I'LL TOAST TO THAT

DAY 114: Today the scriptures described the first recorded miracle of Jesus.  It was at an unlikely place, at an unlikely time, for an unlikely reason, using unlikely assistants.  Jesus, his mom, and his newly committed disciples were all guests at a wedding in Cana.  While the traditions of first century Jewish days-long weddings are foreign to me, weddings in any culture have some things in common.  There is a bride, a groom, guests, and STRESS!

My oldest son was married in January. It was our first family wedding. The to-do lists were long. Venues had to be reserved, caterers engaged, invitations picked, photographers scheduled, and on and on and on.  No effort was spared to make THE day a special memorable event.  It's a big deal!  I shutter to imagine if after all the planning and all the expense things fell apart on the day of the wedding.  Let's say all the guests are sitting at the reception waiting for dinner to be served and the caterer fails to show up.  As the family, or the bride or the groom, the embarrassment would be immense. For our guests it would be incredibly awkward.  Our son's wedding would have been the talk of the town - for all the wrong reasons. Fortunately, our big day went off without a hitch and a great time was had by all.  However, that was the kind of crisis faced at the wedding Jesus attended as a guest in the event retold to us John chapter 2.

 Specifically, the wine for the celebration had run out.  In a culture that centers on hospitality this was more than embarrassing, it could actually be considered a breech of the law. That can explain Mary's insistence that her son intervene. While he expressed hesitance, Jesus responded in the compassionate way; He got involved.

^{John 2:6} Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, ⁹ and 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. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
¹² After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.


There are so many details to focus on in this story, but what stood out to me were the people involved.  There was Mary, (Jesus mother), Jesus' disciples, the servants, the Master of Ceremonies, Jesus brothers, the bride and groom, and the guests. Every person there was there for a reason that had nothing to do with Jesus making wine.  They came for a wedding. Yet, every person there was an option for Jesus to choose to use to assist Him as He did the miraculous.  If I hadn't read the story and I had to guess who He would choose, my assumption would be:

• His first pick would be the Groom so that He could see and appreciate what Jesus had done for Him.
• If not, then perhaps the second choice would be the disciples who called him teacher and master and would have gladly volunteered for this big moment and were officially "in ministry" with Him.
• He could default to third choice of his mother and brothers since they are family and should have been happy to help launch their kin into a position of fame.  

He doesn't go with any of the obvious picks. Jesus chooses the inconsequential servants to assist Him.  They fill the water jugs without question.  They take it to the master of ceremonies without question while it is still just water. (Keep in mind what might have happen to them if they handed a glass of water to be served.)  Despite the oddity of Jesus request and the risks of being part, they heard, they obeyed, and they witnessed a miraculous work of Jesus.  So, whoopee for them, right? 

That's all fine, but I still kept wondering why Jesus didn't go with a more obvious choices.  Prayerfully, I think the answer is - because He could. The work at hand was Jesus' to direct and accomplish, so He could recruit whoever He wanted for help.  

He didn't have to have the "ministry" guys; apparently this was their time to observe and learn from what Jesus was doing.  In watching what He did, the scripture records that "his disciples believed in him." That was their part for the day.  I'm sure he also knew that His brothers were not impressed with His mission; it would be a long time before they acknowledged His authority and position as the Son of God, not just big brother.  His mom had done Her part asking Jesus for help with the need.  The Master of Ceremonies did his part and validated the miracle. The guests were blessed by the miracle. The groom, I'm sure, received favorable talk about his hospitality due to the miracle. They all had a part... just not the part we might expect.

The part Jesus assigned for the servants that day was to be his hands and his feet.  They were allowed to fill the jars and carry it to be tasted.  They were also given the privilege of witnessing the miracle  up close and personal.  "(The master of ceremonies) did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew."

HOW WILL I KNOW HOW GOD WILL USE ME?

• There are times when God is at work around us that when He may put the "going and doing" responsibility into our hands. I really like being his hands and feet. It is a joy to be used.
• Other times, we may be the witnesses, or the asker, or the receiver. In each of those is a blessing unique and purposeful for those who embrace that role.  
  
• THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: The choice of who to use and who not to use, how to use and how not to use, when to use and when not to use, are entirely GODs to make. 
•  Whenever I am discontent with the part that I play, I am in essence denying that Jesus has the right to choose.  

I want to be picked... I just do.  I want to be in the mix, up close and personal to what God is doing.  He, however, may see me in a time of training (like the disciples) or to be unaware of what's happening behind the scenes, like the guests and the groom but still blessed. I might be the one who becomes part at the climax, like the master of ceremonies. Or God might call me to commit my involvement to prayers of asking for His intervention like His mom.  

I also have to acknowledge that there may be times He gives me no involvement in something He is doing - just like some people weren't even invited to that particular wedding party.
In considering all these things, I had to admit to God that I am not always willing to play just "any" part - at least not with contentment. At times I want to do more than He gives me opportunity, and at times I am handed a responsibility I would rather He gave to someone else.  So basically that means that I am unhappy with God playing His part - GOD. 

 Moving forward, I hope to remember that no matter what part I play in the story, every aspect of it is  ALL GOD'S. So Lord, grant me the humility to be willing to play any part, or no part,  in YOUR GREAT STORY according to Your choosing with joy!   I'LL TOAST TO THAT!

 Day 114 of 365
Judges 15
Judges 16
John 2
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19