Extraordinary Water

As I was reading the account of Jesus turning water into wine in Cana of Galilee, something caught my attention – something I had never given too much thought. Mary, the mother of Jesus came to tell Jesus, who had been a guest at the wedding, that there was no more wine at the reception of the bride and groom. According to one of the commentaries I read, it is very likely that it was one of Mary`s relatives who were being married. This would mean Mary and her relatives would be embarrassed if they appeared inhospitable by running out of wine.

Mary brought the crisis to Jesus’ attention and instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. We read about Jesus’ response to Mary’s request in John 2:6-8. “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from eighty to a hundred and twenty litres. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’”

When reading this, I tried to imagine what it must have been like for the servants who had to carry out Jesus’ instructions. It was only the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, and people would not have been so aware of His ability to do miracles. The servants filled the jars of water to the brim. And then Jesus told them to draw some water out of the jar and take it to the master of the banquet. If I was a servant at the wedding, I would have been very worried. What would the master of the banquet’s reaction be when given nothing but a cup of water? Water is pretty much tasteless and nothing spectacular.

The instruction of Jesus must have seemed rather irrational to the servants, but as the servants obeyed, a miracle happened before their eyes. What they had drawn from the jar was nothing extraordinary, but it became the best wine at the banquet when they obeyed Jesus.

When meditating on this miracle I felt the Lord encourage me to continue to step out upon His Word, no matter how irrational or risky it may seem to me at times. So often I feel that what I have to offer the Lord is nothing extraordinary, and lacking in “taste”, and yet, when I am willing to obey even the seemingly irrational instructions from the Lord, and step out in faith upon His word to me, His anointing rests on my acts of obedience, and it becomes something extraordinary and useful to the Master.

Our weaknesses and shortcomings do not derail God’s ability to use us for His glory. He can turn our “water” into exactly what He needs it to be to accomplish His will in and through us, as long as we obey His promptings and keep in step with Him. He is the real Source of greatness within us, and whatever He pours out through our lives will be for His glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your unchangeable Word. Thank You that You are able to use my simple acts of obedience and turn it into something extraordinary that You can use for Your glory. Please help me, Holy Spirit, to be sensitive to Your promptings and to boldly obey what You tell me to do. Amen.