The book of John records seven miracles that Jesus performed. John refers to them as “dunamis” or a “sign” – an event that has a deeper meaning. This morning I looked closely at Jesus’ first miracle, praying that God would show me a deeper meaning. Many people look to this account of Jesus turning the water into wine and make it about the wine. I am searching for a deeper purpose and a deeper meaning to what Jesus did for this bridal party.

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples (John 2:1-12).

It sounds to me like very few people at the wedding even knew about the miracle. The servants obviously knew where the wine had come from – they knew better than anyone else. This group whom society devalued had a front row seat to the Messiah’s first miracle. John does not clearly state the impact this had on the servants but I can only imagine their lives were never the same.

Jesus’ mother knew they were running out of wine and knew who had provided in abundance for this wedding celebration. Jesus had not performed a miracle or miraculous sign yet, but Mary seemed to know what he was capable of. Was she forcing him to do something before it was time or did she simply believe he would be able to do something to help save this special occasion? Was she amazed at what he did? Perhaps this was the day when Mary’s view of her son transformed, helping her understand that Jesus was ready to go about his Father’s business.

I would assume his brothers knew as well but it does not say. We know they struggled to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, some not believing until after he was raised from the dead, so perhaps they did not witness how Jesus transformed the water into wine.

Transformation – I believe that is what this miracle is about. Jesus took six stone water jars each holding 20 to 30 gallons of water and turned them into 180 gallons of fine-tasting wine. It took a simple, everyday beverage (water) and transformed it into a quality, highly-valued drink (wine).

But the transformation was not about the water turning into wine. The true transformation was in the disciples. Curiosity had made them followers, this miraculous sign made them believers. They witnessed the power of Jesus and their lives would never be the same.

Jesus transformed the lives of the disciples, just as He transforms our lives. He takes our simplicity and is able to make us into highly effective tools for Him to use to change the world. He takes our impure, imperfect lives and purifies us, giving us a new quality and new value. We are never the same. The enemy wants to convince us that we have not changed. The world wants to continue to define us by what we used to be. God sees us as His beautiful creation – He is changing and perfecting and filling us with His Spirit.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:17-18).

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus (John 1:35-40).

Here is evidence of one more way in which John the Baptist was able to prepare the way for the Lord. John’s investment in Andrew prepared him for the moment in which he would be given the opportunity to leave everything behind and follow the Messiah. Andrew’s faith was strengthened due to the faithfulness of John and, through Andrew’s faith, his brother Simon Peter faced the One who would see him for what he would become rather than for who he was.

Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). – John 1:41-42

Jesus did not just rename Simon, he redefined him. Jesus knew that Peter was not perfect and he knew that he would one day betray him, yet he also knew that Peter’s faith would grow strong enough to stay true when many others would choose to walk away from Jesus.

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”…
At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:60,66-69).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown (1:43-44).

According to my study bible, Philip was Greek. This shows a mix of cultures between the disciples but also shows that Jesus ministry was not going to be to only Jews. The fact that Philip was Greek became a doorway for other Greeks to approach Jesus. Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus” (John 12:20-21). Each of Jesus’ disciples, and each of us, is created uniquely to draw others to Jesus. There was something about Philip that gave others the opportunity to encounter Christ, just as there is something about us that God desires to use to draw others to Himself. The first person to find Jesus through Philip was a young man named Nathanael:

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth!”
“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied (John 1:45-46).

Nazareth was a small town, not famous enough to be considered a possibility for greatness. Just like today, there was a natural tendency for people to define others by where they have come from, the color of their skin, their family background, etc. Nazareth was not well thought of and yet God chose it as the birthplace of His Son. How wonderful that God sees value in even the small or imperfect places or people!

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel – a man of complete integrity.”
“How do you know my name?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”
Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God – the King of Israel.”
Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth” (John 1:47-51).

There is a comparison here that I have never caught but that my Study Bible pointed out this morning – or rather a contrast. It wasn’t just that Jesus knew where Philip was before he arrived, he knew who he was. It was if Jesus was saying – just as you know where I came from and want to judge me by my origin, I know where you came from. You are a descendant of Jacob, who was known to be scheming and deceitful, but I know you are a man of complete integrity. And, just as Jacob dreamed of a stairway reaching to heaven with angels of God going up and down the stairway (Gen. 28:12), you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.

Heavenly Father, just as I came to faith through the faithfulness of others in my life, I pray that my walk with You will help others find You – that they will have the opportunity to hear you say, “Come, follow me.” Thank you for redefining me, just as you did Simon and Nathanael, not according to all the mistakes I have made and will make but by whom You created me to be. You uniquely created me and purposefully placed me in the lives of others. Use me, dear Jesus. Help me to see myself through Your eyes. Amen.

