There was a serious problem at a wedding in Cana of Galilee in the first century when the supply of wine ran out. This was a breach of etiquette in ancient near eastern culture. The groom was responsible to provide wine at his wedding celebration. There are some ancient documents that indicate a groom could face legal and financial punishment from members of a community if he didn’t provide food and wine for a week of celebration after a wedding.
Jesus’ mother, Mary, went to Jesus and declared the problem and also asked for Jesus’ help. “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’” (John 2:3–5, NASB).[1]
Here Mary recognizes the authority of Jesus to do what He desires. She knew He would do something so she goes to the servants at the wedding and essentially says, “get ready!” When there is a problem we need to prepare for Jesus’ help like Mary did. We don’t say, “God, here I am. Fix it.” We need to cooperate with God as He fixes it.
If we are struggling to pay our bills and we ask Jesus for help, we need to prepare for Jesus to help us by preparing a budget. If our health is getting worse and we ask Jesus for help, we need to do everything that our doctor says will get us better. If our marriage is on the rocks and we ask Jesus for help, we need to seek counseling to get us ready for the transformation He might make in our marriage.
When there is a problem we also need to obey God’s promptings to us to help others like the servants did. “Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him” (John 2:6–8, NASB). Reading these three verses reminds us that when God puts someone on our mind or heart, we need to reach out by inviting her to coffee, call to check in, send a card in the mail, or stop by their house to check on him or her. We need to act when God works in us and shows us who needs help, just as the servants obeyed Jesus.
[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.