Who He Is – What He Cares About
March 4, 2020
Israel Trip: “Pass – Fail”
March 18, 2020
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. (Eph. 3:20)
Jesus is at a wedding, having fun, when his mother Mary tells him the wine is out.
Jesus answers a need with eight hundred bottles of choice wine. Eight Hundred! Is this perhaps a tad over the top? Perhaps. But it is not unusual for Jesus. After all, when he takes a few fish and a little bread and feeds five thousand men, plus their families, he still has twelve baskets overflowing with extra bread.
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Luke 9:17)
When he decided to get Peter’s attention he almost sunk two boats with so many fish:
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” … When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke 5:4,6-7)
How Jesus Does Things
Let’s think for a moment about the choices Jesus had in this whole wedding affair.
- He could have not gone at all. He is after all the long awaited Messiah. He has much to do to kick off his ministry. But Jesus is a relational God.
- He could have said no to Mary.
Please do not miss this: Jesus never says no, as in “No, I won’t respond at all to your need.”
He may say, “No, I won’t answer your specific request—because it would not be the best path for you,” but he always responds, and always in the best way possible.
Now, as to how he could have responded with respect to the Quantity & Quality of wine:
- He could have produced just barely enough wine, and ordinary wine at that. This would have saved the young bride and groom. And yet they would still worry about running out, again.
- He could have produced more than enough wine, and perhaps this time a better quality, yet still just an above average wine.
- But remember, Jesus is no bread and water God. He responds with an Ephesians 3:20, “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” wine.
And he will with you, too. To be sure my Ephesians 3:20 answer will look different from yours, but it will be just right for me, and just right for you. Yes, his way and his timing may try our patience. But Jesus always responds with immeasurably more than all we ask, or even imagine to ask, and always in just the perfect, customized response to your need and to mine.
That is how Jesus does things.
But my question to you is this:
When you approach Jesus with your prayers, and your needs, which of the above 1. – 5. responses do you expect? Do you think he won’t even show up, or will say no, or will at best respond with just barely enough, and ordinary at that?
My friend, may you learn that Jesus always responds with immeasurably more than all we ask, or even imagine to ask, and may the eyes of your heart be enlightened so you may see his response for the Ephesians 3:20 gift it always is.
