Prayer
John’s Gospel has been described as having two sections – John 1-11 – the Book of Signs – where Jesus reveals his glory; and the remaining chapters – John 12-20, the Book of Glory. In those chapters, Jesus is glorified by God – he receives glory.
The first sign. On the third day John says – scholars would say that word 3rd day is included by John, because of the readers – they all know what happened on THE third day – resurrection – for the readers, this day is the day when Jesus makes things new, something totally unexpected – so they anticipate – what is going to happen.
John himself talks about why he wrote the signs he did. 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31. The sign by Jesus leads to faith in Jesus…
Something unexpected does happen, and faith grows among the disciples we hear.
However I want to focus particularly upon persistence and obedience.
‘When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him: They have no more wine.
Dear 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.’
This year, Jolanda and I will celebrate 20 years married. Like many of you when you were married, for the wedding day, there were many things you needed to decide upon, organise, as well as focusing upon the all important words you would publically make. Probably it brings back memories! Our plan was that it will all come together wonderfully – with no bumps!
In John we don’t know anything about who the couple were. The focus is the disaster of the catering – the wine runs out.
And John shares – in v2 – Jesus is there, with his disciples. Jesus – the Word made flesh – God dwelling among us – God attends a wedding party, he joins in with our everyday activities, he gets involved with human life.
He is there.
And Mary turns to him.
She becomes aware of the situation. Maybe she saw people ask the servants and they gave some form of nervous reply. And she brings the situation to Jesus – which she believes will lead him to do something about it.
John Burridge says
”When we come to the end of our human resources, and we simply have nothing left to say, or do, or give, in a situation,[ in that moment], we can turn to God in prayer and tell him what has happened.’
Jesus response is not that encouraging. He says – Woman – in English or Dutch that sounds pretty blunt – but in Greek and Aramaic the term is not disrespectful.
Probably that is why Bibles translate it sometimes ‘dear woman.”
”Why do you involve me, my time has not yet come.”
He says. His hour has not come – means his death and resurrection. In John 7 and 8 again he says his hour has not come, and then in Holy Week, on three occasions (John 12, 13 and in 17) he declares the hour has come. The next time, when Jesus will say ‘Woman’ to his mother, is when his hour has come, as he hangs on the cross…
Mary shows persistence despite what looks like disinterest.
She tells the servants – ”do whatever he tells you.”
She is persistent. She expects he will do something. She maybe did not know what or how.
This is not the first time we see persistence a component of faith. Two chapters later, when Jesus has returned to Cana, an official comes to him, who asks his son to be healed. Jesus responds, that he is concerned at the need for signs and wonders among people before they believe. The official persists. And Jesus says, ‘he can leave’, his son has been healed. (John 4).
We see this importance of persistence when we think of other gospel stories.
Blind Bartimaeus, ”Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me”, he shouts, by Jericho. The crowd tell him to be quiet. He shouts all
the more – the same cry. Jesus says – ”Call him.” And he is healed. (Mk 10).
The paralysed man and his friends (Mk 2). Their faith shows persistence. They come to Capernaum and the room, the house is jammed full. Do they give up? Nope, up onto the roof – not that easy carrying a man on a stretcher. And then rip open a roof and lower him down. Jesus saw their faith, and their friend is healed.
We heard it in the words inviting us to prayer in Matthew – ‘ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.’ The Greek is better translated – ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. And Jesus tells a story of a persistent widow as an example of prayer, (Luke 18).
Mary will not let go. She could have said – ‘Fine’, and kept that wine in her cup going until the last drop and then leave. She won’t give up.
She was persistent for the needs of others she became aware of.
Blind Bartiameus was persistent for his needs,
the friends were persistent for their paralysed friend,
the official was persistent for his son,
Jesus encourages us and wants us to be persistent in our prayers…
Obedience
”Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus’ eyes settle on the jars – jars which held water used to wash feet or hands as they came into
the feast. He tells him, fill these jars, to the brim and take, what they assume to be water to the MC of the wedding.
”Do whatever.” They are obedient to what Jesus says. We realise that in many different ways God speaks or he desires to speak to us – through others, through creation, through supernatural means such as dreams and visions, through gifts of the Holy Spirit, through Scripture. And an important part of the Christian disciples life is to learn to discern when he is speaking and when he is not.
But a second step, is when we recognise he is speaking, to obey. Now, when we are praying – talking to God – we can talk in such a way we are not expecting an answer, or we believe an action will come which does not involve us. However it is also very possible in prayer, that as we pray, an answer forms within us, God is inviting us to become part of the answer to the need for which we have been praying. The question is, will we do whatever he says?
Whatever he asks. Again scripture is loaded with such examples. In the OT the prophet Elijah. God says that he must go to Kerith Ravine, and drink from the stream and God says ”I have instructed the ravens to supply you with food there”.
Whatever he asks. Elijah goes. Hide in a valley, drink from a little stream which will get smaller and smaller as drought hits and eat the bits of meat the ravens bring.
Whatever he asks. Or Naaman. The general from Syria who has leprosy. He goes to Elisha. Elisha sends a message. ‘Go bathe in the River Jordan, the River of Israel – and do it seven times and you will be healed.’ He refuses. He will not do whatever.
But then – his servants change his mind and healing comes.
Just before this wedding,
Jesus found Philip, and said – Follow Me. He obeyed.
John suggests that obedience is do whatever the Lord asks.
Obedience to what the Lord seems to be asking of us, after we pray for something.
Obedience to what he seems to be saying in his word.
Obedience no matter how wacky it is, whether it means going to the valley to be fed by scraps of meat by the birds, or to climb and dip into a muddy river for no logical reason.
The servants – told to fill the jars to the brim – and to take it to the MC. They do whatever he says…
And, well we know the rest of the story. Abundant wine! The day is saved, honour protected, and it is quality wine, the best. They saw this sign as they did whatever he told them.
The miracle, the sign happens through the persistence of Mary and the obedience of the servants, as they did whatever he said.
There are many images within this gospel – as I said, the unexpected, the old has gone the new has come, and of course the Messianic Feast.
But to take away and reflect on for the week ahead.
John is teaching us : faith in Jesus and what that may look like –
to expect Jesus simply to take over when our resources or human supplies fail is not enough –
faith is needed to reach out ie prayer.
and often persistent faith may be asked of us,
and a willingness to do whatever he says, or ask of us.
Jesus is there, scripture says, in our times of joy! he also dwells among us in our times of need, when we are at the end of our resources.
Mary said to him: ”They have no more wine… She said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you to do.”
”Lord,
when resources run out and things seem hopeless,
grant me the faith to trust in you and the willingness to do whatever you say, that your abundance may be shed in my life and in this world.
Amen.