HIS STUNNING WORK
“….and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine….He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” John 2:9, 11
Jesus chose, for his first miracle, to change water to wine. In comparison to some of his other miracles, this one kind of pales. I don’t mean to be irreverent. All of the miracles of Christ are … well … miraculous…and amazing. Water to wine is just not as dazzling say as healing a man who was born blind…or raising dead Lazarus from the grave.
It was enough, though, to instill faith in the hearts of his disciples. True, they would grow stronger in faith as the next few years went by, but this was real faith. They were able to see beyond the obvious physical work to the glory of the Messiah.
I want to encourage you to see God’s glory in your life. He’s still turning water to wine, you know. He is taking the water of our own righteousness and turning it into the wine of the righteousness of Christ. He is taking the water of our own poor foibles and mistakes and turning it into the wine of working all things into something good. In the water of our weakness He is strengthening us just when we need if it we will let him.
We do not need to be quick to dismiss this, for in doing so we are dismissing his glory. See the glory as you look in the mirror… this is not vanity. It is trust that He really is doing it … He really can … He really wants to. See the glory in your brothers and sisters as they progress in the Kingdom. If we could really see the glory in ourselves and others…what God is really doing…it would be absolutely stunning.
Maybe when Jesus turned water to wine in Cana it was a stunning thing too, when we look beyond the elements to the eternal truth behind it. Let Jesus turn your water to wine today. Believe in his glory.
”Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Mark Hawk wonders about an iGod.
Brian Mashburn reflects on HOW to have a deeper relationship with God.
Lisa thinks thinks about retention being as important as evangelism.
Darrin’s church has the coolest welcome package for visitors.
Robin Roberts: I Have Breast Cancer.
Video of Cocoa Beach’s Work Visit to Pascagoula.
Listen to Jesus is the title of the new podcast at Out Here Hope Remains.
Preach it and thanks for the link.
I just watched the video. My son is the one in the orange shorts. Maybe I’ll make the next trip your way.
Haven’t had a chance to listen to this weeks podcast, but I will before the week is out. Sounds like a great title.
I hope to get mine posted tomorrow.
Good words and good video from Chad Adkins.
Thanks for your continued good works, John and for your heart for the Spirit’s work in your world and ours.
It’s the Cocoa church though and not Cocoa Beach. Although I would love to have some property in Cocoa Beach.
Peace.
Glad you stopped by, Darrin.
Cecil … hope you can come sometime.
Trey, looks forward to your message as always.
Steve, thanks for the correction. Everytime I think of Cocoa Beach I think of I Dream of Jeannie … I think that was the setting for that show.
I have to disagree with your illustration a bit. Changing vast quantities of less than pure water into the best wine these folks ever tasted was pretty dazzling.
I think you have to look at this miracle from the perspective of the folks that were there. They got to drink it.
So it may not seem like much when the story is told, but to them…….
Oh….that was your point wasn’t it?
I love the day to day ways I see Jesus at work when I am looking for it. Of course too often I am looking at my shoes or the highway or something else that keeps me from paying attention.
The best wine ever….hmmmm.