No Grapes

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told Him, “They have no more wine."

- St. John, John 2:1-3

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

- Vivian Greene

One day, Sheila Walsh's four year old daughter asked…

"Mommy, I want to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth."

"OK."

"Are you the Easter Bunny?"

"Well… yes, I am."

"Are you the Tooth Fairy?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Are you Santa Claus?"

"Yes."

Her daughter paused… looked at her Mom… and said, "You’re not Jesus too, are you?"

In St. John's Gospel, Chapter 2, Jesus is at a wedding in the town of Cana which is about ten miles west of the Sea of Galilee. His mother tells Him that they have just run out of wine. So, Jesus makes more wine… with no grapes! Think about that for a moment. You need grapes to make wine. The grapes have to be crushed in order to make wine. But Jesus can make wine without crushing the grapes. No grapes!

Ever have someone look at you and wonder why you have a smile on your face when you just lost your job? Or how you can help someone out financially when you need help yourself? Or how you can encourage someone going through chemotherapy when you need encouragement yourself? Or how you can still be so optimistic in such a pessimistic climate? And when they ask you to explain, all you can say is, "I have no resources… but I have faith in a God who can make wine with no grapes."

Have you noticed… sometimes… like at this wedding… Jesus doesn't show up until we've run out of our stuff. Maybe God is telling you today that He's been waiting for you to run out of your own supply so that He can tell you, "You don't need THAT… You need ME!" Sometimes, the Stage isn't set, or my heart isn't right, until I'm at the bottom of the barrel.

So… Jesus makes wine with no grapes and says,

"Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies."

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, [he said]... “You have saved the Best for Last!"

- John 2:8,9,10

Listen...

...just because someone's prayer got answered before yours...

...just because someone got the promotion before you...

...just because someone got married before you...

...just because someone recovered quicker than you...

...just because someone graduated faster than you...

...just because someone's child started walking and talking sooner than yours...

...just because someone got Blessed before you...

Listen… the God who makes wine with no grapes has saved the best for last… for you!

If today, you're at the bottom of the barrel… ask Jesus to fill you with a holy optimism that will lift you above all the doubts and fears and uncertainties and insecurities of life, and to plant your feet on the confident solid rock of the One who will make the best… at last… for you… even when you have no grapes!

Pastor Harry

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