John 2 Celebrate a Feast

In John 2 we have the account of the first miracle Jesus ever performed. Jesus discretely turns water into wine at a wedding feast. He performs the miracle in front of the servants and does not make a big display when he turns over 100 gallons of water into a delicious wine. The Bible says it was the first glimpse of his glory and the disciples believed in him. Even though the Bible does not tell us the servants told others of this miracle, we can assume they talked and told the story of what Jesus had done. Jesus turning water to wine was exciting, unusual, and supernatural. A great topic of conversation during this time of feasting and celebration.

The last account in this chapter, Jesus drives the money lenders from the temple. Jesus loves all mankind. His purpose was to save us from our sin by sacrificing himself. When Jesus saw the people he loved being taken advantage of and the temple being defiled and used for selfish gain and ambition, he became passionate and anger rose in him for the wrongs that were being done to God and the people. He drove the money lenders out of the temple with a whip and this outraged the spiritual leaders of the day. They were making a profit from the money lenders who were taking advantage of the people. The spiritual leaders questioned Jesus and demanded to know what authority he had to act so erratically. Jesus then points to the crucifixion and resurrection by referring to himself as the temple and how it will be rebuilt in 3 days. 

As I read this chapter, my mind is drawn to an event that happens in both accounts. In both stories, there is a feast and time of celebration. I don't think this is accidental. Feasts and celebrations draw crowds of people and allow them to visit and catch up on life. 

Think about your family Christmas and Thanksgiving feasts. These holidays are times when we catch up with distant cousins and laugh at our strange uncle for taking his teeth out to scare the children. We catch up, we laugh, we enjoy each others company. We talk about what is new and discuss the trials and joys of the year. We visit and catch up and conversations dwell and linger on what is exciting and new. It was not a coincidence that Jesus chose special occasions to display his divine nature. 

What better place for people to talk and for conversations to arise about his power and purpose? During a feast, Jesus has an opportunity to encounter people from other cities visiting for the celebration. The miracles he performs and spectacles he displays to cleanse the temple and justify his people are all seen by the masses. This is not the first wedding Jesus had been to or the first time Jesus has seen the temple being defiled and the people being taken advantage of but he chooses this particular moment during this feast for a reason. 

Today I celebrate the opportunities we have to show Jesus and his love around the dinner table with friends and family. I celebrate large gatherings and the opportunity we have to show others the love of Christ who may not encounter him any other time. I celebrate intentional moments and seeds planted when we are faithful with the opportunities God provides. 

Never underestimate the power of a meal. Never underestimate the change that can occur when you try to be intentional. Celebrate together and use every opportunity to point to Him. Be zealous for the social injustices of this world and always be ready to have an answer that leads people to the cross. Don't live accidentally, love intentionally and always remember to celebrate and feast.

John 2 The Message (MSG)

From Water to Wine

2 ^1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

⁴ Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”
⁵ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
^6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.
⁸ “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.
^9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”
¹¹ This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
¹² After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days.

Tear Down This Temple . . .

^13-14 When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength.

^15-17 Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!” That’s when his disciples remembered the Scripture, “Zeal for your house consumes me.”
^18-19 But the Jews were upset. They asked, “What credentials can you present to justify this?” Jesus answered, “Tear down this Temple and in three days I’ll put it back together.”
^20-22 They were indignant: “It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you’re going to rebuild it in three days?” But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said.
^23-25 During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.

John 1: Come, See For Yourself...

John 1:
Come, See for Yourself

^35-36 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”

^37-38 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”

They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.

^40-42 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.

Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).

^43-44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)

^45-46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”

But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.”

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.”

⁴⁸ Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.”

Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.”

⁴⁹ Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”

^50-51 Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”

What is our first response to Jesus? Do we even respond to Him at all? When I read this chapter I saw a pattern of behavior as people had an encounter with Christ. When they encounter Christ, they go and find someone to tell about it. Jesus is not kept a secret. His transforming power and presence had to be shared. They were compelled by their experience to find someone and tell them about the Messiah. This wasn't an option and they didn't give it a second thought. Their first response... find someone I love and tell them the Messiah has come!

I wonder. Do we act the same way? When we encounter Christ through scripture, prayer, and by having a personal relationship; are we so amazed by Him that we can't contain it we must go and tell others about who He is and what He has done for us? Do we invite others to see His power and express the transformation He brings through His saving grace? Or, do we shy away from an invitation and never verbally give life to His transforming power by telling others about what He has done for us. Even worse, do we not even acknowledge or see Him ourselves, so we do not really understand what Jesus has done because we have not ever experienced the transforming power He brings. 

You see my friends, Jesus is not in the business of begging people to come to Him or ignoring the power only He can bring. Jesus invites, but the choice is up to us. Jesus shows who He is, but the choice is up to us to believe in what He can do. 

So today I celebrate my Jesus and His plan to choose His church to save mankind. I celebrate how precious of a gift He is and when we encounter Him, we are compelled to share Him with others. I celebrate I don't need to know everything, I just need to know what He did for me. There is power in my testimony and I'm thankful for the dark times of life because Light shines brightest in the darkest moments. I celebrate He was there in the beginning and Jesus will be there to stand in my place in the end. 

"Come follow me," He says. Come, and see for yourself...

Celebrate A Stranger Who Becomes A Friend

My daughter Lily is one of a kind. She has her own style and a unique personality. She lives in a reality where logic does not always follow reason. She sees the good in others and, for her, everyday is a day to sing and wear a pretty dress. Her vibrant personality and warm hugs are appreciated wherever she goes, and Lily loves to meet new people and make new friends.

