How Water Turns To Wine - Niki Melton

When we read the Bible, we have the benefit of seeing the big picture: we see the story from beginning to end. Take the account John gives us about Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding – we know there wasn’t wine, then there was. But as we receive encouragement from seeing over and over again how God comes through, it is important that we take note that in our own lives we are limited to only our current perspective. Now take a minute to think about the wedding story again, but from the angle of the servants carrying the water. Jesus’s mother said to the servants “do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5), and they did. They had no idea he was going to perform a miracle- he did not discuss or plot out his end game. They knew the wine was gone, and here this man is telling them to go with giant jugs to collect water. And they did. I wonder what they were thinking on their walk to go get the water? Were they chatting to each other on the way back? Reality is that they couldn’t just run into the kitchen and get some from the tap, so they undoubtedly had some time to “walk” in their obedience. When they had gathered the water jars (which by the way were thought to be used for washing the dishes or the guest’s hands… think about that!), about 20-30 gallons each, the bible is pretty clear about the fact that it was still just water in there. In other words, Jesus didn’t do a big whammy-kazzamy style performance to assure the servants that a change was taking place, he told them to draw some out and take it to the headwaiter. And they did. The mention of the water becoming wine is made at this point, when the headwaiter tasted it. The servants never taste-tested the water, they never saw it change, they were never told that it would change, they just obeyed. Is this the type of obedience that you walk with, following instruction with out full understanding, but knowledge and belief in the end result? I’m sure that the solution did not look like what the servants thought, or would prefer. Do you “suggest” solutions to God, or do you bring your concern to him and walk in obedience? The interesting (and very encouraging) point to mention is what typeof concern this was. The first miracle recorded that Jesus performs was to save a family’s reputation. Let that sink in. How often are we stingy with our problems, unwilling or embarrassed to bring them to our Lord? Peter tells us to literally throw them to our savior… he cares!
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.

Trust that God will take care of it, and let him! Whether you see something happening or not. Whether there’s lots of walkinginvolved or not. Whether it looks like a solution or not. Remember that our perspective is that of the servant’s, but make no mistake, he is working it out.

Key point, HE’S working it out, not YOU. Your job is obedience.