When the Drinks are on Jesus

       In his book Lessons from a Father to a Son, former Missouri Senator and later Attorney General John Ashcroft describes his ailing father's advice as he is about to begin his first term in Washington, D.C. Ashcroft writes: "As we talked, the earnestness of my Father's voice suddenly commanded everyone's attention. 'John,' please listen carefully. The spirit of Washington is arrogance and the spirit of Christ is humility. Put on the spirit of Christ. Nothing of lasting value has ever been accomplished in arrogance.' The room was absolutely quiet. All of us were absorbed by what my Father had said, and we awaited what he was struggling to say next. 'Someday I hope someone will come up to you as you're fulfilling your duties as a senator, tug on your sleeve and say, "Senator, your spirit is showing."

       Ashcroft then describes a scene a few months later when he got into an argument with an airline ticket over a flight delay.  “My temper started to rise until I heard somebody from the back of the luggage-laden line call out, "Yeah, he thinks he can do anything, because he's a senator."  That comment stopped me cold. I remembered my father's words. 'Someday I hope someone will come up to you and say, "Senator, your spirit is showing."' My spirit was showing, all right, but it was the wrong spirit. I thought of all my father had taught me. Now he was dead. I felt a new urgency to personify the principles he had held so dear. I later handwrote a letter to the ticket agent and apologized. I knew I needed to ask forgiveness for my arrogant spirit."

       Jesus said, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Do you see it? Everyone will be humbled. Even the proudest egomaniac on earth will be humbled. Even the CEO of General Motors has been humbled.  Even the fat cat execs of AIG have been humbled.  Even Bernie Madoff has been humbled.  Even Ted Turner and Donald Trump will be humbled.

       The question of life is not, "Will I become humble?"   Jesus says, “Yes, you will.” We all will. The question is: Will I humble myself, or will life or the Lord have to humble me? If He does it, it is punishment and failure. If you do it, it is reward and success. Humility is your greatest act. It is the way to the highest level of living. If you are willing to humble and submit yourself before God, you have started your walk toward celebrating the life that God desires you to live

       In Jesus God gives us a model of what He is looking to see in us. Jesus knew His identity. He knew that he ranked a whole lot higher than a United States Senator. But Jesus served with humility.  We see that lived out in John 2:1-11.

John 2:1-11  

       Jesus loved a celebration.  That’s why He was so attractive to children.  Children aren’t drawn to cranky people who yell at them to get off the lawn.  Jesus was joyful.  He enjoyed being with people and people enjoyed being with Him.   

        There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee and Jesus was invited.  Jesus could have found a hundred reasons to avoid the party.  He’s at the start of His ministry.  He has these new disciples to train,  But Jesus doesn’t need to have His arm twisted to go to a wedding.  Once He arrives, He has a good time and helps others have a good time.

        When First century Palestinian young people were married, the celebration lasted six days -- both before and after the actual ceremony.  The event was very festive. First the bridegroom and his friends would go to the bride's house. This was usually done at night so there could be a spectacular torchlight procession. Then the bride and groom were conducted through the streets by the light of flaming torches with a canopy over their heads. They were taken by the longest possible route so everyone would have a chance to wish them well. They wore crowns and were dressed in bridal gowns. They were treated like a king and queen and were actually addressed by those titles. For that time, their wish was law. In a life of poverty and constant hard work, this time of festivity and joy was one of the supreme occasions.

       After the torchlight parade, the young couple went to the home of the groom where there was a feast which would last until the Sabbath. Of course, it would take a great deal of the resources of a family to put on such a feast. There was the food to provide and also the need for wine to celebrate the joyous occasion.

       Research into first century marriage customs reveals an interesting fact that opens up this passage. The tradition was that the family would supply the food and the guests were to supply the wine.

       So Jesus' mother Mary comes to Him and says: "They have no wine."

       A lot of ink has been used to describe the role of' Mary at the wedding and the reason she told Jesus about the lack of wine. But the reason Mary comes to Jesus with the problem is probably indicative of nothing more than that Jesus showed up at the wedding with five thirsty friends and didn't bring any wine. Mary informs Jesus that He has committed a small social error and that it would be a good idea to run down to the market and pick up some supplies. That's what any mother would do.

