When one person holds open the door for another, who benefits? It’s very possible that more than one individual benefits. The individual who showed kindness is extending the benefit of respect to the person allowed to walk through the door ahead of them. Those watching benefit when they realize there are still respectful people in this world. This example of politeness allows others to see that we all have a choice: me first or others first. This example of graciousness can change the whole mood of the room because goodness has been lifted up and smugness has, for a time, been pushed down.
In our series Un-Broken, focusing on Jesus’ miracles, we see Jesus creating gracious acts of kindness in the lives of individuals who were getting used to various systems of disrespect. The Romans showed open distaste for the Jews in all but a few examples in the Gospels (Matthew 8:5-13—the Roman Centurion—is one positive case). The Pharisees were egotistic; they considered many other Jews to be unworthy of their regal, religious attentions. When Jesus offers a dose of compassion, it quickly creates awe and spectacle among the crowds because it was out of the norm. This creates growing excitement. This stirs a fever of possibilities if God can demonstrate the reversal of human ills. Many benefit because they are now given hope.
Jesus does miracles in order to demonstrate both his unbounded power and his unquenchable love for broken humanity. He takes broken lives and broken hopes and he makes them un-broken in order to show the reversal of all that sin has touched since the beginning of time. This is his kingdom plan.
Let’s see who benefits from this very first miracle of Jesus.
His mother benefits. She is the first to be mentioned in the text, noting the dilemma. “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine’” (John 2:3). She recognizes the social embarrassment that could be unleashed. She signals her son to give note. And she will experience Jesus’ power and love bringing a hasty conclusion to this bump in the road.
The servants benefit. Mary beckons them, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). They draw huge amounts of water and bend their backs to the task. They, alone, see that this water has now blushed at Jesus' instructions. Not even the master of this event bore witness to this first miracle. He only benefited.
The master of the banquet benefits, because it is his role to ensure the guests are happy and filled with bubbly. His reputation was seconds away from being soiled but remains untarnished.
The couple benefits from Jesus’ miracle. If Jesus had not stepped in, the wedding banquet would have been abruptly cut short, they would have been publicly humiliated from this day going forward. Never again would they enter a conversation without someone thinking of the time when this couple ran out of wine at their own wedding. Never again would they feel mutual respect from their neighbors. Instead, the neighbors might consider them stingy—a terse label deserved in a culture that highly prized hospitality at all costs. Others would view them as uncaring. Whether or not the moniker was deserved, Jesus’ miracle had reversed the day’s trajectory.
The crowd benefits from the supernatural display of love. They could continue their day’s long celebration. They would now enjoy the finest vintage ever reserved. They would sense the respect of the couple (even though it was Jesus who created this fine wine). No doubt the mood of the whole event shifted to even grander merriment.
And the disciples benefit from this first miracle. “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11). They placed their trust in him. Now they have a dose of God loving them too. They are mere bystanders. But they see that Jesus cares even though he is not obligated by anything other than his love. This may not be an immediate thought for them, but it will sizzle in their memory and melt their cold hearts toward greater and greater faith.
Once, as a spectator of kindness, I watched a young boy sitting patiently with some younger children, allowing them to tug at him and even be a mild nuisance to him; but he remained kind in his actions toward them. What I noted more-so was that others became more comfortable with the young boy because they saw how he treated others.
This is one of the benefits that Jesus delivers to the disciples. This is a benefit that Jesus delivers to us throughout this whole series: his care is universal. He won’t stop. He won’t back down. His love drives him to one kingdom-act after another. He teaches with patience (“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14)
And now that we get to see Jesus in action, we are nudged toward a greater trust in him. Let the unbroken desire of Jesus fill you with comfort and greater faith in your Creator, your Savior, your Redeemer, Jesus.
Blessings to you all!
Pastor Al
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