THE CHANGING OF WATER INTO WINE

“I love weddings!” shouts Peter. “I love joyous celebrations!” he continues while the rest of the disciples gobble down some traditional wedding food. “Here, have some wine,” Andrew tries to calm him down. Mary smiles at their playful attitude. “Hey guys, don’t drink too much, it's dangerous!” Jesus raises his hand in a relaxed mood.

An attendant rushes to Mary and abruptly takes her to one side. John tries to listen to what he is whispering about but he cannot make up the words. Jesus turns his face towards his mother. He sees Mary looking at him while the attendant keeps on mumbling.

“What?” Peter blurts, like someone steals that moment of joy from him. Mary goes closer to her son and says, “They have no more wine.” Moans can be heard from some followers of Jesus. She has always believed in Jesus as the Christ. Yes, miracles have not been performed yet by her Messiah son but how she prays that he can just start it off right here. “I know, son, this is just a wedding, nothing spectacularly spiritual,” Mary thinks to herself. Women always have that gentle nature of not wanting to spoil a happy occasion. On this day, to avoid a great embarrassment for the host too! That look of genuine concern of Mary can melt any heart.

“Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come,” Jesus protests gently. But Jesus’ eyes give him away and she knows that he will do it anyway. The disciples may not understand the communication style in this intimate relationship between the mother and the son. “Okay, do whatever he tells you,” Mary speaks boldly to the servants. Do what? Peter and Matthew shake their heads while the rest of them look confused.

Jesus takes charge and the disciples look on curiously. “Fill those jars with water,” he orders the servants. “Master, those were for washing…” Peter gestures to get his attention. The attendants fill each of the six jars with water in obedience, not knowing what they are for. Jesus loves to see servants doing their work in such an obedient manner. I know what I am doing, Peter. This is better than outward wash. This is going to be inward joy! One day, you will understand.

“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet,” Jesus gives further instructions. While they pour out some water, something has changed. The colour and the smell are surprisingly different. It just doesn’t look like plain water anymore. Their faces tell of awe at what has taken place but Jesus just waves them on. “What?” Peter blurts again, uncomfortable at not knowing what’s happening.

The ceremony head is seen pacing up and down looking for the servants. “Hey, there you are! The guests need more wine.” One servant passes that ‘Jesus water’ to the banquet master and he tastes it. He has drunk all kinds of wine before and when this wine touches his lips, he cannot even believe how exquisite it is. Where does it come from? He reasons in his mind. This is incredible!

He quickly takes the host aside, “My man, the bridegroom, king for the day, everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” The bridegroom looks puzzled. He takes one sip and he let it slip down his throat slow and steady. “I can rest assure that every guest tonight is so privileged to be invited. Tell me, man! Where did you get that wine from?” the astonished master of the banquet asks. “Honestly I didn’t know anything about it. I leave everything to my relatives and friends to handle my wedding. Ask this woman named Mary,” the bridegroom replies promptly, he himself wants to know.

The lowly servants get the privilege to work for Jesus, the miracle performer! The disciples get the glimpse of what is to come in following the Son of God! The bridegroom gets the honour of providing the best wine ever in a wedding, a talk of the town of Cana for some time to come. The guests get to taste a miracle. Mary gets the satisfaction of her Messiah son doing the first miracle at her bidding. And Jesus Christ gets all the glory!

The above story is taken from John 2:1-11

Next: The Healing of the Royal Official’s Son
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/04/healing-of-royal-officials-son.html

THE PARABLE OF A SHREWD MANAGER

Inside me, I was mixed. On one hand, I was happy at my grand birthday party thrown in for me by my colleagues but on the other hand, I was sad at the thought of leaving them soon. I helped them all get hefty bonuses and none of them knew how it came about. Apparently, they were stunned by my gesture more than the fat cheque they received and some almost worshipped me for that. I was hoping they would do something more for me than just organising a birthday party. How I wished they knew what transpired between the boss and me.

All the marketing staff knew all about my relationship with the Boss and how I used to boast of having large amount of bonuses from him. Envious of my success, they often showed their displeasure with me. That was egoism at the heights for me. 'Better than the rest' was my motto. When they found out I used unscrupulous means to fish for business and bonus, they hated me even more. Everyone knew what I did but I didn’t care a bit! I was taught to soar no matter what. I figured that a football squad must score to win even if they had to play rough.

