The Most Interesting Man in the World

I am trying to read the Bible again with fresh eyes. Wanting to see these stories and truths in newness of life and understanding is difficult when pressed against the grain of the constant religious editor "Suday School Boy," in my brain. But a new starvation for truth is in my belly and I do not believe it will be satisfied by any other means than the rawness of the Holy Scriptures and the brokenness of my own condition twisting together for the purpose of healing and forging a new heart.

All of that said, I love the simplicity of this passage about Jesus at the wedding in Cana (in Galilee).

John 2
Jesus Changes Water to Wine
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]

7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

In this story, I can see the divine humanity of Jesus Christ. It makes me wonder if Mary or his father, Joseph had ever asked for any favors at home. It's almost comical. "Hey Jesus, my saw broke this morning making that table, could you fix it?"

Here's Jesus, fresh with his followers. His first public appearance with his posy, and he tells his Mom, in so many words, "I know what you're getting at, and It's not time for me to start letting others know who I am or that I'm especially different." So, Jesus knew it wasn't his time. He knew that he probably should be careful about the miracle business, and yet, why does he do it? Here's the human rub. His Mom asked him to! This is not to say that Mary was controlling, etc. but that simply Jesus loved his Mom, she saw a MAJOR issue at a key social event (like most Mothers) and was freaking out, so, she turns to her special son for a favor. What mother in history has not done this before. I know my mom has asked me to help with things before related to my artistic abilities or my height or strength opening that pickle jar - or making a run to the store to fetch that key ingredient she forgot about or ran out of when making a holiday meal. Of course Jesus obliged. What good son would not have? And yet, the divinity and supremacy of Jesus takes a "back seat" if you will to the humanity of a boy responding to his mother.

I love how Mary knows Jesus so well and without Jesus even answering her, she tells the servants to "Do whatever he tells you to." That's totally mom radar if full force. And, next thing you know, Jesus is up (probably with a smile or a twinkle in his eye) to talk with the servants. He's careful not to make a big deal about it and reveals his magic only to the servants. Everyone else just assumes that the best tasting wine saved for the last came from the groomsman. Whom I'm sure took the credit for doing so.

Jesus Christ is unlike any other man in history. There will never be anyone like him again. He is, and I'm sorry Dos Equis, "the most interesting man in the world."

A Father's Love

God's Will and The Wisdom of a Dwarf

Why is "God's Will" such a driving force behind our decisions in life? Sometimes even small things can turn into an anxious, nail biting dilemma. Tonight, a friend of mine asked, "How do we know when it's God speaking; his will and all that..." - I'm paraphrasing. That's the jest of it. We went around the diner table and offered our human understanding of such a divine concept. Each of us knew that we didn't have a solution or an easy answer. We're all in process and I'm not sure there is an arrival at all. But it's really got me thinking; why do we even want to know what to do next? Are we wired that way as Americans, as Christians, or is there something in human nature that just wanders, "What do I do next?" and something else (deeper within) that says, "What am I SUPPOSED to do next?" Why do we ask these questions?

I had to work late, so I headed to the cafe - It's Ramadan here, so they're open super late. I brought along my copy of the Two Towers and thought I'd read a bit. Then smack dab in the first chapter of this book, the wisdom of Gimli spoke to me very profoundly. Boromir has been slain, the haflings have been taken by Orcs, and Aragorn is trying to read all the signs to figure out what to do next...to figure out what they are SUPPOSED to do...

*illustration by: Terry A. Ernest

"Well, we have no time to ponder riddles, " said Gimli. "Let us bear Boromir away!"
"But after that we must guess the riddles, if we are to choose our course rightly," answered Aragorn.
"Maybe there is no right choice," said Gimli

Maybe there is no right choice. Aragorn is seeking answers to the riddles that are laid present before him to decide the right way. Don't we do the same in life? We look at what's around us, the pros, the cons, what our friends think, what the Bible says, and to top it all off, we've got the burning bush question of "What do you want me to do God?" But, as Gimli brings up in the face of all these riddles...what if there was no right or wrong choice? What if God is more interested in us knowing WHO he is, rather than WHAT he's doing. Graham Cooke once said...

"There is no security in what God is going to do next. There is only security in who God is. What God does is unpredictable. You never know what he's going to do next, but who he is never changes."

There is a certain comfort in the gloom of Gimli's answer to Aragorn's urge to find the next right path quickly. Knowing that there may not be a "right" way, somehow forces me to find security not in what, but in who. The companions may not choose a "right" or "wrong" way, but at least they will choose it together. In the end, I wonder how many nights are waisted in us trying to figure out what we should do! In Brennan Mannings words "Don't should on yourself."

Now the balance to all this is simple...there are still decisions we have to make. Do I marry him or her? Do we buy this house or move to this city? Do I take this job? Should we adopt? All of which our hearts cry out for an answer. And rightfully so. Many of our questions reflect the decisions that surround the desires of our hearts, and as as Christians we desperately want to make sure that our desires have some supernatural stamp of approval from heaven before enjoying them.

So, I'm not saying that we should never contemplate or seek out answers or ask God, "What's next, what should I do?" What I am saying, is that if we prematurely put values and barometers on things - labels like "good choice" or "bad choice," or if we get our stomaches in knots because we just don't want to do the "wrong thing" we'll never find security in our decisions. But if we find our security in God's good nature, we'll have the confidence to step out into any direction - even if we don't know the way.