a portrait

of

jesus

A PORTRAIT OF JESUS -

Rising to the Need of the Moment

“…the first of his miraculous signs Jesus performed at Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” John 2:11

Jesus had just left the wilderness where He had spent 40 days in isolation with His Father. He had been tempted and proved faithful to His Father. He had sought guidance for the 3½ year ministry that lay before Him. He had not yet chosen His disciples, and though His future had been sketched out for Him, it lacked dimension and color. For the rest of His ministry He would seek to know His Father’s will for His earthly life.

He had been invited to a wedding in Cana and with His disciples was enjoying the feast along with other guests when His mother approached Him. “They have no more wine,” she says in desperation. Her tone implores Him to do something. If Jesus meets this need His earthly life will never be the same. Is it too soon to reveal His glory? He doesn’t hesitate long, but turns from His plans to the need before Him, something He would continue to do throughout His ministry; He would allow for interruptions. The poor would need to be fed, the sick to be healed, and the dead to be raised; people’s needs would always take precedence over His plans. Jesus’ sensitivity to those around Him; His compassion for others and their needs would mandate His actions despite what He may have planned for the day.

His thoughts turned to the bride and the groom, to the disgrace of this family if He stood by and did nothing. His heart went out to them. He rose to the need of the moment, calling for the water jars to be filled. Without any fanfare He turned that water into the most delectable wine those people had ever tasted. The miracle was unobserved by most of the guests attending the wedding, thus revealing His glory to the few disciples who were with Him. His first miracle did not take place at a palace or in the temple at Jerusalem for all to see, but quietly in an obscure village of Galilee; a miracle that was performed for others’ needs, not His own. He always sought to help others - to care for their needs despite His own. People were what was important to Him. The glory revealed was not merely in the miracle, which was incidental. His glory was truly revealed in the reality of Jesus feeling and meeting the needs of the people. His love reached out for 3-1/2 years, changing them forever. We are called to do the same and in so doing we too can reflect His glory, one that He always laid down at His Father’s feet. D. Mathewson