A good son and a good Son

FROM JOHN 2:1-12

Jesus, his mother and the disciples were at a wedding in Cana in Galilee when there was a great catastrophe.  They ran out of wine!  (This would not look good in the social column of the weekly Galilee News.)  Jesus’ mother knew just how to remedy this situation and said to Jesus, “They have no more wine.”  Jesus tried to tell her it was not the time for him to perform a miracle.  His mother acted like she did not even hear him and told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Jesus was a good son.  He had the jars filled with water and turned it into wine.  The banquet master thought it was better than the wine that had been offered first. 

That was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory.  Then he traveled to Capernaum, with his mother, brothers and disciples, where they visited for a few days.

FROM JOHN 2:13-17

Jesus went up to Jerusalem and entered the temple courts.  He looked around and saw people selling cattle, sheep and doves.  He saw others exchanging money.  (Remember how gentle he was with his mother?  That is about to change.)  Jesus made a whip and drove everyone out of the temple courts.  The cattle and sheep ran out.  Coins were scattered as Jesus overturned the tables.  The ones selling doves were told “Get these out of here!  Stop turning my Father’s house into a market.” 

Jesus was a good Son.  He had zeal for his Father’s house.  There were a number of reasons for Jesus to be greatly upset.  The selling and money changing was taking place in the area where some came to worship.  They could not get in.  Even worse – they were not being honest.  They were price gouging the poor by overcharging for doves.  The cattle and sheep were priced way over market.  The exchange rate was way higher than normal.  And the Priests just stood back and watched as they figured the taxes they would receive from the vendors.

Jesus was a good Son.  He defended his Father’s house.

A good son.  A good Son.

I love reading about Jesus.  Especially when he shows his emotions. 

I can picture him giving his mother a look of “did you not hear me” all the time telling the servants to fill the jugs with water.  I can also see him giving his mother a tender look.

Can you picture them leaving town.  Traveling to Capernaum.  Jesus’ mother preparing a meal.  The disciples talking.  Jesus stepping outside with his mother.  Jesus and his mother talking.  She was probably asking him if he was eating well.  Getting enough sleep.  All those worries mothers have.  She would have asked if he really had to leave.  I picture Jesus taking her in his arms and comforting her.  I picture her taking a deep breath as she accepted the fact that Jesus was a good Son and would be leaving.

I love reading about Jesus.  Especially when he shows his emotions.

Do I ever love seeing Jesus mad!  It shows he felt deeply.  He saw people making a mockery of the Temple and all it stood for.  Remember, at age 12 he sat in his Father’s house and asked questions.  He knew the Temple was a place of worship and it made his blood boil to see people using it to cheat the poor and stop people from entering and charging high exchange rates and priests waiting on their cut of the take.  Jesus was a good Son.  He stood up for his Father.

What did he do then?  He performed signs and people believed in his name. 

So often we picture Jesus healing the sick and telling parables.  We forget Jesus had emotions.

He loved his mother.  He felt a mother’s love.

Jesus walked.  He knew what it was to be tired.  He knew what it was like to be hungry.  He knew what it was like to sit at the dinner table with friends and sinners. 

Jesus had compassion.  How many people did he heal?  Can you picture his eyes as he took the hand of a little girl and told her to get up?  Can you hear his voice as he told the woman who had touched his robe that she was healed? 

Jesus laughed.  Jesus wept.

I love reading about Jesus.  Especially when he shows his emotions. 

When you read about Jesus, take time to think about the surroundings of the story.  Think about each person.  What emotions did they have?  What was their reaction to Jesus?  What was his reaction to them?  Believe me; this will help you understand Jesus better.  And when you understand Jesus better, you will want to be more like him.