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Thursday, January 10, 2019

He Kept Company with Waiters in a Wedding

Washington Post
Turning water into wine was awesome, to say the least. I saw for myself how the servers had taken plain water from the jars (I often "see" bible events right before my eyes when I meditate God's Word). Yup, just plain water. It didn't turn into wine instantly in the jars. But when the servers (or waiters) took Jesus at his word and served the water to the wedding guests, somewhere along the way it turned into wine.


The same way the 10 lepers were still leprous when Jesus told them to present themselves to the priests. But they took Jesus' word for it and went. And as they went, they were healed, the Scriptures say. That radical do-or-die act of faith can throw entire mountains into the sea with a word. Really awesome.

But it's not just the water to wine miracle I'm astonished about. It's how my Jesus preferred the company of the waiters during this wedding. He was an invited guest and should have sat at one of the tables for the guests. Or perhaps, even at the presidential table, if there was one. But nope, he preferred to stay in the kitchen with the waiters and cooks.

Here's how the affair went:
When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 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.”
We see Jesus and Mary clearly in the company of the waiters here. They could not have done this conversation right amid the wedding area but somewhere in the kitchen, specifically where the stone jars of water were kept. Another thing, when Jesus had answered his mother, "My hour has not yet come," Mary was immediately in the company of the waiters saying, "Do whatever he tells you." 

So, putting two and two together, you easily see they were in the kitchen, or some room or area for similar use. Jesus was comfortable to stay in the backdrop or even behind the scene. At once I remembered preachers who wanted to be "properly introduced" in church, their accomplishments are not to be belittled but enumerated.

Though Jesus was sociable and invited to important social functions, he stayed low profile. He preferred to be with servants or simple folks---like waiters, tax collectors and sinners. I'm so impressed that when the master of the banquet tasted the superb wine quality and wondered where it came from, Jesus just kept silent. He just did a major accomplishment and he preferred to stay out of the limelight. Can we do the same?

In fact, even the bridegroom, whom the banquet master called aside, hadn't the faintest idea where the choice wine came from. I bet the top religious leaders were aching to claim the glory for themselves, and they'd do that if they were indeed responsible. They'd never let an opportunity like that just pass them by.

All these were written not as a mere incidental thing. Jesus wants his readers to get something Kingdomly important here. In fact, the topmost thing in the Kingdom values system. The least is the greatest. So stay least.

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