“The Miracle of Change”
Now if we take things literally when we read the Bible, this is an account of a time, early on in Jesus’ ministry, when Jesus and his disciples are at a wedding party. They are invited guests, the couple has exchanged vows or whatever they would have done at that time and now everyone, including Jesus and the disciples (who have only been with him a short time), are celebrating the wedding feast. Everyone is having a great time, there has been plenty of food and wine, and no one is about to leave.
But then, the “wine gave out” – it was gone. Jesus’ mother, Mary, sees what has happened and tells her son, “They have run out of wine.” To which Jesus replies, “So?” “What’s that have anything to do with us?” But Mary has the last word. As she walks off, she tells the servants, “Do whatever he says.” She knows full well her son will take care of things.
And he does. Jesus first tells the servants to fill the six stone water jars (used for rites of purification) with water. Then after they have filled them all, he says, “Okay, now take some out and take it to the chief steward.” When the chief steward tastes the wine Jesus has ‘made’ he tells the bridegroom, “Wow, you have kept the good wine until last.”
This, John says, is the first of the ‘signs’ that reveal Jesus’ glory and help his disciples to believe.
So, if we take things literally in the Bible, we are going to read or hear this and think, ‘Jesus could turn water into wine, very good wine – and that is a miracle, the first of many during his ministry. And we would be right. But we might also think, “So?” “What’s that have anything to do with us?” And in that question and its answer lies perhaps an even larger miracle for the church.
This past week, I had the privilege of hearing Bishop Sally Dyck of our Minnesota Conference speak at length to a gathering of Iowa clergy about the current state of the church and our preoccupation with trying to figure out why things are as they are and what now must be done. She put it all in perspective by relating it to scripture – taking us through the story of Job – to apply its lessons to the dilemma a declining church is facing. At the end of his story, Bishop Dyck reminded us Job was called to a new time - “a return to a wonderment and amazement of all God has done” - and was given a “new family.” Relating that to today’s church, she asked, “What is God calling us to?”
Perhaps there is a hint of the answer in hearing the wedding story John retells in a different way. It has been a long and tiring day of walking, teaching and meeting with people. Jesus and his followers are gathered around the fire, as is their custom after the evening meal, and the disciples are talking about how tired they are. Their enthusiasm is gone. They have done so much and now they have run out of energy. Some are even questioning if they should go on. Having heard all this, Jesus begins to reminisce: “Remember when we first started out and went to that wedding party and the wine ran out – what were the bride and groom’s names anyway? Oh well - I want you all to know this: the kingdom (and your part in it) is like that. The good times, the successes - when everything is as it should be, will run out. But the party won’t be over. Just as I did then, I will provide more “wine” for celebrating – even better than before. Remember those empty stone jars once used for purification sitting over in corner and how I used them? All of you will be like those stone jars – and when the time comes – I will use you in a whole new way, a miraculous way, so that God’s kingdom will come. You are those jars. Always remember that”
The apostle Paul said it a little differently, writing, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6. These, now, are my words: there are different ministries, different people, different churches yet to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, the love of the Lord and the grace of God – each and every one, jars to be used in a new way.
There are different ministries – we celebrate today the ministries God has called us to, past and present, and look forward to the new ministries awaiting us in the future.
There are different people – we celebrate today those who make those ministries - past, present and future - possible.
There are different churches – we celebrate today the church we have been, the church we are, and the church we are yet to become.
And yet the same Spirit, Lord, and God in all – we give our thanks and praise to God. What else can we say other than, WOW!
Our own Bishop Trimble also spoke on Monday. While Bishop Dyck challenged us to ReThink church and what it means to be the church and a follower of Jesus Christ; Bishop Trimble talked about Re-Wiring our thinking about the church so that it’s not so much all about us but, instead, all about God’s ministry. He said, “Jesus came to do what we could not do for ourselves, and then left us (the church) to continue the ministry he began.” “Yet,” he said, “sometimes our thinking gets in the way of our belief. Too often, we think there is not enough (time or resources or money or whatever).” I think today’s scripture gives us reason to think differently - with the Lord involved, there will be enough – even when it seems we have run out!
The party is not over. It is not time to pack it up and go home but to follow his lead and “do what he says.” There is celebrating yet to do, because the Lord continues the miracle of using “empty jars” for turning the water we have into “new wine.” God promises to provide the power, the love and the grace needed. Maybe not in the same ways God has before, but provided nevertheless. Things will be different, for sure. There will be change, no doubt. And yet the story tells us the wine gets better for those who remain. That is the promise - and the good news for today.
No comments:
Post a Comment