Our family has welcomed five Indian students into our home for the past year. They have been a blessing to us. We love to eat and play games together. They enjoy our silly traditions and find joy in playing soccer with our kids. We have learned so much about their culture and truly treasure their friendship. Our guys will graduate in May so Lily takes every opportunity she can to curl up in their laps, watch a movie and be with her Indian family.

This past Christmas, one of these students traveled home to India and brought us all back traditional Indian clothes. They are beautiful and I was very touched by this act of love. From the moment Lily saw her Indian dress, she wanted to wear nothing else. She loves these guys and when she wears her dress, she transforms into an Indian princess. The week after she got her Indian dress was picture day and of course, Lily wanted to wear her dress for this special event. We thought this was a wonderful idea and I fixed her hair and she wore her dress to school with a beautiful smile confidently displaying the love felt for her through this dress.

I love that my children are exposed to the beauty of cultures around the world. I love that my children see the world and embrace cultural differences knowing that love and understanding can unite us. I celebrate the opportunity I have to love a stranger and welcome them into my home as family for I was once a stranger and He welcomed me into His family.

I am so grateful that I worship a God who loves me enough to call me daughter and embrace me in spite of my differences. I celebrate this love and the opportunity I have to love others and the blessing I receive when I welcome people into my home. For when we are hospitable and show love to others, love is shown to us and friendships are created that will last a lifetime. I celebrate the experiences my children are exposed to as they develop a worldview of love and hospitality.

We welcomed these guys into our home, but they gave us so much more than a meal and a pretty dress. They gave us the opportunity to understand and appreciate their culture. They gave us their friendship which we will last long after they leave Maryville, and most importantly they showed Lily how she can be a real Indian princess and love all people the way they deserve to be loved.

May we all learn by Lily's example and confidently step out on picture day and display the love given to us. For we were all strangers once, and by His abounding love and grace He wanted to call us friend and transform us into royalty; children of the most high God. Thank you Lord for loving us and creating us all unique and beautiful in Your sight. Expose us Father to the beauty of other cultures and help us understand and appreciate each other as we celebrate a stranger becoming a friend. 

 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
~ 1 John 4:11-12

No doubt about it! God is good.

No doubt about it! God is good—
    good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
    missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
    looking up to the people
At the top,
    envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
    not a care in the whole wide world.
~ Psalm 73: 1-5

It's easy to focus on what we want instead of celebrate what we have. Don't miss out on the blessings each new day brings. Take time to truly ponder and celebrate all the gifts and blessings He gave you right now in your circumstance. In our desire to have everything we want, we completely neglect the blessing God provides daily by giving us everything we need. He does not abandon His people, He is there, He loves us, and He was victorious over death so we might have life. 

Sit for a minute and think about it. The Creator the everything calls you His child. The All Mighty God is your Father. Stop looking at what everyone else has and look at everything He has given to you. 

So I celebrate His goodness and marvel at His love. I am in awe of His power and blessed to be called His child. All the world has to offer is trash in comparison to the crown of life my Father will give me. His grace is sufficient and He is all knowing, loving, and good. He keeps His promises and He promised to make wrongs right when He returns and take me to a place of perfection where I will be in His presence forever. No doubt about it, God is good. Don't miss it, take a moment and celebrate!

Celebrate the Race

Never forget my friends, Satan is against us. He does not want you to finish this race strong. So when you get a second wind or you reach a steady stride in the race set before you, He will try to weaken your resolve or put an obstacle in your way. 

Friends if you have not been met with spiritual warfare in your walk with Christ, I wonder if you have ever really left the bench at all. Spiritual warfare, trials, and conflict are part of our journey with Jesus. If we are to live as He has lived, His life was not full of understanding and total harmony. He was at odds with the spiritual leaders of the day because He was radically changing and transforming their view of religion. He was trying to change how they interacted with one another and free them from the bondage of the law by fulfilling it through His atonement and sacrifice on the cross. Jesus lived in the midst of conflict. He was misunderstood and wrongly accused. He loved all and wanted all to come to know Him, but His love was rejected and exchanged for power, pride, and personal agendas. Jesus was love surrounded by conflict, should we expect any less? 

My friends, I write this not to cripple you but to empower you and to bring you understanding and hope. The battles being waged against you should not make you weak but instead cause you to rejoice and make you strong. Jesus was surrounded by all this conflict but He was victorious over death through the cross. It did not slow Him down or cause Him to stumble, instead He focused on the prize and the love of the Father to give Him the strength to be the sacrifice for all mankind. This same power and strength is available to us today. My friends, we have won. Satan has no chance in victory because victory was claimed when Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross.

I don't know what spiritual warfare is being waged against you my friends. I do not know if it is a broken relationship or maybe a whisper inside your head saying you will never be good enough. I don't know if it's an addiction, mountain of financial debt, or physical aliments that cannot be cured. I do know Satan will use any means necessary to win because he still believes he can. The ultimate deceiver has deceived himself and when he feels he is loosing ground, he will actively try to make you stumble, loose focus, and doubt yourself so you cannot complete your race or be as effective in your walk with Christ. 

Today let's rejoice in our struggles and draw strength from Him in our weaknesses. Let's celebrate during spiritual warfare and conflict for they are indicators we are running the race and not sitting the bench. Let's pray and seek guidance during times of conflict and confusion for wisdom will be given when we call upon Him for answers. Let's strive to love unconditionally and show kindness when it is not deserved for unconditional love and kindness were bestowed to us on the cross.

Run the race strong and do not be discouraged or side tracked. Lean on Him for help and understanding. Trust in God and truly be at peace for we are His and He has won. Celebrate and draw strength from His victory because through Him we are victorious. Keep your eyes on Jesus, finish the race. 

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
~ Hebrews 12: 1-3