God had a magnificent plan for John the Baptist, yet he remained humble. He was given the role of preparing Israel for the coming of their Messiah, he was given the honor of seeing Jesus revealed as the Son of God and he was given the privilege of introducing the “Lamb of God” to the very people whose sins Jesus would die for.

John could have thought much of himself but he knew he was also one of those people who needed a Savior and he remained humble. He could have said, “Hey, we’re family – Jesus is my cousin! God has chosen this relative of mine to bring salvation!” But instead he left himself out of the introduction and simply said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

It seems to me that John told half the story of Jesus’ baptism and Matthew told the other half. Therefore, I am going to combine both passages so that we can get an idea of how this took place:

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” – John 1:26-27

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” – John 1:29-34

The study Bible I am using this morning pointed out that the language John the Baptist used when he referred to Jesus as “the Chosen One of God” and the language God used when He said “This is my dearly loved Son” is the same language used in Isaiah 42:1: “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.”

Just as God had a plan for John the Baptist who remained humble in carrying out God’s will for his life, we should also remain humble. What God calls us to do, the position He places us in, isn’t about us – it’s about Him – the Chosen One of God, the Dearly Loved Son. It was for our sins that Jesus died and we come to Him as a humble servant, ready to be used however He desires for His glory and not ours.

He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned, he was led away…
And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. – Isaiah 53:3-8,11b-12

Now it’s time to make it about me! I’m a rebel – a rebel who humbly enters God’s presence this morning and bows before the Son of God to say “Thank you for dying for my sins. Thank you for carrying my weaknesses and my sorrows, for being pierced for my rebellion, crushed for my sins. I am whole because You were beaten; I am healed because You were whipped. There have been so many times I have gone astray and left Your path to follow my own yet You willingly bore my sins and interceded for my rebellious heart. This morning I submit to Your path and give You all the praise and glory for where this path takes me. Amen.”

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light (John 1:6-8).

God had a plan for John – a very specific purpose for his life. John’s obedience and decision to walk in God’s plan for his life made a difference in the lives of many people and in the acceptance of Jesus when He arrived. John knew God’s purpose, knew what God had called him to do – He didn’t know every detail or the timing of God’s plan but he knew there was a plan. John accepted this calling on his life with great humility, even when those around him desired for him to be more than who he was.

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” – John 1:19-23

In those days, when a King or man of great importance was going to visit an area of the kingdom, they would send men out before him to prepare the way. There, of course, were not nice paved roads like we have now so they would take time to travel the path and clear the road of any rocks or fallen trees, perhaps trimming back branches that would hinder a chariot or horse. Their purpose was to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance.

John the Baptist had a similar role – to “clear the way for the Lord’s coming”; to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance.

We do a similar “clearing” here at our house when we know that company is coming. It is that moment when we look around and see through the eyes of someone else what our home looks like. When it’s just us, we become comfortable. When company is coming, we notice the pair of shoes in the living room; that the couch cushions need straightened, chairs have not been pushed back under the table, shower curtains need closed and blinds need opened. We scramble around the house, clearing and preparing for our special guests.

A couple of days ago, we were shopping at Bergner’s and saw a young mother from our church with her arm in a sling. She explained that she broke her arm several weeks ago when she tripped over the toys of her 3 year old. Her son didn’t do anything wrong, he was simply playing with his toys, yet the scattered objects had hindered his mother’s ability to walk across the room unharmed.

I feel God challenging me this morning to take a look at my life through His eyes; to honestly look and see if there is some “clearing” I need to do. Are there things in my life that are blocking the way of what God wants to accomplish? Are there attitudes I have become comfortable with that I need Jesus to shine His light on and expose? Is there anything that is not clearly a sin but hindering someone else’s walk? Is there a possibility that the conditions of my life will cause someone else to stumble?

I know that, just like John the Baptist, God has a plan for my life – a specific purpose – just like He has for your life. I want to obediently and humbly walk in that plan. Lord, shine your light on my life and show me what I need to clear away. I do not want to hold tightly to anything that might block your way or hinder someone else’s walk. Help me to see myself through your eyes today. Amen.

Life, light and love – three powerful words that describe the difference Jesus Christ makes in our life. These three gifts from God are made possible by the presence of Christ in our lives, the presence of the Word.

Over the last six months, God has taken me through 18 books of the Bible as I shared my morning coffee with Him. This morning I felt God leading me to the book of John. My prayer is that I will grow in my understanding of my Savior and my God as I dive into this familiar book and allow God to reveal Himself in a new and fresh way. And He is faithful. Already this morning I am encouraged through the reading of His Word and the study of “The Word.”

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5).

Jesus gives us LIFE. He was there in the beginning when life was created. In fact, all life was created through Him because He is the One who gave life to everything that was created. We would not be here, we would not experience physical life, if it were not for Jesus – the Word. But we would also not experience a rebirth or a second gift of life if it were not for Him.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God (John 1:10-13).

