Better Days, Miracle Wine, and Big Love

By Robin Gray

I’m writing this blog post tonight during a global pandemic.  We are all monitoring our behavior, keeping away from vulnerable family members and limiting our contact with the public.  These times are scary and depressing. People in other states and countries are getting sick and some are dying. The whole world is hurting and in need of love and prayers.

But today, I needed a Coronavirus break.  Today, I needed a happy day. So I turned off the TV and took my dogs for a long bike ride on the St. Marks Bike Trail.  The sun was warm and bright and we listened to seventies tunes. I smiled and waved at other riders and they smiled and waved back, all of us keeping well beyond the required six foot distance.  We stopped to watch the river roll on toward the sea and then came back for a late afternoon swim. It almost seemed like a beautiful, normal spring day.

Better days…

“Better days are coming,” I said to myself.  “There is still so much to look forward to.” Indeed, there is.  I have a new grandbaby coming in October. My sister and I are going on vacation to the beach in September.  One day (someday soon I hope) we will gather as a family again at my Mama’s and have an old fashioned family singing with lots of home cooking and neck hugging. 

I have seen so many posts requesting prayer from around the world during this epidemic.  It was especially touching to watch a video of people from Brazil go to their windows during this lockdown and sing “Because He Lives.”  Surely, God is near during the most difficult times of our lives, and he is near us now. But he is also with us in happier times, even though we may not notice.

When you invite Jesus to the party…

John chapter 2 tells the story of Jesus’ first miracle, and it happened during one of those happy times.  There was a wedding celebration in Cana, and Jesus, his friends and his Mama were invited to the party. Just quoting this conversation directly from the Bible makes me smile.  

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’

‘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.’” (John 2:3-5)  

So the servants filled the jars with water just as he told them, then they drew up and served the best wine in the history of wines to all of the wedding guests. 

“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11)  

The first miracle; an act of kindness in a moment of joy…

Jesus’ first miracle wasn’t healing the sick, raising the dead, or even feeding the multitudes.  It was making wine at a wedding celebration. He was there because he was invited, and he did it because his Mama asked him to.  We call it a miracle, although on a scale of minor to major, it may not appear very significant. For that bride and that groom, he revealed his glory through an act of kindness on their special day.  And to them, it probably meant the world.

Inviting Jesus to the celebration…

Better days are coming for us.  I’m confident that our prayers are being heard.  Someday, our doctors and scientists will find an effective treatment that will save more lives and beat this virus back into the shadows where it belongs.   And when that day arrives and we can finally join with each other in celebration, let’s not forget to invite Jesus to the party. He may not pour a glass of wine for me since he knows I’ll abuse the privilege, but I’m sure he’ll help me sing a song or two.  

Your very existence brings him joy.  

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)