Is It The Third Day Yet?
Good Morning Friends,
After Christmas and New Year’s Day there can be a bit of a letdown. But the party is to keep on going. In today’s scripture we face the times when we run out of joy and we too like Mary ask Jesus to supply the truth of His relationship…the power of His friendship. Today we explore what to do when the wine runs out. Today we embrace the possibility that our joy can be filled to the brim when we act out of compassion. Today we look at how our God works in small ways connected to big ways when it comes to wine. Today as we ask Jesus, Is It The Third Day Yet?
Scripture: The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Genesis 1:12-13 (NRSV)
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away.
Genesis 22:4 (NRSV)
and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 6:15 (NRSV)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 12:40 (NRSV)
John 2:1-11 (NRSV)
and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:4 (NRSV)
Message: Weddings are times to have fun and celebrate the bond of unity and commitment. They are events that are to mark the importance of family and community.
If you have ever participated in or planned a wedding, you know that a lot has to go into the preparation. But first century weddings in the Jewish culture were more extensive than we might imagine. They were not a day or two but a week-long event at which the whole community participated. It was a much bigger deal than most modern weddings and more like a royal marriage celebration. So imagine for a moment the great embarrassment of the King and Queen running out of the essentials for their heir. Here we get a picture of the seriousness of running out of wine half way though the feast. Here we might for a moment ask how much wine Jesus and his disciples drank until we get back on track with the real story. For here we are to experience a Jesus that takes responsibility and cares about our embarrassing shortcomings. Here Jesus takes the water of external purification and uses it to restore joy. Here Jesus for His first miracle turns water into wine and reveals the scope of God’s interest in our lives. Not only is He interested in life and death matters but also our everyday needs. Friends, miracles happen when we understand that Jesus cares, transforms and extravagantly provides for our needs. Miracles happen when we ask Jesus to provide for our party. We should help when the problem is not our fault or responsibility. We should help because miracles happen when we care as Jesus did about everyday needs. We should help because when we do, our everyday experiences are transformed by the extravagant provision of Jesus. Faults can become features when blessed with a little compassion. On the third day of creation God commanded the earth to produce all kinds of fruit. On the third day of the wedding feast water was turned into wine. On the third day Jesus was resurrected. We too are to experience the miracle of the third day. We too are to experience the miracle of the new creation. We too are to experience the abundance of the wedding feast.
Pray we bring our needs to Jesus. Pray we break with customs and save the best for last. Pray we have a more personal relationship with Christ. Pray we rejoice in all the small miracles. Pray we rejoice in the transformation of frowns into smiles…of fears into hope…of sorrow into joy. Pray we experience the joy of the abundance of new wine in Jesus. Pray we experience a Jesus that turns sin into grace and death into life. Pray we know what to do when the wine…the joy runs out. Pray we experience the joy of God’s love knowing it will always be more than we will ever need. Pray we drink freely of that which has been poured out in us. Pray we have and give the right instructions. Pray we use the right instruments. Pray we be inspired to take action. Pray we admit our problems. Pray we do whatever He tells us to do. Pray we commit ourselves completely to experiencing the kind of joy God intended. Pray that the wine of God’s grace wash away our sins and transform us from the inside out. Pray our cup overflows. Pray for today is Sunday.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 