Then the crushing blow came! My Boss told me to say my last wish in the company. All along he knew I was playing tricks in doing business and he kept his eyes closed. This was because I brought in loads of money to the company. “I cannot cover for you anymore as too many people knew of your dealings here,” he said softly to me. It was not my style to beg but that day I was desperate for the job back. Yes, I did earn loads of money but much of it went out to girls, wine and travel. In fact, I had yet to settle the loans for my house and cars.

He stood adamant however much I pleaded and reasoned. He kept on saying, “Say your last wish as your parting gift.” I had to be quick because he gave me two minutes to say my last piece or forever hold my peace. The first thing that came to mind or rather, the only thing that came to mind was the money. Perhaps one last big fat bonus! That’s when the Boss came in and gave me a shock of my life. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that your wish must not be for your own. You have been selfish enough. Two more minutes,” he uttered and left without mincing his words. I protested loudly and then went blank.

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is only found in Luke 16:1-9. Jesus tells this parable to the disciples whom he knows one day will assume leadership in the Church and they need prudence in dealing with money.

First of all, this manager in the story is both greedy and selfish. His master finds out and subsequently fires him, asking him to give his last account. In the last day of his work, he goes around changing some amounts of the debtors since whatever he does is still legally binding. Perhaps there is a plot between the debtors and him, agreements that will help the dishonest manager gain friends. That is exactly what he has in mind, to at least get help from new happy debtor friends (these debtors are rich business people considering large amounts of commodities they needed – vv 6-7) when he leaves his job the next day.

The master commends this shrewd fellow as he could also be a shrewd fellow himself, albeit, a bigger one. As far as Jesus is concerned, he will never condone dishonesty. But the key principle he wants to share with his disciples is using the power in hand for a purpose. Shrewd here in the ancient Greek literally means prudence. Therefore they need to use discretion when comes to having position of influence or usage of material wealth. The shrewd manager uses his position for his own selfish gain when he is at his job and when he is about to be fired. Remember, Jesus shares to them that the manager is fired for his greed (v1). He has squandered the master’s wealth. He strongly implies to his disciples to be ‘shrewd’ for God’s purposes or to put on their thinking cap when they have the influence (v8b). The key idea here is prudence when dealing with worldly wealth – do you use it to gain eternal friends (evangelism) or do you use it for own pleasure?

There are two main questions concerning money in a Christian’s hand..1. Where did you get your money?; 2. How did you use your money?

The disciples in the early church did practice the teaching in this parable where many followers of Jesus gave what they possessed for the poor!

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need (Acts 2:45).

Christians sometimes are not too keen in talking about rewards in heaven. That is why many righteous people of God will be surprised when Jesus sees them and rewards them for doing things to him. Yes, to him and not only for him (Matthew 25:34-40)!

Money is a test of faith and faithfulness of a believer in Christ! Yes, there are rewards in heaven await those who work for His kingdom! God is no debtor to anyone!

NOTE: The above parable ends the series - The Parables of the Radical Gospels. There are some parables I did not put into this blog because of their self-explanatory messages.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON

“You should go back to where you belong!” Joe kicked me softly as he uttered those words. I hated it whenever he pushed me. Our crammed dirty one-room apartment was all we could afford at that moment. My male ego would never ever allow me to even think of going back after the failures to get the contract. Nevertheless, the last time our demo disk got thrown out, I did remember the words of my dad, “Hip Hop doesn’t suit you. I heard about the gangs, drugs and all.” But I was more determined, not because of him but another brother of mine. He rolled his eyes at me that day and seemed to say, “You won’t amount to much. Just go.”

We lost count how many rejections of our demo song with the record labels, even those non-reputable ones. And band leader, Joe, was getting frustrated over the group. My dough was almost spent, mainly on getting connected with insiders and on drugs. Desperation led to mistrust between us. Petty issues would grow into huge arguments. At the later stage, I felt they had used me to achieve their own ambitions. Carl and George left to form their own partnership. The last I heard of them was they got a contract with a record label I paid so much money to connect.

