March 21 I Wednesday

Joshua 7-9

Luke 1:21-38

“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.’”   

—John 2:7-8

The first miracle of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel involved one of the most basic, ordinary commodities there is in life—water. Jesus was attending a wedding in Cana with some friends when His mother informed Him the wine had run out. In Jewish tradition, wedding celebrations could last for several days, and running out of wine would have resulted in social disgrace and humiliation for the hosts. 

Jesus responded to His mother, “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). This seems a rather abrupt and dismissive response, but what Jesus was saying is that He only operates on His Father’s agenda, not on His own or on the schedule of others. He is 30 years old at this point and Mary has had 30 years of experience with Him. She has never seen Jesus perform a miracle, but she knew who He was in terms of His Messiahship. What she told the servants is probably the best five word sermon we all need to heed. “Do whatever he tells you,” she said (John 2:5).

Jesus instructs the servants to fill six stone jugs that were nearby with water. They did not fill them halfway or almost to the top, but to the brim. Jesus then turned the water into the finest wine, far surpassing the wine served earlier. There was nothing special about the jugs, the water or even Jesus Himself. The water was turned into wine simply because Jesus depended on His Father to do something in this situation.

When I was a young Christian, I didn’t think there was anything special about me and concluded the best I could do was get behind the people God was using. I could encourage them, support them and pray for them, but I honestly believed God would never use someone ordinary like me. My perspective changed after reading 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world…so that no one may boast before Him.”

Though we may feel unqualified and as ordinary as they come, extraordinary things will happen when we choose to operate according to Christ’s agenda. This means utter dependence on the power of Christ working through our weakness and inadequacy. Jesus specializes in turning the ordinary into the extraordinary when we do whatever He tells us!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, some days I feel too inept to be used by You, but I trust You to be my strength in turning the ordinary into the extraordinary in whatever task You call me to. Thank You, Lord.