In this episode Jesus and his disciples travel to the wedding feast of Sarah and Asher. Dinah and Rafi, Asher's parents have a modest income, so they are trying to be frugal with the costs of the wedding. The bride's parents, Abner and Hila, are wealthy as Abner is a sea merchant. They come off as critical of Dinah and Rafi's wedding preparations. How do you handle friends or family who are critical of you?
Early in the celebration, the Thomas and Ramah panic as they have a headcount of 80 wedding guests and they only have enough wine for 60. They try to come up with a plan but nothing sounds good.
Late in the evening on the first day, Jesus' mother Mary comes and tells Jesus they've run out of wine. He says, my time has not yet come. She asks, "if not now, when?" Jesus agrees and she tells Thomas and to do whatever he tells you. Have you bent over backwards to help a family member when they were in need? Share an example.
We see the disciples chatting around a table during the evening of the first day of the wedding feast. Andrew admits to the group he worries but Mary Magdalene says she's learned not to worry since she's been with Jesus. Since it was cold there, Andrew wondered if they would be taken care of at night. James says, "do you think he would let you freeze?" Do you believe God will take care of the little things in your life? This can be hard to do sometimes.
Jesus tells Thomas to fill the purification jars with water. Thomas is exasperated and thinks Jesus' instructions are foolish, that there's no time for this. Jesus says he doesn't rebuke Thomas saying it's good to question things. Thomas watches in disbelief as Jesus turns the water into wine, which turns out to be the best wine the banquet master has ever tasted. Ramah later says, "he even gave us more than we needed." Have you had a time in your life when you had to trust God despite difficult circumstances?
Thomas tells Ramah that Jesus invited him to follow him, but that he doesn't know what to think. Ramah says, "maybe for once in you life, don't think." Do you find your intellect or practical thinking getting in the way of your faith? For example, do you find it hard to believe God created this universe out of nothing? Is it hard to believe Jesus rose from the dead? Even Thomas, who had lived with Jesus for about three years, after Jesus was resurrected said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." - John 20:25. Faith requires us to believe in the supernatural, in things we can't explain. And more than that, it requires us to believe in accounts that were written 2,000 years ago. It does take a large dose of faith to overcome the doubt. But remember, Jesus said, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" - John 20:29.
Summary Questions:
- How do you handle friends or family who are critical of you?
- Have you bent over backwards to help a family member when they were in need? Share an example.
- Have you had a time in your life when you had to trust God despite difficult circumstances?
- Do you find your intellect or practical thinking getting in the way of your faith? For example, is it hard to believe God created this universe out of nothing? Is it hard to believe Jesus rose from the dead?
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