Jesus and Mary Listening

1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4“Woman,^a why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^b

7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11What 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.

12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.  (John 2)

Thoughts: There is much about listening in this first recorded miracle of Jesus.  Jesus listens to Mary, though he seems to say it is a bit risky for him to do this now.  His mother saw the need and pointed it to Jesus- listening to the providence of the situation.  Mary told the servants to listen to Jesus- "do whatever he tells you."  If they did not listen, the miracle would not have occurred.  Listening is always a precursor to a miracle.  Naaman had to listen to Elisha and come to Israel to be cured- though he didn't want to do so.  Listening means humbling ourselves before another.  Humbling ourselves to pay attention to God is a good thing for us.  Listening to Jesus changes ordinary water into wine.  Listening to Jesus changes our ordinary lives into rich full ones with purpose that honor Him.  

Prayer: Lord, enrich my life by enabling and helping me to listen to your great voice.  

Couples renewing vows at Cana church 2010.

4/18/14- Mary and Jesus

11Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:11-18)

Thoughts: This is the first recorded appearance of Jesus.  It is to a woman.  The women were the first to go to the disciples to spread the news that the tomb was empty.  But here it is also clear the women saw Jesus first.  Let us explore this a bit.
     Mary was brave and caring to come to the tomb at all.  She saw the stone rolled away and then saw two angels at the tomb with the body of Jesus gone.  She was convinced someone had stolen the body.  When Jesus approached her, she did not recognize Him. 

Maybe she did not recognize Him because of his flogging and wounds.  While Jesus was healed the scars in his hands, side, and marks on his face were still there.  Maybe her tears blinded her.  Maybe she was not expecting Jesus to be there so she did not recognize Him.  

When Jesus called her name, she recognized His voice, His call, His love and responded.  Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with oil, now hugged Jesus with all her might.  Jesus wanted her to know he would not stay on earth forever, but would ascend to heaven.  So holding on to Him would not keep Him here.
     Mary's response was to tell the disciples boldly.  She was not worried that they might think she had lost her mind.  Instead she was concerned that they hear the good news.  Our attitude should be the same.  We need to tell others the good news no matter what they might think of us- the messengers.  

Prayer: Help me to speak forth your hope and good news, O Lord.  

      

3-14-14 Jesus anointed by Mary

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint^a of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^b ” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you,^c but you will not always have me.”

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. (John 12:1-10)

Thoughts: John describes Bethany as "where Lazarus lived" (NIV) or "where Lazaerus was" (KJV).  Matthew's account has Jesus coming the house of Simon the Leper.  Some would just give up and say "scripture contradicts itself."  But if we wrestle with the text we may see that this is recording the same event from two different angles. The resurrection of Lazarus probably menat that the name of Bethany had changed to "the place where Lazarus lived."  Lazarus could have lived with Simon the Leper and we do not need to assume he lived with his sisters.  Regardless, this was in Bethany- a very small town not too far from the Mount of Olives.  Other differences are that Matthew did not name the woman while John names her as Mary.  Both have this event happening at the end of Jesus ministry and indicate this rite was a symbol of Jesus' death.  Mary was no doubt grateful that her brother was raised by Jesus and gave extravagantly to Him.  If we are convinced truly that Jesus gives us life- here and in the life to come- perhaps we will not be so reticent to give to Him, but would be grateful.
     The other really important thing is that Mary's extravagant gift was criticized by Judas (according to John) while Matthew adds other disciples joined in the criticism.  We often do not understand why people give the way they do, but we should reserve judgment.  The Spirit may prompt one to give to missions (and we may not understand that), while another may be prompted to give to buildings. Perhaps another thing to realize is that the Church does not exist solely to help the poor,  There is no doubt the Church is supposed to help the poor and love their neighbor.  But we do not need to forget the other command to love God.  Mary showed love for God by her act of worship.  Jesus was saying there is a time to give like this and perhaps inferring there is a time not to ("To everything there is a season"- Eccles. 3:1).  Jesus was not saying to not give to the poor because it is helpless to do so, but that while He was on earth it would be appropriate for an act of worship. So today there is a place to give to enhance the worship of God as well as helping the poor.  

Prayer: Help me to remember you are worthy of my time and gifts.  All I have is a gift from you- my life here and my life to come.  Help me to balance giving to the needy and giving to you.  

(Below- Mural of Mary's anointing of Jesus in Bethany church, Israel).