Inviting Jesus - A reflection on the first documented miracle by our Jesus

It's been a while! Hi there reader, I'm glad you've decided to check out this blog. I hope and pray that it encourages you as this message has encouraged me daily. I can't remember when, but a few months ago, I heard an amazing sermon by Pastor Jim Cymbala, leader of the well known Brooklyn Tabernacle. It really had an impact on how I saw the day to day (and not so day to day) situations that we encounter here on earth. He spoke from John 2: 1-11. The first documented miracle by Jesus Christ.

Let us begin on our Journey to discover some amazing truths behind this scripture.

"2:1 Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2:2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.” 2:4 Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.” 2:5 His mother told the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

2:6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 2:7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top. 2:8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. 2:9 When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom 2:10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” 2:11 Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him."

When reading this, I can't help but to imagine what it must of been like for the servants. Imagine that, being part of a something that would later turn out to be a miracle. Not having any clue at all of how things would turn out.

The first major point that was brought out by Pastor Cymbala, was probably the most important one. The wisest thing Mary has ever said in her life was documented in John 2:5. "2:5 His mother told the servants, 'Whatever he tells you, do it.' " Obedience. How important is it as Christians to obey Christ? 1 Samuel 15:22 says "...To obey is better than sacrifice..." When Christ asks you, tells you, recommends to you, challenges you, or pushes you to do something, DO IT! This miracle would of never come to fruition had the servants never obeyed Christ.

Think about this, Mary tells Jesus there's no wine and gets a bunch of servants to do whatever he tells them to do to solve this problem. Check this - "2:6 Now there were SIX STONE water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding TWENTY or THIRTY gallons. 2:7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the VERY TOP."

WHOA! Imagine how heavy an empty stone jar was. According to FacingTheChallenge.Org: "archaeologists have found several stone jars in the ruined houses of first-century Jerusalem... They are 2-2.5 feet tall, each cut from a block of stone that could weight as much as half a ton." WHOA, a half a ton? That's approximately 500lbs! Lets realize, that the task Jesus had asked the servants to do, was NO EASY TASK. However, they did it, and they weren't inadequate about it. They filled the jars up to the VERY TOP. Being obedient, it isn't always easy. Jesus might give us tasks that might seem impossible, but let us remember, they always, ALWAYS have a purpose. Lets be obedient when he speaks!

Next. Nothing can compare to what Jesus can do!!! When the head steward put his lips to this wine he calls the bridegroom and says "2:10...“Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” The word "best" is so commonly used, this is why I love thesauruses, results for "best" include "beyond compare, greatest, finest, perfect, unsurpassed, unrivaled, supreme, matchless, incomparable, etc" Only Jesus could create the greatest, perfect, unrivaled, etc wine! And that's not all he can do, He can do ANYTHING!!! He healed a blind man (Mark 8), he brought a man back to life from the dead, (John 11), I could go on and on about the miracles he's done. I'm a walking, living, breathing piece of evidence of the power of Jesus. I'm one of millions of people on this earth who are where they are because of him. Let us remember that Jesus is more than just able!

Finally, this amazing miracle would of never been able to happen had one crucial thing not have happened. It's something that I'm sure when we've read this scripture in the past, we've probably read right past it. Where ever Jesus is invited to, there he will go. Luke 7:36, Jesus was invited by one of the Pharisees for dinner, and he went. One of many examples of how when God is invited somewhere, he'll show up. Another example, us, believers, when we are first saved, we invite Jesus into our hearts. And of course, he comes! If things aren't going so good, Invite Jesus! If your friendships are falling apart, Invite Jesus! If school is getting to be a bit much for you, INVITE JESUS!! If you're having a difficult marriage, yep you guessed it, INVITE JESUS!!! If you think your life is crumbling before you, invite Jesus into your situations! Remember, he is MORE THAN ABLE!!!

So, the three major points: 1.) Whatever we go through in life, lets invite Jesus. Once he gets here (which will always be instantly) lets pay attention to him. Lets listen to what he has to say and 2.) OBEY HIM! What ever he tells us to do, lets DO IT! Why? Because 3.) when we obey, MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!

PHEW! I am so encouraged, and blessed even in just writing this out. I pray and Hope you are too!!!

Thanks again to Pastor Jim Cymbala. I just found a link to his actual sermon. If you've got time and want to hear this amazing sermon, you can Click Here.

Other wise, Until next time,

-Jordan Lee

(By the way, I'm not sure if I've mentioned it in any of my previous blogs, but I've fallen in love with my middle name "Lee" That's actually thanks to Crossroads Tabernacle. One of Pastor Joe Corteses' sons has the name Jordan. To avoid confusion, I've been known as "Jordan Lee" there. Feels great! lol)