Water to Wine, oil on canvas, 48×48
I find it amazing, verging on amusing, that the first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding banquet experiencing a catering crisis.* With all the problems in the world . . . world hunger, world peace, world anything . . . he was approached by his mother who merely said, “They’re out of wine.”
You know the story. He sent her away without a word, instructed the servants to fill all the huge hand-washing jugs with water and then take the emcee a sample. The emcee took one taste and exclaimed, “Wow, they’ve saved the best till last!”
We might be surprised that Jesus was in the wine making business at all. But we can be confident of one thing: if he’s going to make wine, it’s going to be the best that was ever made, before or since.
I’m reminded of the old fraternity joke that goes, “I don’t care what his religion, if he can turn water to wine, pledge him!”
Of course, he only did it once; he really did have world peace to deal with . . . one person at a time. In another way of thinking about it, however, he’s been doing the miracle ever since.
Here are some lines from my sketch book, personalizing it all.
Lord, You have done your
Wine-making miracle
over and over . . .
and done it again in me.
Taking the plain water of my life
and turning it into wine.
AND
Inasmuch as the wine you create is always best,
and with me now somewhat aged
(flavored with anise and plum and a balance of tannins and acids with a hint of vanilla and dark chocolate)
Wouldn’t it be best to pull out the cork,
pour it around
and let it be savored and drunk
by all who have a taste
and a thirst
for such?
I’ll drink to that. The transforming miracle has begun in each of our lives, or if it hasn’t, it can. It’s only the mix of flavors that differ. Why not share it around?
_______________
*John 2:1-11
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
8:17 am
Great lines, Hyatt! I’m concerned that many of those who profess to be followers of Jesus these days seem to be full more of vinegar than wine.
8:23 am
I’m so happy He’s made you far more than Two-Buck Chuck! Love you, brother. Reminds me of the line: “If it matters to you, it matters to God.” Catering (cooking, laundry, work, parenting) matters to me, so I know I’m not alone. I’ll need a miracle from Jesus come Easter Sunday brunch for 30…(you’re invited, too, of course. You can bring the wine.)
11:05 am
Wow…I love that line!
8:44 am
Imagine being able to say, “Jesus came to my wedding.”
Take care Hyatt
Pastor Adam Barton
Akron, Ohio
9:10 am
Over the last 5 years my life has been an ‘accelerated version’ of aging wine! God has performed so many miracles, I’ve forgotten some of them or maybe there are even too many to count.
As I complete my master’s in Clinical Psychology (as a 54 yr old woman, no less!), turn in my thesis this week, and contemplate a new career as a clinical psychologist/therapist, I am being prompted to look at the entire picture of what God has going on here….redemption.
Your post touched me. I am willing to be transformed and poured out into others.
Carry On, Karen.
Thanks Hyatt. :-)
9:15 am
And all those grapes … pressed, crushed, stirred. All so that we might, one day, be poured-out wine to many. I love “Jesus came to my wedding,” Adam. That really says it all. Cheers!
10:38 am
Hyatt,
I love this connection of our common, simple life being brought as an offering for His miraculous transformation to take place! Of course! Yet I love to see His Truth from a different perspective. Our lives, miraculously transformed by Jesus, then to be offered out to others for their good! Generously, abundantly, not little tastes. I recently read those water jars would have filled approximately 290 bottles of wine! Exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can think or imagine!
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Lisa
11:09 am
Wow! I want to read this over and over.
11:20 am
Who is like Him? He alone is AWESOME! Thanks to everyone for such great comments. May I learn to rest in the Master winemaker and stop striving. I too love the fact that He came to a wedding. Thank you Hyatt for another beautiful post and sharing from your sketchbook.
12:18 pm
I love it! My first thought was that Jesus was at our wedding!
1:43 pm
Hyatt, Thank you so much for this perspective! Exactly what I needed today. Trusting in His abundance this very moment.
3:48 pm
Don’t get off the point……it was not the “product” but the “person” who changed the product. He can change us daily…
8:52 pm
As the other Lisa said, I love how important it is to use the changed “you” transformed by God’s great love and nothing we did to deserve this but what He so generously does for us and is doing in us, to be used for His great glory! To light the way and the path for others to find their way to Him and to Jesus! Wonderful! and the older I get, the more I see the many different ——-wines/His chosen ones/ all different and unique as they grow in Him! —-to reach out and feed the masses! Again, His great awesome plan to further the kingdom one person at a time, met right where they are!! Blessings! Lisa H
5:46 am
Hyatt, I love the phrases and words you use to make your point.
1:53 pm
Beautiful Hyatt….those lines from your sketch book are going in my quote journal.