Hi
Could God be inviting us to participate in the dance of the divine today? Here’s today’s Holy Nougat
“Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled,” John 2:6-7 NLT
Those jars could not have been all full before Jesus spoke. Each guest underwent the ritual of ‘ceremonial’ washing prior to a meal when they were coming from ‘outside’ (see Mark 7). It was a wedding. There were enough guests around so that they had run out of wine. At least one jar would have been already used.
It must therefore have taken a little while to fill those jars up. Yet the servants complied. They did not openly complain. (I probably would; especially if I could not understand what Jesus was doing). They simply complied.
Leaving us (me) to wonder – how close was Jesus to the family who hosted the wedding? Mary seemed to know them well enough that she got involved. Perhaps the servants were exceptionally trained to obey anyone who ordered them; or Mary carried enough authority within that household so that they would listen to Jesus on Mary’s instructions; or they knew Jesus by reputation and so acted accordingly. But, it was Jesus’ first public miracle! And refilling those jars was perhaps an arduous task. And the servants obeyed Him.
How often do we, – who knew Jesus by name and reputation – obey without question, without complaint, without doubt when the situation before us seems impossible? I would that I could say always, but there are times …
Nevertheless, today we have the opportunity to listen anew, whether we’re exceptionally close to Jesus, or have heard of Him by reputation. And having heard Him, despite our possible doubts, we may choose to obey and experience the miracle of beholding God’s glory in our obedience.
Time to dance
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .