One of my favorite things to do as a kid was drive up to the top of the mountain to watch the stars. I could stare at the sky for hours, waiting to glimpse a shooting star or a passing satellite.
Back in 2008, I was working in South Florida when I randomly heard on the radio that there would be a launch at Cape Canaveral later that evening. The Space Coast was about three hours from where I was working at the time, so I gathered a group of people and sped off to the Cape to see if we could still catch the launch.
If you have ever seen a space launch, you will always remember it. It was incredible. I had seen recordings of a few launches before, and even today, I randomly catch a short video of rockets being launched into space, but nothing is like seeing one for yourself.
We parked across the Cape and saw the rockets sitting on the launch pad. From where we positioned ourselves, the rockets seemed small, but it was unmistakable when they fired. I remember the bright flash, the smoke, and the silence.
We were far enough away from the launch pad to see everything happening in real time, but we couldn’t hear anything. The silence surprised me.
Then, all at once, as the sound waves raced across my face, I was overwhelmed by the deep and constant rumble of the rocket launch as the sound made its way across the water and into my ears. It was powerful, and I will never forget the experience. There is nothing else like it.
Maybe you’ve never seen a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, but I bet you have experienced things in your own life that left such a strong impression on you that you will never forget it.
In John Chapter 2, Jesus is just starting his ministry. His mother asks him to remedy the fact that the wedding they are at has run out of wine, and after some minimal protest, Jesus complies and turns water into wine. And not just a little bit. Some commentators suggest that Jesus produced around 180 gallons of wine, or as much as 1000 bottles. When I imagine the story, I often assume that Jesus is making a glass of wine, not an entire winery.
This minor miracle made such an impact on the people present that this is how John describes their response,
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John 2: 11
Later on in chapter 2, John says this,
Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
John 2: 23
Two times in just one chapter, John recognizes the incredible power that Jesus miracles had on the people who saw them. I can even imagine John remembering the miraculous things he had seen with his eyes as he wrote his gospel long after everyone else had written down their eyewitness accounts of Jesus.
Watching Jesus turn water into wine profoundly impacted the disciples who saw it; many years after it happened, they would give their lives, refusing to deny that Jesus Christ was the Lord of their lives and the very son of God. They had seen what Jesus could do through his miracles and how the Holy Spirit had worked miracles in their own lives. It changed who they were and the lives of the people around them.
This truth still holds up today. If you have seen Jesus work in miraculous ways, you know exactly what we’re talking about. You remember what you saw. You remember the shock and awe that fell on you as you realized that God had done something supernatural in your life.
If you witness someone being healed or some kind of miraculous provision, you’ll never forget it, and it will continue to strengthen your faith in the one true God.
If you have never witnessed a miracle but know that Jesus has changed your heart and changed your life, you are the miracle. Be in awe of the work that Christ has done in your own life, as he pulled you from death and gave you a new life.
Whatever it is, remember how God has worked in your life. Allow the things you have seen God do to strengthen your faith and tell other people about the things that you have seen and heard. It will strengthen their faith, too.
When you see a miracle, you will never forget it. Jesus turned water into wine, and his disciples believed in him. Jesus had brought you from death to life, and you believe in Jesus.
Just like John shared his story, you should share yours.
Want a deeper understanding of John 2?
Today’s episode of God’s Plan, Your Part, dives deeper into the history and context of John 2 and offers some practical applications you can use in your daily life. Click Here for today’s podcast- https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105752/14831220