        Jesus replies to Mary in a somewhat strange way considering the situation. "Woman," He says, "What have you to do with me?" – literally in Greek, “what to you to me?”

        That sounds pretty rude in English. Most mothers I know would be offended if their son spoke to them that way when all they were trying to was teach a little social etiquette. But in Aramaic, which is the Hebrew dialect they were probably speaking, the reply isn't as rude as it sounds in English.

        For a son to address his mother as "woman" would be considered very rude in our culture. Statements to one's mother like "Hey! Woman, fix me some food" are not considered acceptable in most families.

       But in first century Palestine it was normal for a son to speak to his mother in this way. It wasn't considered insulting or impolite. In fact, this is the very form of address Jesus tenderly uses to Mary from the cross: "Woman, behold your Son."

       Jesus' question, "what do you have to do with me?" was also a common phrase. In fact, it is found in five places in the Old Testament. It is hard to give an exact translation of this Aramean cliché but it means something like "What responsibility is that of mine?"

       So Jesus says to Mary: "Woman, what do you have to do with me?" Then comes the mysterious part of His answer: "My hour is not yet come."

       I want to tell you something that I don't want any of the younger worshipers to hear, because it might give them ideas. Any of you who still live at home with your parents should stop listening for the next fifteen seconds. Now that I have your attention, let’s continue.

       When I was in junior high school, I discovered what I thought was a good way to get out of work. When my mom would tell me to clean my room or dry the dishes I would say: "I could do that, but what would it mean in the end? Fifty years from now, who would care?" I would say this with a philosophical tone and an other worldly expression on my face.

       My mom wasn't much for my junior high philosophy.  She just told me what it would mean to my own personal end if I didn't do as I was told. My well developed philosophy tragically gave way to the threat of force.

       But when Jesus says to Mary: "My hour is not yet come," He isn't trying to avoid doing His duty. He is making a simple statement of fact. In John's Gospel, the word "hour" means the fulfillment of our Lord's full purpose and goal -- His whole ministry. It wasn't yet time for Him to reveal himself.

       Have you ever had an experience like Mary's -- when you ask a simple question and get a huge answer? All Mary says is "they've run out of wine. You fellows should have brought some with you." Jesus answers: "Woman, what does that have to do with me? My hour is not yet come."

       Mary takes this in stride. Maybe she has had previous experience with these mysterious answers She is not offended. She says to the servants: "Do whatever He tells you," and just walks away leaving Jesus to handle the situation.

       I doubt that Mary is asking Jesus to do a miracle. She probably has not seen a miracle to this point.  Her idea is probably that Jesus and His disciples will give the servants some money to go down to 7-11 for more wine in a box. However, Jesus chooses a very different way.

       "Now six stone jars were standing there for the Jewish rite of purification, each holding thirty gallons." Mark mentions this rite in his gospel. It something the Pharisees developed where they always washed pots and pans and their hands before a meal in a special way.

       "Jesus said to the servants, 'fill the jars with water.' And they filled them to the brim. He said to them 'Now draw some out and take it to the steward (who was in charge of the feast.)

       This steward was an important person — maybe the headman of the town. His approval or disapproval will do much to determine this new couple’s place in the community. When the steward of the feast tasted the water, now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him: 'Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.' "

       That’s the end of the narrative. Observe something. The servants are the only people who know that anything special has occurred. Imagine them watching the steward drinking the water from the jars and then proclaim it to be the best wine. The servants know and the disciple’s know. That’s it.

       John then concludes his account with an editorial comment: "This is the first of the signs that Jesus did. He manifested his glory and His disciples believed in Him." The word manifest means "breakthrough." Jesus' glory broke through and His disciples believed in Him.

       Some commentators have termed the turning of water into wine a "luxury miracle" -- not an essential miracle like feeding the hungry or healing a leper. Its whole purpose, to them, was just to allow people to have a good time at a party, like that’s a bad thing. And yet, in his entire Gospel, John gives only seven of these "signs" -- these events which point to something significant about Jesus -- events which have an importance far beyond the surface dimension.

