• Hi, I’m Brad Abare

  I'm a make-it-happen guy working with big idea people. I design teams and orchestrate strategy so that great ideas I believe in get done.
  
  I am Jamaica's husband, Foursquare's comm director, Personality's founder, and a catalyst for CFCC.
  
  
• Search for:

• Archives (by category)

  Select Category Abare News Big Ideal Brad Works God, Faith & Spirituality Hot Topic Inspiration Leadership Life’s Journey Media Politics Rant Reading Room Stuff I Like The City Wisdom

• Archives (by month)

  Select Month March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 October 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003

• Recent Comments

  • Ben Eige on Managers, Ministers, Manipulators
  • Joshua Cody on Self-Sacrifice Always Wins
  • abby on Unity to Begin, Not End
  • Bernie on What Business Are You In?
  • Brad Abare on Unity to Begin, Not End

• Subscribe

  Add my RSS feed to your reader.

For those that don’t know the story:

Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.” Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother–yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.” She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.” Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim. “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did. When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!” This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days. John 2:1-11 (MSG)

I’ve read this story countless times but, when I read it this morning, I was struck by the interaction between Jesus and his mother. It is assuming, awkward and affectionate all at the same time.

Here you have Jesus’ mother at a wedding feast along with Jesus and his disciples. Jesus is just getting his start on the public portion of his three-year ministry stint. Something tells me that Jesus has done a miracle or two in private before. Why else would she tell Jesus that the wine was almost out? Why would Jesus’ mother ask the servants to do as Jesus tells them to do? I don’t think Jesus was the bartender that day. She had to know something.

Did Jesus and his mom ride to the wedding together and have the big talk about when Jesus would break out the public miracles? “Now Jesus, you’re 30 years old. It’s time to start using that gift God has given you to minister to more people.” “But mom, don’t push me!”

Assuming
Jesus’ mother was very assuming. She had big faith. What if the water-to-wine miracle didn’t work in front of all these people? What if when the servants took the pitchers to the bridegroom he tasted only water? Jesus’ mother had her assumptions rooted in faith and believed that God would come through. I’m grateful for a mom who assumed more than me for my life.

Awkward
Imagine the scene. Jesus’ mother says to the servants to do whatever Jesus says. Certainly the disciples were nearby watching what was about to go down. People start to look. Jesus just gets done telling his mother “Don’t push me.” Why are they filling big buckets with water and taking them to the bridegroom? Is this a new kind of wedding gift? Was this going to be the first cooler-of-water-dumped-on-the-head trick? I’m thankful for a mother who wasn’t afraid to put pride aside (for both of us) when it meant something big was about to happen.

Affectionate
The interaction at the wedding between Jesus and his mother was affectionate because encouraging and cultivating potential is what mothers do very well. Jesus’ mom saw a way for God to be glorified and her son to be used. She pushed and prodded even though it appeared Jesus wasn’t ready for it. I’m thankful for a mother who lovingly pushed me even when I didn’t want it.

Comments