Love God | Understand Yourself | Serve Others

John 2:6-10 (Today’s New International Version)
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 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 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.”

Think of the master of the banquet as an event planner, overseeing all the little details that wedding guests wouldn’t necessarily notice, including the distribution of wine. At an ordinary wedding feast, the couple’s family could save a bit of money by serving a lower-quality wine later in the day. How impressed this man was when a fabulous, rich vintage was brought out, of even higher quality than the earlier wine!

He wasn’t aware of what had happened behind the scenes. Jesus had taken large jars of water and turned them into the most delectable wine ever created. Gallons upon gallons upon gallons of it.

What a great illustration of what God does every day. We sometimes think that miracles are the “big stuff” in our lives. But God works small, powerful miracles all the time. Abundant, sometimes behind-the-scene miracles. We just don’t always notice.

Question:
How often do you take time to look around and notice how God is at work? What kind of “little miracles” has God worked in your life recently?

Matthew 8:5-8 (The Message)
As Jesus entered the village of Capernum, a Roman captain came up in a panic and said, “Master, my servant is sick. He can’t walk. He’s in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I’ll come and heal him.” The captain said, “Oh, no. I don’t want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I’m a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

The Romans were the despised foreign occupiers of Israel. They had taken control of the local government, and watched closely over the populace. It is a sign of just how desperate this Roman captain is, that he is willing to approach a Jewish leader in public and to beg him for assistance.

In verse 10 we’re told that Jesus is “taken aback” by this man’s faith. The Greek word here is thanmazo, which means “wonder, be astonished, marvel.” It is quite an accomplishment to astonish the Son of God with your words!

Jesus continues, “This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions– streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God’s kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”  (8:10).

Jesus came to the Jewish people to be their Messiah. But his love, grace, forgiveness, and power are open to all people.

Question:
What does it mean to you that we are accepted “at God’s kingdom banquet”? How can knowing that we were outsiders help you to reach out in love to people who are different from you?

Matthew 8:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)
When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Jesus and his followers have just come down off the mountain after Jesus delivered the “Sermon on the Mount,” an extended teaching session where he discussed some of the revolutionary foundations of the faith. Almost immediately, Jesus puts that teaching into action, when his steps take him near a man stricken with leprosy.

Leprosy is a disfiguring disease that terrified the ancient world. According to the Old Testament book of Leviticus, this man who called out to Jesus should have been far away from the gathered crowds, and, if anyone happened to come near him, would have been required to yell, “Unclean! Unclean!” to warn everyone to keep their distance.

But this man doesn’t do this. Instead, he approaches Jesus, kneeling directly before him. And the man doesn’t say, “If you can– if you are able– please heal me.” He says, “if you are willing.” What an incredible statement of faith. He doesn’t question his right as a child of God to approach the Messiah. He doesn’t question Jesus’ ability to heal him. He acknowledges Jesus’ power and authority. “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

And then look at Jesus’ response. He sees the man’s boldness, desperation, and faith, and he reaches out to touch this man who had probably not been touched with in years. “I am willing.” he says. God’s love isn’t limited or confined. God’s love is for everyone. God is willing.

Question:
Where do you need Jesus’ compassionate touch in your life right now?

John 1:40-42 (New Living Translation)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John— but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

Andrew’s brother Simon Peter is arguably the most famous of Jesus’ twelve closest disciples. Peter is known for his passion and impulsivity. But it is Andrew who brings Peter to meet Jesus. It’s Andrew’s curiosity about John the Baptist’s testimony that led him to find out more about Jesus. And once Andrew had met Jesus, he quickly decided to follow him.

He could have kept this life-changing decision to himself. But he just can’t help himself! He is so excited! I can just imagine Andrew running as fast as he can over to his brother, and breathlessly telling him,

“We have found the Messiah!!!”

Okay, so the New Living Translation doesn’t have it, but I can’t help but think that there would be at least three exclamation points at the end of that statement! And probably some underlining and bold, as well. After all, that is quite the proclamation Andrew is making. The Jewish people had been waiting for generation upon generation for the arrival of the Messiah, and Andrew has declared that the moment has finally arrived!

If John the Baptist is the first prophet in our Lenten story, then Andrew is our first evangelist. He just can’t help himself!

Question:
When was the last time you were so excited about something in your life that you just couldn’t help talking about it? When was the last time you felt that way about God?

John 1:29-34 (New International Version)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

The official beginning of Jesus’ three-year earthly ministry is marked by his baptism by John. Just a few verses before this, John had proclaimed, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord!'” (1:23). And here John does just that. He calls out to the people in the wilderness, telling those assembled that the man standing so calmly and silently before them is the Chosen One, the Messiah, the Savior for whom they had been waiting so long.

“Look!” John proclaims for all to hear, “I have seen and I testify.” These are powerful words of faith and trust. But in order to “testify,” John first had to “see.” Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. From now through Easter morning– April 20th– we’ll “see” for ourselves by walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

Question:
What does the word “savior” mean to you? John testified that Jesus has come “to take away the sin of the world.” What does that mean to you?

Matthew 4:1 (New Living Translation)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

We’re entering into the Christian season of Lent: six weeks of introspection, prayer, fasting, and repentance. From tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, through Easter Sunday on April 20th, we take time to consider where our lives are out of alignment with God’s will, to pray for forgiveness, and to return our hearts to God.

In our worship planning meeting last week we half-jokingly called this season of the church “Six Weeks of Self-Loathing.” Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that?

Lent is deeply counter-cultural. In the United States we take the “pursuit of happiness” very, very seriously. We avoid anything that smacks of negativity or sacrifice or self-denial. Often we think that church should be a place where we go to feel good about ourselves. And– to an extent– that is true. We come to worship, to remember the amazing promises of God, to celebrate how God has been at work in our lives, and to rejoice that the Creator of the entire universe loves little, tiny us.

But… if church is no more than a feel-good experience, then we ministers have done you a grave disservice. Because God wants us to experience joy, love, and peace in more than just a surface way. Being a Christ-follower is meant to be nothing less than life-transforming. And there are places in our lives that keep us from that reality– places that aren’t healthy or helpful.

That is what Lent is about. It is not meant to be six weeks of self-loathing! It is meant to be a fabulous opportunity to sincerely examine our lives, and to invite God into those areas where we need God’s healing.

Question:
What questions do you have about this season of Lent?