Jesus also gives us LIGHT. Just as God spoke light into existence at creation, Jesus brought light when he came into the very world he created. Jesus – the true light – came into a world that had been darkened by sin in order to cast His light into the world He created.

…His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it…The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:4-5,9).

Jesus, the true light, also gave us LOVE. When He entered the world of darkness full of unfailing love and faithfulness, He gave us blessing after blessing from the abundance of His love. Before this time, God’s people had experienced the love of their Creator who had faithfully cared for them but it was through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, that God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came down so close you could see it!

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son…
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has reveal God to us (John 1:14,16-18).

Life, light and love – we will experience all three of these today but it is our choice whether or not we acknowledge the presence of these gifts in our life. Today I can choose to recognize God’s blessings in my life that overflow from the abundance of His unfailing love and faithfulness, or I can focus on the loud cries of the darkness that try hard to extinguish this gift of life.

Jesus came into the world He created and they rejected Him, but all who believed Him and accepted Him were given the right to become children of God (v.10-12). I am a child of God! I have been given life, which brought light into the darkness I was living in, and today I will see God in every blessing He has abundantly allowed to overflow into my life out of His great love!

Are you familiar with the saying, “You don’t fully appreciate it until it’s gone”? Well that thought came to my mind yesterday as I was driving to Starbucks in order to use their wi-fi. None of us would have guessed that 17 days after our move we would still not have internet set up in our home. Yes, it is true that we do not fully appreciate what we have until we no longer have it.

The same thing can be said of cell phones. We have become so dependent on our cell phones that it is hard to remember how we ever survived without them. And now texting! Remember when you had to actually call and have a 2- minute phone conversation with someone just to say, “Dinner is at 6.” And what about our contact lists? When was the last time you memorized a phone number?

I washed dishes today! I actually used the stopper, added Ivory dish soap and filled the sink with water instead of using the dishwasher. How often does that happen?!! When I was finished, I drained the sink but had to empty out the stopper because our new home does not have a garbage disposal – no garbage disposal! However will I survive?!!:)

We have become so dependent on the conveniences of the 21st century yet how often do we stop and consider what our life would be without it. Or is it that we do not truly appreciate these blessings in life until they are not there.

The same can be said of people. Do we fully comprehend the blessings God has placed in our lives through our loved ones – friends AND family? 18 months ago we had to say goodbye to family and long-time friends and move 800 miles away, learning how to live our daily lives without those we had grown to appreciate yet taken their presence in our lives for granted. Then four months ago, I resigned from the job I had never envisioned myself leaving and said goodbye to coworkers who had become more than just team members – they had become family. I realized I had taken their presence in my life for granted, not fully realizing how blessed I was to be a part of a wonderful ministry together.

More recently, we said goodbye to our Texas Church Family – an incredible group of people who had opened their arms and hearts to us and loved us like only family can. We loved Texas but it wasn’t until God called us back to Illinois that I fully realized just how much! Yes, it is definitely true that “You don’t fully appreciate it until it’s gone.”

As I was thinking of all of this on my way to Starbucks and missing our Texas family and complaining to God about how much loss I have experienced in the last year and a half, a song by Matthew West came on the radio. The chorus goes like this:

If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I will be waiting where I’ve always been
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I have never left you, I’m where I’ve always been
Right by your side
Right by your side

God is so faithful! He is compassionate and quick to remind me of His presence when I need to know and feel Him right by my side. How often do I take His presence for granted? I have no idea what it would be like to NOT have Him in my life because He has ALWAYS been there. And the wonderful thing is that I will never have the experience of suddenly missing His presence because I have taken it for granted and now it is gone. He will NEVER leave. He will FOREVER be by my side.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand (Psalm 73:23).

And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20b).

Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone (Psalm 32:1-5).

This week at Kids Camp we have challenged the campers to accept that God has a plan for their life – that He created them for a reason, that they exist for a reason and that they were saved for a reason. They were made for this plan. Last night, we gave them the opportunity to run the race God has marked out for them with desperation. Last night more than 100 kids came down to ask for forgiveness of their sins – Praise God!!!

Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose live are lived in complete honesty…

God has a plan for each one of us and the kids last night made the decision to walk in that plan – no to RUN! And the beautiful thing about this journey is that God will walk it with them. He created them to have a relationship with Him where He makes the plan and then guides each one of us down that path.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey Him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! – Psalms 32:8-11

unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord…I don’t know is ahead for you in God’s plan but perhaps you are slow to walk down the path He has set before you. My friend, trust in Him. The plan isn’t always clear and the path isn’t always easy but I promise that God will guide you along the best pathway for your life. He will lead you, giving you wisdom and strength. He will protect you, watching over you every step of the way.