Let the Miracles Begin by Cheri Holdridge (with an assist by Kurt Young)

    There are four Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament – four different tellings of the life of Jesus. Sometimes folks get bent out of shape when we point out that there are some minor differences in these four stories. One story-teller remembers something happened here and another puts it there in the story. I can tell you in my family, we love to tell stories over and over again, but we NEVER disagree about the details of an old family story. (Note: SARCASM HAND IN THE AIR HIGH)

    Of course, each story teller has their own bent on the story. That’s why it’s good to have four gospels. With each one, we learn a little more about the life, the wonder, the magnificence of Jesus. John’s Gospel, the fourth, is known as the book of signs, or miracles. It’s built around some amazing actions Jesus took. We call them miracles. John called them signs – because every sign was meant to point the people to God. You see a simple miracle, could be more like what a magician does. It amazes and points to the skill of the magician or the miracle worker. But Jesus was not about himself – he was always about drawing people’s attention, pointing people to God. Leading people to the love of God was Jesus’ whole purpose. So the Book of John is a book of signs.

    In our scripture reading for today (John 2:1-11 for those following along on the net), we get Jesus’ first miracle; this is the first of the signs pointing people to the power of God. This is a fun one because it’s at a party. Jesus and his mom are attending a wedding. The host has apparently underestimated the need in purchasing the wine, and they run out. This is horrible. No one wants to run out of wine in the middle of a wedding reception. Can you imagine the embarrassment to the family, the bride? Jesus’ mother, like any good mother, is aware of everything going on behind the scenes. She catches on that the kitchen staff has run out of wine and there is about to be a big mess at this party. She knows who her son is, after all, J-E-S-U-S. If he can’t fix a little problem like this, who can?

    So she goes to him with the problem. But Jesus’ first reaction is something like this, “Mom, it’s none of our business, and it’s not time for me to start showing my stuff yet.”  Well, sometimes, Mother knows best.  She tells the servants to do what Jesus says. He is an obedient son.

    So he walks over to some empty water pots that are usually used for ceremonial cleansing. He tells the servants to fill them up with water. Lo and behold, when they do, the water turns into the best wine ever! The party is saved and everyone thinks the host is the most generous, because most hosts bring out the cheap wine towards the end of the party but he starts serving the best wine at the end.  This is a great party.
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    Jesus’ disciples know that he was worked this miracle, and for the first time they see the glory of God in this sign. That’s what John says in his gospel. Because of Jesus’ willingness to use his gift, people see God! This is the beginning of the Jesus movement to change the world. We’re here today, and it all started at that party. I must admit that I like that it all started at a party. Food for thought when we are planning events for The Village.  It’s ok to reveal a picture of God while having privilege along the way.

    So what does this tell us about miracles? To be honest, I’m not an expert in miracles. Some people spend their whole lives studying miracles and trying to prove how they might have happened by natural or supernatural means. I have a pretty simple belief system when it comes to miracles. I think if God wants to works miracles, then God can. I also think God can use human beings to work miracles. And I think sometimes we pray for miracles, and God does not choose to interrupt the natural systems that are already put in place in creation, and we just have to accept that.

    In this story, I think we have a miracle. I read it, and  I’m willing to believe there is a miracle.  But there is a crucial decision point that comes in this story.  Jesus allows himself to be used. His mother encourages him. OK to be honest she pushes him, she is a bit pushy here, I’ll admit that.  But Jesus has a choice, and he chooses to use his supernatural gifts to change the water into wine.

    I don’t have that gift.  But I have other gifts, and so do you.  We all have gifts. And we can all work miracles in our own contexts. I saw a story this week on CNN Headline news about someone who works miracles. They have this series called CNN Heroes. They give out awards every year to regular people who do extraordinary things.

    Actor Rainn Wilson, from the show The Office,  was nudged by a young activist, Aaron Jackson, to use his influence to help work some miracles. Together they are healing children.  Aaron Jackson was a young man of privilege who was traveling in the third world, in Haiti and saw the children there in need.  He decided to make a difference, and he went to Haiti and is helping to rid the children of Haiti of stomach/intestinal  worms.  They are now able to absorb food and come back to life.

    I must confess I’m a sucker for these CNN hero stories.  And why not? They point to the power of ordinary people to use our God given gifts to change the world. Aaron Jackson managed to get that worm eradicating medicine to every child in the entire country of Haiti!

    Friends, I believe we can work miracles too. Oh probably not in just the same way Jesus did. But we can do amazing things like Aaron Jackson, and let them be SIGNS that point to God. There is nothing stopping any of us from doing that.  We can bring hope to a broken world and point to God.
   
    There is nothing stopping each one of us.  We all have gifts. We all have passion. We all want to follow Jesus, and serve God and change the world. We just have to discern the particular niche where we can best do that.

    Here’s how we do it. We match our gifts with our passion for some particular brokenness in the world.  You see, I can stand up here and tell you about all sorts of worthy projects until I am blue in the face. Ministries in Toledo, agencies that can help here and around the world.  But you as individuals, and we as The Village, can’t respond to all of them. And that’s ok, because God has lots of followers here in Toledo, in Ohio and around the world.

    But there are some things that are there just for us. Like the children in Haiti and the worms in their stomachs were there just for Aaron Jackson and Rainn Wilson. That was their passion. And they had the skills and the resources to say Yes to God and do something about  it.

    So, in order to work miracles, and to point to God, first of all, we have to identify what breaks our hearts. Because once you know what breaks your heart, then you know where God wants you to work miracles in the world.

    And here is the thing: you will be able to work miracles, because you will be on fire with the power of God moving you to change the situation. You will be unstoppable.
Have you ever seen anyone with that kind of focus? Have you ever been that person?
That’s who Jesus was.

    Nothing could stop Jesus from acting and pointing people to the power of God’s love.  That’s how I get when I start talking about why the church has to be a place where everybody is welcome.  Have you seen me when I’m fire about someone not being welcomed in a church.   That’s my passion – making church a place where the walls come down and everyone has a home. It breaks my heart when people get kicked out of church and don’t have a place at God’s Table.

    What breaks your heart? That’s the place for you to start.  That’s place where you can work miracles for God. We all can.  Tell us here on this note what breaks your heart, (we put hearts on a board in worship) so you can start to work on what we can do together to change the world.  God may call you to do this yourself, but if you need a place where other dreamers want to change the world, we’re here.  Right now, we’re at the corner of Monroe & Central, but because we need more room for dreamers and doers like you we will be at the corner of Conant Street & the Anthony Wayne Trail (The Maumee Indoor Theater) starting Sundays in March @ 10:30.