John 2
Jesus is traveling the 16.5 miles between Cana, near Nazareth, and he intends to bring His Mother and brothers back to Capernaum for a vacation. The journey is part of the celebration and vacation.
2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with His Disciples.
3 When the wine ran out, the Mother of Jesus said to Him,
“They have no wine.”
4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me?
4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.
9 When the master 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 master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
11 This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His Glory.
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
First Century Wine Jar from Jerusalem
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.
9 When the master 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 master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
11 This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His Glory.
And His disciples believed in Him.
These days, there don't seem to be that many weddings that say, sure, invite your Son and all his friends. Weddings are more about the close friends of the bride and groom and not a lot of room for others. Space and finances are limited.
When people are honest, and they say why they aren't interested in GOD and all The Bible, usually it has to do with the pull and push of what is fun in life, interesting. God has a lot of hardship in the Bible. Wars that involve armies and death. Illnesses like paralysis, blindness, deaf and a lot of angry religion people who want more blind obedience. And what if it really boiled down to … being boiled?
It would be a whole lot more pleasant to:
eat, drink, be merry, go to parties and have fun.
And this is what the critics say about… Jesus Christ.
Jeaus always seems to be having a little bit too much fun. That Jesus, He is a glutton. A Drinker. A friend to sinners? And He and that group, they go to parties. Express His opinions. Rather loudly. But He is intriguing. Remember that time, that Jesus was like Maria Von Trapp, in the Sound of Music? He was out in the wheat fields on the Sabbath with His Group and, my God, He was eating wheat when He should have been in Temple. And it wasn't even His wheat. He is fascinating. The whole town of Capernaum shows up. And not just Capernaum, sometimes He travels and multitudes go with Him. That Jesus. He is a glutton. And a drinker. The Gospels talk about Vineyards 26 times. That's a lot of something.
The problem with having a great time and having a lot of conversation, eventually the steam runs out. And problems start to happen. Sometimes, the Religious Police show up. Remember the time, Jesus had the Religious Police Show Up? Oh my God, He just talked, like He does, and they just went away. That was Hilarious. And that time that His Mother came to get Jesus and told Him, He had to fix the party? Yes! How? Make Wine! And HE DID!
But even traveling along and singing a song … like Godspell.
Even in the middle of a party, people can feel like they are in trouble.
Sure, it can be logistical, like liquid refreshment. But other times, people can suddenly wonder, what is going on? Sure, you are singing the song, and traveling along. Bounce. Bouncy Party Smile Voice. And begin to wonder the deeper, more profound questions. And at a party, this comes out a little, somewhat, smiley differently than
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
And you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?"
And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Water dissolving and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
And in the middle of the party of John's Gospel, the 2nd Chapter, of a great party, or any party
you might go to, you might have these internal, “Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime” conversations. (After all, maybe Mary was upset at the party. Possibly, she was thinking Jesus needed to work. Or get married. Or He had been ignoring her. Or was someone crying about liquid refreshment and the party had upset behind the smiles?)
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them,
for it is the LORD
your God
Who goes with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Genesis 28:15
I am
Look, I am with you,
and I will watch over you wherever you go,
and I will bring you back to this land.
For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
There is no probably: We know, know, know what Jesus was talking about on this Glorious Day!
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.
And surely
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Psalm 24
6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face,
O God of Jacob.
Selah !!!!!!!!!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
Be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that
The King of Glory may enter!
Speaking of Parties, Life and Expectations
If we are going to compare Jesus' first sign, we should think of Jesus' parable of the Virgins keeping oil in their lamp.
The Virgins wouldn't know the time of Their Visitation was Upon Them. So many of the miracles of Jesus are like this. People went hopefully into the wilderness to see Jesus and didn't know their lives would change.
The Lord was asked, a little brusquely, rudely, How Do We Pray (to get God's Attention)? And in the Prayer Jesus gives us, today as well, He says Give Us This Day. Our Daily Bread. Forgive us our Sins as we forgive others who Sin against us. Lead us not into Temptation, and Deliver us from Evil.
Give us this Day. Today is the time of our Visitation. The Holy Spirit is with us.
Let us Love and Live to His Glory. Jesus Christ is Worthy.
Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge
to those who have understanding
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up.
Acts 1:7
He said to them,
“It is not for you to know times or seasons
that the Father has fixed
by His own Authority.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted
to keep His Promise.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a Mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His Love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.
Hebrews 3:7
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today,
if you hear His Voice”
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 24
6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates!
Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!
Abba, Father,
Our heart hears the call from You.
And we see in Scripture
the mercy of the merciful
Luke 17:17-19
Then Jesus answered,
“Were not ten cleansed?
Where are the nine?
Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
And He said to him,
“Rise and go your way;
your faith has made you well.”
Help us to LIVE
each day
putting You first.
As the Name of Jesus covers us
and
the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
We ask healing
of Your Good Creation!
The fullness of the earth is Yours.
The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.
in our heart and soul.
Those who have worried about
illness
and the ones they love.
Dwell in us, Father,
we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.
Dwell, fully, in those we love
Help us to seek You
first
and we will finish well
in Jesus Christ.
Thank You.
Our God is working. His Son,
Jesus is working.
Amen.
Frank has been tagged for transfer
to
Friends of Faye Link
Donations Appreciated
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofFaye
Smiling,
Smiling,
Handsome Frank
Adopt, Foster or Fund
Montgomery, Texas
Animal Shelter
My grandmother, Bit's family, had one of the first German Shepherds.
It was after World War I and her uncle, Col Artelles Elliott
brought the family a German Police Dog, was what they were called before German Shepherd.
It was an era of hope that peace would be worldwide.
This dog meant a lot to the family, and I was well acquainted with “Cop” The German Police Dog Stories. When Bit was in college, one of her beaux, came to the house and took many, many photographs. The Photographer was Rev. Wm Tate Young, my step-grandfather, after they were widowed. I found the 1916 photographs and front and center, on top, was “Cop” the German Shepherd.
I had to weep! I was getting to see the photographs of all the stories my Grandmother had told me, and her family was sitting on the living room furniture my cousin Anne Cable was using. All the people who had passed before I was born, sitting and having a great, laughing and good time. And front and center, on top, was, “Cop” The German Shepherd. 1918 to 1999 and still the photos of Cop were present and remembered.
Surely, this dog, Frank, who has survived a broken leg and heartworms and still smiling with Joy, is well worth a funding, a rescue, or adoption!!!
Good Boy Doggie! RESCUED
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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