What else did Jesus do for her?

Mary, his mother.

I spend most Sunday mornings with a small group of children. We don’t like that the gospels fast forward through Jesus’ life. We wish they told us stuff like when he learned to walk and what his first word was, what his favorite game was and who was his first best friend. We think he made good grades in school and probably never got in fights. But what about chores and allowances and such?

This week his first miracle, when he was a whole thirty years old, seems a bit off to us. Him getting bossed around by his mama. She seemed to care a lot that the wedding host ran out of wine. Embarrassing? Maybe it was time for everyone to go home. Why did she care? Was she head of the hospitality committee? Or was she close friends of the bride’s family? Why in the world was she snooping around in these matters and why did she want it fixed?

Mostly we want to know just how she knew that Jesus could fix this problem. Had he been fixing her problems back at the house?

When we really considered the power to change water to wine — without any grapes! And to do it so quickly, when winemaking took time — fermentation’s not automatic!

Well, one of us said, “He’s like a wizard.”

What sort of wizardry had he been doing at home all those years??? Cooking wizardry? Laundry wizardry? Carpentry wizardry for Joseph?

Mary seemed so sure of him and he seemed to have been quite practiced up.

We did notice that he did not want the servants who knew what he’d done to tell anyone. Shhh. Our secret.

Can you imagine what folks would be asking of him if they found out? Everyone would think they deserved — well, at least three wishes granted.

“How ‘bout changing these stones here to gold? Just six of them. And why not? What’s the difference? You changed six vats of water to wine!”

“Could you change these seeds right here to ears of corn? Real quick like, please and thank you. I just never got them planted in time. You’d just be speeding things up a bit.”

No, we can see completely why Jesus didn’t want them to tell.

Which begs the question. How does he decide when and what wizardry to use his powers on?

One catechism question asks, “Can God do all things?” It answers, “Yes. God can do all his holy will.”

What was holy about wine at that wedding? We don’t even know who got married.

We do think Jesus did it because his mama told him to. He may have been brave enough to question her. “What business is this of mine?” But she knew he was going to follow through. She was used to him obeying father and mother.

Is it any wonder generations have prayed to her, asking her to plead on their behalf?

Is it any wonder some confidently claim health and wealth?

A lot of us have been disappointed, asking him stuff only to discover what wasn’t his holy will.

He’s more than a wizard, that’s for sure. He’s more than what we want him to be. About all we can say for sure this morning is that he is like the God of creation. And he also goes where he’s invited.