Life-spark: Obedience is miracle-fuel. (John 2:5-10)
In the Jewish culture, weddings were important weeklong celebrations, filled with joy and laughter, food and wine. The groom’s family was usually responsible for providing the wine. Some scholars say that running out of wine before the week was over was legal grounds for a lawsuit.
Jesus, His mother and a few of His disciples were at a wedding when the wine supply ran out. The Lord’s mother decided to help, perhaps because she was a close friend of the bridegroom’s family. She went to the servants and gave them some wise advice regarding her son: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5, NIV)
They did. He told them to fill six stone jars with water, and “they filled them to the brim.” (John 2:7, NIV) He told them to dip some water out of the jars and take it to the master of the banquet, and they did exactly as He said. When the master of the banquet sniffed and sipped the water turned to wine, he must have been amazed by the delicious aroma and balanced, harmonious flavor.
Jesus saved someone’s reputation and made for a merrier wedding. Beyond that, Jesus showed that miracles are often primed with acts of obedience. Obeying Him twice, the servants filled the jars to the brim with water, and took the liquid to the master of the wedding. They obeyed the word of the Lord.
So it was with most of the miracles Jesus presided over. “Look at me.” “Come here.” “Seat the people.” “Go dip in the pool.” “Take up your mat.” God’s power is 99% of a miracle, but my obedience is usually the other 1%. Without Him, I can’t. Without me, He won’t.
Life-action: Write this on a piece of paper and put it on your bedside stand or bathroom mirror: “Do whatever he tells you.” Tonight, before you go to bed, try to think of one time when you heard His voice and obeyed “to the brim.”