Expect Miracles

Expect Miracles

Jhn 2:1-11 NLT - [1] The next day Jesus' mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. [2] Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. [3] The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother spoke to him about the problem. "They have no more wine," she told him. [4] "How does that concern you and me?" Jesus asked. "My time has not yet come." [5] But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." [6] Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. [7] Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, [8] he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So they followed his instructions. [9] When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. [10] "Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!" [11] This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

We live in an age where science is the supreme expectation for miracles. Medicine is modern magic, and technology the tools of the gods. Men trust in these two things to the fullest extent, and very often over what they ought. For in this endless pursuit of progress, not of itself a bad thing, we have forgotten He who is chief over the natural laws themselves: our Lord. Man may very well be able to manipulate the natural order to great extents. Modern medicine is even researching the ability to repair genes to disrupt the aging process. In the end, however, it is Christ who determines the state of Man.

The miracle at Cana is Christ’s first miracle and is unique in that it does not follow Jesus’ common pattern of divine medical healing. In fact, the miracle appears rather trivial when compared to His latter miracles. But we see here the beginning of what would obviously be a common thread in all such miracles: the unexpected reaction to the miracles by the recipients of them. Many at the wedding must have known of Jesus’ divine birth, yet we see only Christ’s mother asking Him to turn the water into wine. Not even His disciples ask it. This choice is likely due to the triviality of the need. Running out of wine at a wedding does not constitute the end of the age. But that is precisely the grand disease of humanity: we do not expect miracles.

If we are to follow our Lord, we must learn to expect miracles. Medicine and technology can carry us only so far, but God can carry us where He wishes without boundary. The trick is learning to expect His intervention in every situation. The triviality or necessity of the situation may vary, but in each case, whether it be water into wine or rising from the dead, demonstrates the bearing of the Father’s will into the lives of His servants. Miracles are instituted to carry out the will of God. We must learn this. We must expect this. When we do, the randomness of life will fade, and we will find ourselves far less often contributing much to “luck.”

May we begin to see Christ’s hand in everything we do. May we learn to expect miracles, for they are the Father’s will for us. We know not every reason our Lord performs miracles, but we know that each one contributes to His glory over this world. May we share in spreading that glory by being His instruments. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich