While we’re waiting.
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” - John 2:3-4 ESV
“I can’t wait for…” - most of us will complete this sentence quite quickly. What words would you put after that phrase? What are you longing for? What needs to change before you can start living? The lock down and it’s collateral damage have left us in a sort of holding pattern. So if we’re waiting, how should we spend our time?
Look at Jesus and how He waited. He waited 30 years before His public ministry began. When Mary His mother asked Him to help with the most mundane earthly problem of a wine-less wedding feast, He was still waiting.
What spiritual value could there possibly be in providing wine for a party, when His purpose here on earth was so much higher? Let’s think about it. Jesus’ answer that His time had not yet come reminds His mother that a great change is immanent. Soon after this event, Jesus would no longer be in a holding pattern, performing the role of the eldest son in the home, but would launch the most astounding ministry in history. He didn’t need to waste time and energy with this trivial wedding-problem, but having made the point, He does not waste the opportunity. He may have been waiting but He wasn’t wasting.
This first recorded miracle of Jesus is performed just before Passover and involves ceremonial washing water. He takes the water used to wash people of uncleanness and creates something out of nothing. Not just anything, He creates the best. Cast your mind back to Genesis 1 and there’s the same pattern. A world covered with water, and then God creates from nothing, and creates excellence. In Jesus’ miracle He’s unmistakably proving Himself to be the creator God who washes us of our sin, and cares enough to help us through our everyday mundane problems, and He does all this to the highest possible standard.
While we’re waiting, we shouldn’t be wasting either. Let’s ask God to show us how we can use this time to do simple things well, things which He can use to reveal Himself to a lost and broken world. Who knows? We may one day look back at these times, and in a strange way, miss them and the opportunities they provided. So let’s not waste them.
Prayer.
Dear Loving Creator God, Thank You that You waste nothing, You promise that all things work together for good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). Please grant us Your peace, patience and power to make the most of these troubled times, so that You may be glorified, and we may grow in our love for You. Please show us how to use our time and abilities to do small things with excellence for You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Worship.
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
Serving.
Jesus turned waiting-time into serving-time for the glory of God. We are called to do the same, and to make the most of every opportunity. How can we use this time to grow our abilities, to learn new skills with which we can serve? How can we strengthen and support others with the time we have available, we need to pray and then most importantly, we need to try. Now’s the time to try new things that we have never got around to, it’s time to plan how we will build something of value and when this awful lock down ends, have something formed in the precious space of waiting on the Lord Jesus.