The Miracle Worker

This morning you are going to see an amazing feat of magic. I am going to take the plain, ordinary water in this glass pitcher and turn it into wine. Would anyone like to taste this water to make sure that it is just plain water? (Someone will surely take you up on your offer.) OK, now that we know that this is just a pitcher of plain water, I will perform my magic. (Pour the water into the opaque pitcher with Kool-Aid in the bottom.) Now, I will take my magic spoon and stir the water. Now, watch this! (Pour the Kool-Aid into the glass.) Isn't that the most amazing thing you have ever seen? How did I do that? (Allow time for them to guess how it was done.) The truth is, there was nothing magical about what happened. In the bottom of this pitcher was a package of grape Kool-Aid. I didn't turn water into wine...all I did was turn water into Kool-Aid. Anyone can do that!

I did this silly little "magic" trick this morning to start us to thinking about the miracles that Jesus performed. Notice that I said, "Miracles" not "Magic." During his time on earth, Jesus performed many miracles. He healed the sick, he raised the dead, he walked on water, and he fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. These miracles could not be explained by a simple trick. They were things that only God could do. Our Bible lesson today tells of the very first miracle of Jesus -- turning water into wine.

There was a great wedding celebration in the village of Cana. Almost everyone in town was there. Jesus' mother was there and Jesus and his disciples were also invited. Everyone was having a good time until a very unfortunate thing happened. They ran out of wine. Jesus' mother went looking for her son. When she found Jesus, she said to him, "There is no more wine." Even though Jesus wasn't ready to reveal that he was the Messiah, he quietly took on the responsibility of helping the host out of his predicament.

His mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you to do."

There were six stone water jars nearby. Each one could hold twenty or thirty gallons. "Fill the jars with water," Jesus told the servants. When the jars had been filled, he said, "Now dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." The servants did as they were told, and I am sure you probably know what happened. The water had been turned into wine. Not only that, it was the best wine they had had all evening.

This was the first miracle that Jesus performed. The Bible tells us that after they saw Jesus perform this miracle, the disciples believed in him. That was always the reason that Jesus performed a miracle. He didn't do it so that he would become popular or well-liked. He did it so that all would believe that he was God's Son who had come to save them.

I believe...do you?

Father, thank you for sending your Son and for the miracle of salvation. Amen.