The one thing Joe still hung on to me was drugs. He promised me dreams I couldn’t resist, about becoming popular and so on and so forth. That was until he had seen my last account in the bank. No money even for food, let alone drugs. We fought real hard that day after he spoke those words and then he too left. I had to find a way to survive. The urge for drugs was intense. It was all doom and gloom.

The drug pusher told me to get dough from my dad, so that I could go on pursuing my dreams. I bluffed them that I would and they had to trust me by giving me some stuffs first. When they left, I could not help myself but sobbed. The first thing that came to my mind after sobering up was resisting on going back to my father’s house. I had broken the old man’s heart. I didn’t want to shame him in front of his many associates, spoiling his reputation. Perhaps I could ask him to send me to Siberia to work, as far as possible from him. And as far away from that brother of mine as possible!

My former band members didn’t even pick up my frantic calls for help. That night I feared the drug gang would come knocking on my door. They might even kill me for cheating on them. I quickly packed and left in the middle of the night. Every little sound sent shivers up my spine. Just having enough money for the bus back to my hometown, I sat there dejected and completely worn out. Thoughts of playing with my loving dad when I was young came flashing back. Tears flowed freely. Bad son! Bad son! I was in torment.

And then I heard something extraordinary. It was almost unbelievable. The TV on the bus was displaying a photograph of a handsome young man. And then an old man appeared on screen, pleading with such pitiful voice urging the young man to return. With hands over my face, I sobbed. What kind of a man is he? Then I heard my dad cried on TV and said, “I have been waiting for you every day since the day you left.”

The parable of The Lost Son is only found in Luke 15:11-32. It was the longest parable in the Bible and the last of the three ‘Lost’ parables.

This story arouses many hearers to anger as asking inheritance from a father who is still alive is considered a deep disrespect. And then the anger may turn towards the father as he is willing to give it to the younger son instead of reprimanding him. The religious Pharisees of the day will certainly disapprove of such grace given. But the father knows that inheritance is meant to pass on, sooner or later, unless he wants control like the religious leaders of the day.

Young and immature, he squanders his wealth in wild living (15:13). Only in complete desperation, he thinks of coming back. Not as a son but as an ordinary servant. He gives up hope for restoration into the family because of his great sin. He reasons he could at least get back some dignity of a normal human life. To his surprise, he sees his father running towards him in a far distance.

At this time, the hearers of this parable are in a state of shock. How could Jesus tell such a story? How can a father run in such an uncivilised way towards a way ward son? The Pharisees could have lost their heads here when the father reconciles and restores the younger son to the family. He deserves to be ostracised or even beaten for bringing this shame to the village.

The strong emotions that emanate from this story are exactly what Jesus intends for his hearers. The party to celebrate the long lost son may be the last straw for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. And then Jesus brings out the older brother in the story. He is angry with the father just like those religious Jews. How could you, dad? This is super not right! Did you ever hold a party for me for what I had worked for you all these years?

The father treats his sons as sons and never ever as slaves. They are forever his flesh and blood, no matter what. When the older son was with him, everyday was a party for the dad! But whenever he thought of the lost younger son, he longed for him to come back. He could not celebrate yet with him because he was lost.

At the end, Jesus in essence asked these Pharisees and religious teachers, are you slaves or sons? Is God your Father or you are just His hired servants?

Obviously, there are two responses from the hearers. First response, the poor and the marginalised sinners rejoice at the grace of their heavenly Father. The religious Jews on the other hand, are angered by grace shown to these messed-up people. They may think that they should receive more than all these dirty people.

Today, God’s grace and compassion still usher in souls into His kingdom. Some of these people are murderers, cheaters, prostitutes and gangsters! And heaven celebrates when they repent and accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour!

Do you have problems with this?

Next: Parable of the Shrewd Manager
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/03/parable-of-shrewd-manager.html

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SILVER COIN

I jumped like crazy after I got the call. My close buddies jumped too, not as high but I believe it was contagious. The laughter on my face gave them relief after they had seen how desperate I was before. The stale drab college dorm room where we stayed turned into cheers of victory. I could also hear applause outside for us even though they knew not what we were doing. Some even knocked on our door as they went pass to see what had happened. Bet they wanted to share in our celebration. Or I guessed just to quiet us down.

