Today’s Reading: John 2:1-12
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“My hour has not yet come…But you have kept the good wine until now.”
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This is Jesus’ first recorded miracle. It occurred at a wedding feast in Cana, a city in Galilee.
Jesus’ mother, Mary, had become concerned because the feast had run out of wine. This was potentially a humiliating embarrassment for her friends. So she came to Jesus and stated, very simply, “They have no wine.”
Mary knew deep in her soul how special Jesus was. From her cousin Elizabeth sharing how her son, John, leapt in her womb when Mary entered the room with Jesus in hers, to the shepherds coming to the manger in adoration of her newly born baby boy, to the wise men arriving and offering expensive gifts to him, she knew Jesus was special. So she turned to him in this time of need.
In response, Jesus said, “My hour has not yet come.” He wasn’t being insensitive. He knew miracles might push a messianic expectation that was not yet ready to be realized. The Jews wanted a military leader to eradicate Roman oppression. Instead, Jesus offered to die for their sins. It was not yet his time to reveal this truth and go to the cross.
But Jesus did meet her and others’ needs. His heart was moved with compassion. He changed the water into wine. In fact, his wine was so much better that the guests assumed the best wine had been saved until the end of the feast—not the way things were done!
Trust today that Jesus has a perfect hour for everything in your life. As you wait for him to act on his promises, wait patiently. All times and hours are in his hands. If it’s not yet the hour for him to act for you, continue to trust him. His timing is always perfect.
Also, know that Jesus cares about the most intimate concerns of your life. Even your hidden feelings of embarrassment and humiliation are of concern to him. Come to him today and give them to him—no matter how great or small. Let him carry them for you. He cares about everything in your life.
Finally, even as you grow older, please know how much he still cares for you. He saves his best wine until the end. He saves people’s best years in life to be their last years. Age is just a number. It means nothing to him. All he cares about is your faithfulness. He wants to use your later years in great ways for his glory.
Give him the rest of your life. Give him all your years today. He ordered them all. He cares about every second of your life on earth. Great is his faithfulness.
Your best is yet to come.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]