Did you know that Jesus was a popular guest at almost every party in His day? He wasn’t boring at all, He loved to party. Now every story in the Bible is symbolic and there are deeper meanings to draw from them.
Today we look at one time when Jesus was invited to a party, what transpired there and what we can learn from this to party also.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it… The master of the feast called the bridegroom 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.” ~ John 2:7-11 #Bible
This is the very first miracle Jesus performed. People ask, why did Jesus do this? And some others quote this story to support drinking. But why did Jesus do this? And why did He do this at a wedding party; not in a temple, not at Jerusalem, but at a simple village wedding?
#1. Relationships are very important to God. Our God is the author of relationships (it all started in the garden of Eden); which is why I believe that a marriage without God should be called a sexual partnership or something else. And because He’s the author, Jesus will not allow the relationship to fail as long as you bring Him in the picture. He will step in for your sake.
Get this, Christianity is relationship with God and with your neighbor. Bible says, “If you claim you love God and hate your neighbor, you’re a liar.” So clearly Jesus is very much concerned with our relationships.
Our choice of friends and loved ones are very important to Him. If Jesus truly is the center of it all, then let Him be the center of your relationships.
#2. Why did Jesus turn water into wine? Psalm 104:15 says, ‘wine gladdens the heart of man.’ It was what they needed at that wedding feast so they would not be shamed and their first day of marriage be turned acerbic. Beloved, God wants us to be happy. He came to this earth to bring us great joy. Isaiah 61:3 says He came to give us the OIL OF JOY/GLADNESS.
In the beginning, we were created in Eden to be happy and to enjoy life. Eden means ‘His presence’, ‘delight’, ‘pleasure‘. And “in His presence there is fullness of joy!”
Also remember the message of the Angel to the shepherds when Jesus was born, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of Great Joy!”
So my father often says, “True Christians should be the happiest people on earth.” ~ Rev. Simon Ampofo.
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Even in challenges, we can say like Job, ‘My redeemer lives!’ Now I end with this, even the means/act by which you were born to the earth is from pleasure, why are you always worried and troubled?
It is the enemy that seeks to take away and steal your joy. Beloved, sin causes us to lose joy. And the enemy knows it is your strength as a Christian: “The joy of the Lord is my strength!”
Dear one, happiness is from the soul, based on ‘happenings’ or external circumstances. But joy comes from within, from the Spirit of the Living God; It bubbles up from within. May you have the fullness of joy that Jesus gives.
(To be continued tomorrow…)
Stay blessed and kindly share with friends and family.