who wouldn't? I'm sure Elizabeth was someone she loved and trusted or she wouldn't have gone to her, but she probably wasn't expecting to be greeted with such excitement over her condition, especially since she hadn't told her the news yet.

"Blessed are you among women, Mary, and blessed is the child you will bear!"

"What? How did you know?"

"Oh, the baby told me," Elizabeth laughed, patting her own rounded belly with her wrinkled hand. "Blessed are you who has believed what the Lord said to you is going to happen!"

Mary wouldn't have believed Lizzy except her own story was just as crazy, and she needed to hear those words. "Blessed are you because you believe." It can be difficult to believe. And it can be difficult to believe we are blessed for believing.

Faith is all about believing the unbelievable. Mary may not have been exactly sure what was going to happen and how, but faith doesn't involve those elements. Faith isn't about knowing what is going to happen, it's about knowing whatever happens will be good when God is involved. It's not about what I know, but Who I know.

Mary and I have never met. Mary lived in a different time-period, a different country, and a different culture than I am living in today. But we know the same God. Yahweh. Jehovah. The Mighty One who has done great things for me. Holy is His Name.

Others can say that God doesn't...or God won't...or God can't...But God will always show who He is and what He can do. He is not limited by the unbelief of others. He is who He is and will do what He will do. God is always who He is, whether you or I believe it or not. God is mighty, holy, amazing, awesome, powerful, loving, merciful, good, right, and just. Whether we worship Him for Who He is or not—He still is. He wants us to recognize and believe for our benefit so we can have confidence, peace, hope, joy, and patience. Like Mary did. She believed because of what she heard God say, not because of what she could see.

I'm sure she had her moments of doubt too. Perhaps when she did, she sang words penned by her ancestor David. We would be blessed to do the same:

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." Psalm 62:1-4