John 2

The second chapter opens with the story of Jesus' first miracle. It happened at a place called Cana. When I was on the tour of the Holy Land I got to share a message about this miracle at a small church in Cana set up as a shrine to remember this story. I see in the story a classic story of Jesus' mother encouraging and nudging Jesus to do something. Has your mother or father ever done that to you? When they and the disciples have gathered at a wedding feast they become aware that the wine is running out. So Mary asks Jesus to do something about it. He resists as the time is not right, but she insists and in the end he does as his mother wishes and turns water into wine. For me it is not so much about a miracle as it is about doing something to help, especially when someone cannot do it on their own. Jesus makes a difference and I believe he begins to teach his disciples to do the same.  Here they begin to believe in him in this gospel. What do you read in this miracle story?

Next we find Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover.  It is John that mentions 3 Passovers and gives us the understanding that Jesus' ministry lasted three years from the time he is 30-33. And it is at this trip to Jerusalem that Jesus causes a ruckus in the Temple as he turns over tables and drives the animals out. And when the religious authorities ask for a sign to show by what authority he is doing this he does not turn more water into wine, but instead gives them a riddle about destroying this temple and he will rebuild it in three days. It wasn't until after the resurrection that the disciples figured out the riddle! And then when they remembered they believed.  In your lifetime have there been things that didn't make sense for a long time until you grew up or grew older? Share your wisdom, especially with those who haven't grown into understanding it quite yet. And then give them ample time to ponder it and discover it on their own.

I like the last verse in this chapter. As we read in the last chapter, Jesus though he is divine has also become human. Jesus has, as the old Native American saying expressed it, walked a mile in our moccasins.  He knows what it is like to live among the poor and the hurting people and to struggle with authorities. He knew about temptation and he knew about faith. Not from a divine perspective but from a human one, Jesus can say to us, "I know what you are going through!" Whatever you are going through ask Jesus who has been there and done that and been there for others in all situations to be here and do this with you.  You are not alone. Jesus is still doing miraculous things and can do one in you.

John 1

Following an idea shared by Bishop Mark Webb of the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, I have asked my congregation in Penn Yan, NY to read a chapter of the Bible each week and find someone to share with about what they read and thought about it.

This week we begin to read the Gospel of John. Take some time to read it before continuing. For your information I am reading the Common English Bible translation.

As I preached last Sunday, this gospel begins in the beginning just like the Bible does in the book of Genesis. By the way, though no one asked me, I think this should be the first gospel not the fourth as it does begin like Genesis and then follow it with Mark and then Matthew and Luke who took Mark as the template for their longer versions of that short gospel. That way Acts would follow Luke as the two books written by him, rather than now having John's Gospel in between.

In this gospel Jesus does not show up in birth stories in Bethlehem, but shows up in the beginning of creation as "the Word" spoken by God in creation. Nothing seemed to happen until God gave the Word and once given then things started happening. John affirms that the Word of God "became flesh and made his home among us." God became human. Infinite became finite. Omnipresent became present. The world that was brought into being was brought into a new relationship with the creator.

I have an old "Red Letter Edition" of the King James version of the Bible that my grandmother gave me. The red letters or words were the words of Jesus or as we might say today the words of the Word. As you read through this gospel will you respond as creation responded and do what the Word says to do?  Read on in the further chapters to see what the Word says!

In the middle of this chapter we have a section on John the Baptist and he coins the phrase by describing Jesus as "the Lamb of God." What does that term mean to you?

We also discover that John the Baptist had disciples and that a couple of them indeed begin to follow Jesus. One of those is Andrew who finds his brother Peter and calls him to come and be a follower, too. Then Jesus calls Philip to follow him and Philip goes and calls Nathaniel. Nathaniel seems quite skeptical that Jesus could amount to anything since he came from the village of Nazareth. Philip offers all that he can and that is virtually - come and see for yourself! He does and he does!

Now my question is who has been like Andrew or Philip for you? Who told you about Jesus or invited you to come and see for yourself? Do you remember?  Can you thank God for their witness.  I thank God that my parents began to bring me to church as a baby and helped me to grow in my faith. In the gospel we get the stories of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathaniel, what is your story?  Share it with someone today.

And next week read Chapter 2 and come back and read the next post.

God bless.