Jesus Always RSVPs

Today’s passage is John 2:1-12.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 2:1-2 (NIV)
¹  On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
²  and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

On verses 1-2:  Jesus is about to do his first miracle of turning water into wine.  And guess who were the ones who got to experience it?  It was those who invited Jesus, as well as those closest to him.

What can we learn from this? If you want Jesus’ involvement in a situation, invite Jesus into the situation.   Whenever you sincerely invite Jesus, you can count on Him to be there.  Jesus always RSVP’s.

Also, in your Bible you might want to underline the words “those closest to him”.  What’s the lesson here?  If you want Jesus’ involvement in a situation, you need to get close to Jesus.  If you don’t get close to Jesus, you’ll miss a lot of what Jesus is doing.

John 2:3-5 (NIV)
³  When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
⁴  “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
⁵  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

On verses 3-5:  Mary, Jesus’ mother, is at the wedding.  When Mary finds out that the wine is gone, she goes to Jesus and says, “They have no more wine”.  In other words, “Do something about it Jesus!”

Jesus’ response to Mary is interesting: “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.”  Jesus’ answer marks a transition in the relationship between Mary and Jesus. For years Mary was used to being in control of Jesus.  But now Mary had to learn to let Jesus have control over her, especially as Jesus was now coming into his own as a public minister and as the Messiah.  In verse 5, Mary clues into this fact and subtly surrenders to Jesus, saying to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

What can we learn from this?  Stop trying to control Jesus and acting as if he exists to serve your purposes.  Instead, let Jesus have his way with you and serve his purposes.  That’s when you will see Jesus going to work.

John 2:6-7 (NIV)
⁶  Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
⁷  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

On verses 6-7:  Jesus tells the servants to fill six ceremonial hand washing jars with water.  Notice: that’s all Jesus told them.  Jesus didn’t give the servants the whole plan.  He just gave them the next step.

What can we learn from this?  God won’t always show you his entire plan all at once.  Sometimes he’ll only show you the next step.  Faith is not insisting that God show you everything before you trust and obey.  Sometimes all we can do is to take that next step God tells us to take, and trust that He will show you the rest in time.

John 2:8-10 (NIV)
⁸  Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,
⁹  and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
¹⁰  and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

On verses 8-10:  When you let Jesus have his way in your life, his methods and his plan will not always be what you expect or what you would plan for yourself.  But in the end his plans are always better.  God is still in the business of saving the best till last.

John 2:11-12 (NIV)
¹¹  This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
¹²  After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

On verses 11-12:  Jesus took a problem and turned it into an opportunity for his disciples to trust him and experience his power in a new way.  Likewise, whenever you encounter a problem, believe that it is an opportunity to learn to trust God in a new way.  See your situation as a stage for God to show His power.

Jesus, I invite You into [name a situation that you find challenging or problematic right now].  Instead of me controlling You, I ask You to have Your way in that situation.  Help me to know what You want me to do and to take that next step, trusting that You will make all things beautiful in Your time.  Thank You that when I trust in You this way, I will go from not having enough to having everything I need.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!