Turning Water to Wine: John 2
- I was excited to start reading these chapters only to discover that we were reading about Mary again!
- I love reading about Mary.
- Jesus and Mary are at a wedding feast. Traditionally, as you may know, the best wine was served first, while everyone could enjoy it, and as the night wore on, the wine quality slipped - if you will.
- They filled them to the brim, it says in verse 7, with water.
- Then He tells the servants to serve it.
- I love this. There is so much to learn.
- Mary asks Him to help. He doesn’t know exactly what to do, and even asks, “What have I do to with thee?” What do you want me to do Mother? What are we hoping He’ll do? What are we expecting of Him?
- He used this water and pots that were used for purification. What an incredible symbol of Him and His mission and what will become of Him. Pure.
- He takes this water meant for purification and makes it the BEST wine the ruler has EVER hard. He gives this to the ruler at the end - when the wine has run out.
- How often have you ever felt worn out, ready to give up, gone. But then Jesus … He shows up in your life in a small, simple way - but it feels like a miracle, b/c it is.
- He will always show up better than we can imagine. He will make our water moments in life turn into the best wine that we actually can not imagine.
- He will always make our lives better than we ever could or can when we are willing to turn our lives over to Him and start living for Him.
Woman at the Well: John 4
- I love that there are a handful of stories about women who are unnamed in the scriptures.
- This might sound strange - but I love that these women allow us to put ourselves in their lives in a different way than those who are named.
- I am also very excited for the day when I can meet these women and find out what their names actually are and talk to them about their experiences with the Savior.
- As I believe most of us are aware, the Jews and the Samaritans were not on good terms at all. In any way. If a Samartian had even touched some food or water Jews considered it unclean.
- They did not associate in any capacity.
- This is one of the reasons the woman is so surprised that Jesus is talking to her - let alone asking about water.
- After asking for a drink, and the woman questioning Him, He says in verse 10 …
- Giving a small hint that maybe He is someone who can offer her something different, or is someone different.
- In verse 11 she calls Him “Sir”.
- She asks if He is greater than Jacob’s well? He says inverse 14 …
- She says, “Sir, give me this water….” in verse 15.
- Jesus then asks her to go get her husband. She says she has none - and Jesus responds by letting her know about her personal life.
- After hearing these words, in verse 19…
- She’s gone from Sir to Prophet.
- Jesus testifies of things to come, and she says she knows about Christ in verse 25-26.
- The beautiful thing that Jesus does is meet us where we are.
- Elder Holland so beautifully says, “...He met the student where she was in order to take her where she needed to go.”
- The woman knew about the well, she knew of Christ coming. She said she knew about Christ - and He revealed that He was that Christ.
- He takes what she understands and teaches her with those things.
- He will meet us where we are along the covenant path and in our various journeys.
- He knows us so individually and will allow us to become closer to Him in a variety of ways that may differ in specifics from one person to the next.
- However, He will always come to us and reach towards us - no matter where we are - and He will love us.
