John 2-4
October 14, 2014

Did Jesus really turn water into wine?   Yes.   And, it appears to have been a very good quality of wine, one that would have taken humans several years to ferment.  The master of the banquet says "you saved the best for last".   So Jesus' first miracle is wine-making.     In many churches this wouldn't raise an eyebrow.  But in our corner of the faith, we have chosen not to drink, because it leads to addiction, abuse, loss of income, etc.    We simply cannot find a good reason to allow drinking when we know that it leads to serious trouble for many people.   We say "better to leave it alone....Jesus didn't say that you have to drink".    But that doesn't make having a glass of wine a sin either.     I tell my friends that it's not a sin, but it's probably a bad idea, or at least exposing yourself to a bad habit.    Having said all that, if Jesus himself offers me wine, I'm drinking it.  If communion is wine, I'm taking it.

We sometimes get the details wrong as we attempt to work our our faith.  One group defines themselves by what they drink, another group allows activity in the church that shouldn't be allowed.   Jesus shows up at the temple and finds that they have begun buying and selling, trading cattle and sheep, exchanging money and all other sorts of carrying on....    The place has begun to look like a flea market more than a solemn place of worship.    As soon as Jesus sees it, He clears the place out with a whip.    I am surprised that no one tries to stop him.  The temple area is a large place, and there is a lot of money and property flying around.    Maybe they knew in their hearts that what they were doing wasn't right, so they didn't have the motivation to fight back.   Maybe they were just caught off guard.   Maybe Jesus was really, really good with the whip.   I don't know.

I do wonder from time to time what Jesus would think if He came back to see the church today.   I doubt that a bottle of wine would raise his hackles.  But I wonder if He would approve of all our activities.   Would there be enough of a balance between advertising prayer meeting and halloween fun?    Would He be satisfied with the number of people who attend a small group?    I haven't tried to change anything that we are doing here, so I guess I mostly feel that Jesus would be happy with what we are doing.   He might even say that we take ourselves too seriously.   I don't know for sure.

We can't leave this section without talking briefly about the Samaritan woman.  This account isn't found elsewhere in scripture.   Jesus breaks down several cultural barriers when he speaks with her, he shouldn't be in Samaria, he shouldn't be talking to a woman, and especially not a women of poor reputation.     But because He does, a whole community has the opportunity to be saved.   When we read the story think of ways that we can break down social barriers to get the gospel message to the people.....and then consider the point of view that says we are the "samaratians" who have received the message.    Praise God that He and those who came after Him have stepped across the social barriers and shared the message!    Where would we be without them?


PR