       Out near Houston Texas is the San Jacinto Battlefield where the Texan army defeated Santa Ana and won independence.  There is a tall monument.   The Texans, with great Texan humility, have placed a sign next to this monument that points out that their tower is ten feet higher than the Washington Monument.

       That’s what signs are for – to tell you something you might not know otherwise.  That’s what John means when he say that this miracle was a sign.   Men can fill water jars but only God can turn water into wine.

       But what was it about this miracle which caused the "glory" of Jesus to break through to the Disciples? What happens here to cause Jesus' Disciples to have their faith in Him fixed in place?

Well first, of course, something big happens. Jesus does this miracle with the understanding that something very important is happening. The "hour" He spoke of in verse four has arrived   From now on it’s public.

       Second, something small happens. Jesus puts forth His power for the first time to save a Galilean family from social embarrassment. It is in kindness and care for their feelings and their reputation in the community that Jesus goes public.

       In the Middle East, hospitality is a sacred duty. It would have brought shame on the bridegroom and his family if the wine had run out. Jesus gives the young couple the best wine and wins praise for them from the steward. He makes them look good.

       We see something very special here about Jesus. We see His practical love and care for people. He cares about social omissions. He cares about this young couple's reputation and happiness. Everywhere in the gospels we see the response of God to human need and suffering. But here we see His response to happy celebration. He puts forth His power to help it continues. He not only gives wine. He gives 120 to 180 gallons of wine.  It makes you wonder how many guests there were.

       German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, while in prison awaiting execution by order of Adolf Hitler, wrote these words. Listen to them: "I don't want the God of the gaps -- the God who only helps me in my crisis. I want the God who is able to be at the center of town -- the God of my joys -- the God of my fulfillment. Not just the God I call on when everything else fails, but the God who comes to the center of my life in my celebrations as well."

       That is the God who reveals Himself to us at the Wedding at Cana -- the God of our celebrations.

       Third, something cosmic happens at Cana. Jesus demonstrates in a very concrete what it means to be the Lord of the universe. In changing water into wine, Jesus demonstrates His power over two things -- matter and time.

       Time is not enough. No matter how long you leave water in a jar it will not turn into wine without a basic change in molecular structure. In the same way, molecular change is not enough. Wine like the stuff on skid row can be produced in an afternoon. But the best wine, the wine Jesus gives, takes time.

Jesus knows His power. But Jesus acts with a restraint and simplicity that is remarkable. John wants us to know that no one was aware that a miracle had occurred except the servants and the disciples. The servants don't tell the steward what has happened. Maybe they want to check it out for themselves -- to see if the water had really become wine or if the steward has lost his marbles.  Maybe they went back to make sure several times. 

       There is no evidence that the servants or the disciples spread the word so the party stops and everyone looks at Jesus in amazement saying: "Isn’t that amazing? Water into wine! You must be awfully proud of your son, Mary."

       No! This moment belongs to the bride and the groom. They are the king and queen of this party. Jesus does nothing to draw attention from them to Himself. It's just the disciples who see what happens and are struck with Jesus' glory. And I believe that the way Jesus acts with such quiet restraint is a part of His glory. His service with humility was a hallmark of His entire life.

       In the words of one writer: 

     "He was the light, yet He hung in the darkness of the cross.

       He was the life, yet He poured out His soul unto death.

       He was the rock of ages, yet His feet sank into the deep waters.

       He was the Son of God, yet He died a felon's death.

       He knew no sin, yet He took our place and suffered in our stead.

       He invited the weary to come to Him for rest, and yet on earth He could find none for himself.

       He spoke and it was done, yet He humbled himself and became obedient unto death

       He was the desire of all nations, yet He was despised and rejected.

       He was the fountain of life, yet upon the cross He cried, "I thirst."

       He experienced death, yet through His resurrection He brings us life full and eternal.

       He was the mighty God, yet He became a servant.

       And that’s the model He calls us to follow.

So when your spirit shows, what do people see?