John 2:1-5 You Are Perfect, Mom - I Love You
We’re great at talking, but generally not good at listening and obeying God. The Bible repeatedly tells us that God will give believers the Holy Spirit to instruct us, work miracles among us, provide us with gifts including discernment, sanctify and purify us, and give us an overwhelming advantage through our faith in Christ Jesus (Luke 11:13, Acts 5:32, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Galatians 3:5, Ephesians 1:17, 1 John 4:13, John 16:7, Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, John 20:22, John 14:16-17, and 26, John 15:26, Acts 2:33, etc.). Today is a great day to tell God what you want and to obey what He says.
You never really stop being a parent; the relationship just changes. Eventually, we become more friends and trusted confidants; more trusted counsel. The strong chords of the parent-child relationship are bound by love.
I see the deep love that my grandkids have for their mom and dad. They snuggle and hug and listen to their mom and dad. The mom and dad of young kids are there to provide, to guide, and to discipline. It’s amazing to watch the wondrous love that those little guys have for their mom. I remember our kids being the same age. When our youngest (Abrhamam) was about three years old he'd sit on Kari's lap and look at her face and touch it with his little hands and he'd say, "You're perfect Mom." I'm so thankful for the love of my parents. And I'm so thankful for the love our our kids and grandkids. We see the parent-child relationship in Scripture between the Father and us, His dear children. And we see it between the Son of God and the Father. And we see it between Jesus and Mary. As Jesus hung on the Cross for our sins he looked at His mom. And I have no doubt that she knew He loved her completely - even as her heart was pierced with sorrow.
We’ll just cover the first five verses in this blog as time is short. We see in this passage that Jesus, the oldest child of Mary and Joseph, loved his family. And his family loved him. That is true of any godly family. We learn here about the mother and the Son in that retelling of the Wedding at Cana.
We learn that Mary knew. She knew Jesus was the Messiah. Mary knew her baby boy, grown and now with His disciples at his side (likely for one of the first times at a public event as it says “the next day” (2:1)). Mary knew what the angel had told her about the baby she was to have (Luke 1:26-38). She knew that her husband Joseph had been told by the angel to name their son Jesus (Matthew 1:25). And Joseph obeyed.
Mary remembered what the shepherds did when they heard the angels worshiping God and when they came to see the baby in the manger. And she recalled the three wise men from the east and the deep faith in action that they showed through their sacrifice. And she knew very well how God had protected their family all of those 30 years - including when they had to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23) when Jesus was just a boy. Mary recalled the prophecies of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2) confirming her boy was the Messiah.
Mary also knew Jesus’ relationship with His Heavenly Father (Luke 2:49). And she knew plainly what Zecharia and Elizabeth’s boy (John the Baptist) was doing (calling people to repent and prepare to receive and accept the Messiah).
It’s one thing to know there is a God (James 2:19 on what the demons believe); it’s quite another to know the truth and to act out your faith. The bride and groom of this wedding did the right thing - whether they knew it or not. They obviously didn’t have the resources to supply the wine for the size of the crowd they invited. But they invited Mary, Jesus, and His disciples anyway. (It was a big crowd - obviously, if they were drinking hundreds of gallons of wine! And it's obvious by the story of the master of ceremonies that wine at that time carried the same punch that it carries today) There is a lesson that ancient bride and groom teach us here. There is always a temptation to scrimp and to underinvite. It’s the sin of convenience. We exclude people and justify it because of a lack of resources and because certain people are annoying. Don’t do that. Be generous. Invite all that you can, and then some.
Be hospitable (Titus 1:8). Be one that invites others into your home. Yes, men, that is a part of spiritual leadership. You and your wife must be aligned in this of course, but lead and influence well. Be the one who invites - that is a role God called you to. We are to be good teachers - every one of us - and we are to be hospitable - every one of us.
And trust God to provide the resources. God will make sure we have enough. And make sure you invite the Messiah to your events and celebrations. Jesus does not want to be rejected and excluded. We ask Him to be with us on every occasion, at every meal, on every journey, and in every battle for we are nothing, empty, lost, and blind without Him.
Teach your kids this at an early age. Jesus loves us. Unlike the false teachers and wolves prepending to be shepherds He does not demand attention. Jesus would not dare to steal the attention away from the bride and groom at a wedding - His great Feast is coming upon His Return- but Jesus desires to be with us. In fact, it is Jesus that makes all of our celebrations and all the good things of life possible. Jesus sustains this fragile life of ours. Give Him honor in every situation.
We’ll end here as it’s Nov. 5th, 2024. A big day. We’ve got praying to do. So let me end with this. At the end of the day will all be judged by God upon our faith in the Son and the good deeds we do in this short life.
Think of Mary and her example. Think of her assertive kindness. She wanted to bless the young bride and groom. It was their day. And she did what she could. Keep parenting - right until your last breath. They are always your kids no matter how old they are. Mary saw a need (a wedding that was about to be derailed - and an opportunity for the Son to be shown in His unfailing love and faithfulness alongside those He’d chosen as disciples) and she took action. Be like that! Mary took action by going to Jesus and by giving us all the best counsel a person can give, “Do whatever he tells you” (2:5). Let's do that today.
As believers, we have the Holy Spirit in us. Be confident in our Messiah today. Ask. Be thoughtful and intentionally kind to others today. And be prepared for opposition. God’s battles are fought by brave men and women like Mary, like the disciples, and like you and me.
Please be with us today, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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