Mary comes over to Jesus and explains the problem. Jesus' response was one of love yet with a touch of correction.
"Dear woman, that's not our problem. My time has not yet come."
I love His mother's response.
"Do whatever He tells you."
Apparently she had already seen Jesus do some crazy stuff. She already knew He could perform miracles. Why else would she say "Do whatever He tells you"?
And you can just hear the pride in her voice.
Oh how she loved her son.
So, Jesus being the generous person He is, began showing His incredible generosity.
Sitting close by were some jars used for ceremonial washing.
Did you get that? Ceremonial washing.
These were nearly sacred in the eyes of the Jews.
Watch what Jesus does with this 'sacred' items.
"Fill each with water."
They did.
"Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies."
They did.
Apparently Jesus knew a little something about making wine.
The MC said it was fantastic!
Let's give this story a little more understanding.
There were 6 jars each holding 20-30 gallons each.
So that's 120 to 180 gallons.
Now a bit more math.
A bottle of wine has about 25 ounces.
A gallon has 128 ounces. That's about 5 bottles per gallon.
So that's between 600 and 900 bottles of Premium Grade A hooch.
The party must have went on all night.
Think what you want, I'm just reading the facts.
And the fact is Jesus is wildly generous. Over-the-top so.
Let's recall an early encounter Jesus had with Simon (Peter), James and John.
Jesus was preaching and the crowds were so into it, and pressing Him so closely, He had to get into a boat to have a little elbow room. It was Simon's boat.
After Jesus was finished speaking he asked Simon how the fishing was.
"Lousy!"
"Ok. Let's go a little deeper and we'll catch some fish" (John 2)
I'm sure Simon was a little incredulous.
He was the resident authority.
After all, he was the fisherman and the only thing he knew about Jesus was He that gave a great speech. But Simon did as Jesus requested, if nothing else to prove a point.
And what happened? More fish than they'd seen in their lives!
Generous.
And what about the five loaves and two fishes?
All ate until stuffed... twelve baskets left over.
Generous.
And the times Jesus was exhausted, but He saw the crowds and had great compassion on them and healed and healed and healed....
Generous.
And after the resurrection when the boys were out fishing all night and caught nothing. Again.
Jesus told them the 'try the other side'.
153 LARGE fish.
Generous.
That's how they knew it was Jesus. His over-the-top generosity. It was His trademark.
The Bible tells us Jesus lived His life only doing what He saw His Father do and that Jesus is the exact representation of God.
If Jesus was crazy generous, what does that say about His Father...
And His Father is our Father.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 NIV
RP
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