Do you do whatever Jesus asks of you?

We would all like to say yes to that question, though responding to Jesus can be something we struggle with. Saying yes involves being intentional, our time, discomfort, risk, sacrifice. We might say yes to God, with good intentions, but then we struggle and become distracted. We also may not know what is being asked of us this new season, as our lives are hurried or burdened, it’s hard to listen to him or to notice his presence, his invitation. If you struggle with these things, you aren’t alone.

Yet saying yes to Jesus’ invitations to draw near to him and join with him in what he asks of us, truly leads us on a journey of formation and transformation, so that our lives are changed and others too. The story of Jesus turning water into wine reveals to us that Jesus can still have an impact on our lives today.

Jesus is attending a wedding celebration with his disciples. Everyone’s there and they’re having a wonderful time.

But suddenly his mother Mary, urgently tells him that the wine has run out- a social and hospitality disaster. The family wouldn’t live down the shame and then there’s the bad luck associated with the marriage. Mary knew Jesus could help and would help and he does, even if he was not intending to perform his first miracle just yet! He’s kind and compassionate, and sensitive to the need of the moment, whether big or small. Jesus often responds to our needs in creative and unexpected ways.

Mary asks the servants to do whatever Jesus asks, and they do. They might have wondered, what on earth are we doing, filling six jars with water? And it was tiring work. But they were true to Christ. We may wonder too sometimes what God is doing in our lives and in our church communities, but we can trust that he is working and most likely unexpectedly.

 And so, the water is transformed into wine. A lot of wine, for a lot of people. Wine in abundance, so that the party can keep on going. In this culture wedding events lasted three days. What a party! God provides for us all in abundance and in the blessing of his presence with us. It is a miracle. In this moment, heaven is opened, and we see the transforming power of God burst into our world. It’s one of the moments in the Gospel where heaven and earth intersect with each other and point to a heavenly reality. With this event and more, the life of heaven came down to earth. “The word became flesh” 1:14.

The transformation from water to wine says to us that Jesus can can still have today, an impact on people’s lives. He is active and involved.

This is a story for the those who run out of supplies because they didn’t plan very well. This is a story for the ones who are scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is a story for the ones who need more than an example, and more than motivation. This story is for everyone who needs a miracle. We really do have a down to earth God who can do a new thing in our lives. He cares about our needs and circumstances. Let’s take Simon-Peter’s and Mary’s advice and do what Jesus tells us all to do, by sharing his good news, forgiving one another, serving-embracing his holy habits and trusting that God is actively with us.

Jesus takes our emptiness and turns it into abundance. Jesus is not giving out rewards and punishments, Jesus is pouring out grace on us. We just need to accept it.

Mary is relieved. The wedding party is saved. It’s a joint effort. Transformation is the dimension of reality that comes to being when Jesus is present, and when people do whatever, Jesus tells them. He came that we might have life in all its fullness. He can take us from a sense of hopelessness to a fullness of life, and overflowing. He can turn our weeping into laughter, out failures into a witness of transforming power.

When there is no practical solution, when the problem was your fault, when you’re halfway through a party and the celebration is about to end because of your short-sightedness and lack of preparation – look, and see Jesus, turning water into wine, even though it wasn’t His plan to start His ministry like this.

Jesus asked Simon Peter at the beach to leave everything and to follow him, and he did. He left the security of his family behind, his way of life and his job there in that place. Mary said yes to her pregnancy with the Son of God and all that would mean. They both responded in ways that were true to Christ and full of faith. We are Jesus’ disciples today, and we are invited to follow him faithfully and to trust him, too. It’s not easy as we know. To say yes, I will actively follow you, I will try to do what you ask of me, even though we know the road ahead is most probably bumpy, is a good start to seeing transformation in our lives and those around us.

Lives transformed requires us to actively pursue transformation. To invite God in, to follow his ways and practices through the Holy Spirit. Jesus has come to transform us, to take us on from where we are, to a new way of being.

Can you be with, and listen to God, praying, what are you asking of me, and of my church community this new season?

Can you ask God if there are people, he wants you to encounter this week? This might mean taking the bold step of saying hello with a smile or inviting someone to church.

Can you lean into Jesus’ habits and practices that he invites us into, to be with him, become more like him and do as he did?

Jesus cares about us, our needs, our hopes, our fullness and flourishing. He wants to transform our lives in extra ordinary ways. But transformation only came when someone took Mary’s words seriously- Do whatever he tells you to do.

Revd Rachael Warnock