On Friday night I decided to start from the beginning and watch “The Chosen” again. I love everything about this series, especially Jesus. This is a Jesus I would follow. So I began and pretty much cried at some point during every episode. But it was during the Water into Wine moment that I paused the show. I know this story inside and out, and yet, for some reason, it felt like the very first time that I had seen it.
First, here’s Jesus, God’s very own son, with the power of God in his hands. And the very first public miracle that he does is turn water into wine. If he had been all human, instead of part God, he had to have thought (as I would have), “What in the world? I can move mountains and call the dead back to life and yet I’m doing water tricks???” What a crazy way to begin his ministry! Not only that, but in a room full of people, there had to have been some who were hurting or broken but, instead of addressing those needs, Jesus is given permission by his Father to change water into wine.
The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that this was an act of kindness. Of course, Jesus was not going to make the wedding about him - which healings and mountain moving would have most certainly done. But, instead, he blessed this family by providing a fantastic, high end drink. A miracle. A miracle that was simply a demonstration of the kindness of God. He is with us, thinking about us, caring about us. And whenever he moves, he does it with us in mind. Doing miracles, big and small, that are personal and thoughtful. Miracles of kindness.
The second thought I had was that when Jesus did this miracle, 99.5% of the people had no idea what he had done. They were just thrilled with their wine, clueless as to the miracle that had taken place. Which got me thinking.
When I’m in a room full of people, God very well may be doing miracles. Most, if not all, I’m completely unaware of. God is present and moving at all times. It reminds me of the verse in 2 Chronicles - “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
It makes me giddy to think about this. God moving to and fro. Impacting our lives. All the time. In a room. That I’m in. And I don’t know it. Or to whom it’s happening to. That’s giddy-producing thinking. Knowing that God is being kind to someone in the room that I’m in, to someone who desperately needs to experience the kindness of God. It makes me want to start attending more large group events.
For the people attending that wedding, not only were they enjoying top of the line wine, they were drinking in the kindness of God. And didn’t even know it. I imagine I have, too, on many occasions. Just by being present, whether God is attending to me or not. So, you better believe that the next time I’m offered a glass of wine, I’m taking it. Because you just never know where it came from. Whether from a bottle or from God himself, either way, with every sip I’ll be reminded of the kindness of God.
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