What is the message this week from the marriage at Cana?
Mary said to Jesus, "They have no wine," and she said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Mary knew who Jesus was; there was absolutely no doubt in her mind as to his purpose on Earth. He was not only here to take away the sin of the world on the cross, he was here to show us what it means to be the incarnate children of God, to be made in his likeness. And one of these likenesses is to perform miracles.
Not only those miracles that we see everyday when people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to accomplish something (the metaphorical "move mountains"), but also those miracles that appear to defy the very laws of nature, of physics and science.
The "water into wine" was Jesus' first miracle, but he went on to perform many more and, some would say, greater miracles than this.
Why is it that we find it so difficult to accept the possibility, let alone the actuality of modern day miracles?In all truth I tell you,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
and will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
I have a friend who prayed and invoked Reiki healing energy over her baby who had been diagnosed with a heart defect. At her next appointment, the doctor could not find any defect; he was completely baffled and bemused!
I know of someone who went for heart bypass surgery after attending a prayer and healing service. When the surgeon looked at his heart, it had already grown its own new bypass valve.
I have watched someone massage a new-born puppy back to life - why not a new-born human being?
In her book "There is Always Enough", Heidi Baker tells the story of her mission house in Africa where 100 children had taken refuge. Her neighbour, a nun, had brought a pot of stew for her family of four - when she saw all the children, she said "I will have to go and make some more!" Heidi said, "No; pray," and she began to ladle bowls full of stew - enough to feed one hundred children!
The pastor of a local church here was asked, "Why would God choose to shower gold dust and diamonds from the ceiling?" the paster reflected this question and asked God to answer it - "Because I can!" came the reply.
If we believe in a loving, benevolent, abundant God who sees more than we can ever know and only wants the best for us, how do we explain so much suffering in the world? Is it because we have separated ourselves from God? What is our journey when it takes down a seemingly tortuous path?
In a world of miracles, what happens to these questions?
Jesus didn't come to show us how powerful God is - he came to show us how powerful we are!
What is the role of miracles in your life?
And if you have faith, everything you ask for in prayer,
you will receive.
Matthew 21:22