Before that awesome call, I was looking dejected and empty. I almost lost it if not for Becky who lent her broad shoulders for my head and her Tee for my tears. She did not shun me like the rest. Becky even influenced some friends to console me. “Why? I cried without shame. “Why am I so careless?” That day, news spread about my case at the college and how people changed their perception of me. Everywhere I turned, I saw cheeky smiles and shaking of heads at me. How terrible? I already knew they could not understand how I felt. Except Becky, thank God.

Both Becky and I came from broken families. My parents’ divorce had taken its toll of me. Like most children of divorced family, I put the blame of their breakup on my attitude. I tried hard but still they gave up. My single mom gave me everything she could but most of all, she gave me assurance that I was not to blame for her predicament. That was a great relief for me. I felt lighter after that and made up my mind to take care of my mom someday. Perhaps someday take care of my dad too, if I could see him again.

Life was difficult for us as my mom had to sustain us with two jobs. At one point, I was contemplating coming out to work myself. My mom detested that idea and assured me of her support all the way to college. Everything turned up as planned until that awful day I lost a hundred-dollar note meant for part of my fees. Some friends were like, “Come on, grow up! It’s just 100 dollars!” But Becky knew what hard-earned money meant. Her mom worked as a nanny and she grew up staying in someone’s house all her life. Although the owners did not treat them bad, money was hard to come by. Thank God that her mom was able to save for Becky’s education in college.

With the help of Becky and my roommates, we searched frantically all over the college. When you lost something valuable, sometimes there would be hundred of places that popped up in your mind. After a long time and some weary faces of my friends, I called off the search party. As my friends went back to rest, I continued the search. “What would my mom think of me now? Oh mom, I let you down again?” Sweat and tears streamed down my tired face. It was a terrible feeling.

Head hanging low, I walked back to the dorm slowly. I whispered a faithless prayer, begging God to send his angels to find it for me. My three friends were in the room to console me when I opened the door. It was a well-rehearsed choice of words but it was better than nothing.

My world seemed to crumble apart until that phone rang. “Joanne, I picked up a 100-dollar note on my way to class and I thought it must be yours. I saw you and your friends searching everywhere for something. And…” Before this guy could finish, I trumpeted a high-pitched shout to my roommates. “Where did I lose that and thank you, thank you,” I blurted excitedly. “I would bring it over afterwards. I found it outside the lecturers’ office. Oh well, I thought I was lucky but anyway, it’s yours!”

Wild celebration erupted right after that. I could hear someone commented loudly, “Come on! Grow up! It’s just 100 dollars.”

The parable of the lost silver coin is only found in Luke 15:8-10. This parable Jesus adds on to the first one (the lost sheep) to get emphasis in regards to the mercy of God culminating in the parable of the Lost Son. The three parables back to back make reaching out to the poor and marginalised sinners, a major focus in the heart of Jesus!

It is as usual, sinners who have been marginalised and condemned by others will always have the soft spot in the heart of Jesus. Those lost souls wandering aimlessly, looking for God to just look at them with mercy. They know they will never get help from the religious elites. But Jesus stops for them. He has dinner in their houses and embraces them as friends.

One silver coin may not mean much for rich people but this poor woman saves up for her future. This silver coin may mean food or hunger. This silver coin may deliver medication for a sick member of the family. Or even part of the dowry for her future husband. She looks frantically everywhere, forgetting all the dust on the floor which sends flying all over the place as she sweeps and swipes.

Yes, a small silver coin is just a day’s wages during that time and when Jesus talks about it, many poor people know its value and importance. The rich will ignore and could not be bothered about the lost coin. That woman represents a God who knows the value of a soul, no matter how rotten or how nutty they may be. God looks into the heart and knows that all these people just need a loving acceptance touch of a Saviour. Just a genuine care by someone like Jesus, will impact them for eternity!

The greatest lesson from this parable is how God will stupendously search for the lost until He finds them! One soul is such significant to God and how heaven even rejoices for even one of these who comes and embraces the Creator!

Do we search out the lost or do we just shrug them off?

Next: The Parable of the Lost Son
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/01/parable-of-lost-silver-coin.html

ON THIS DAY IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY - ROBERT J. MORGAN

I am a history lover and this book comes in handy for me. The author has done a great job, writing devotional with a twist, making it into a historical journey that is. Some stories made me mad, some made me cry. Most of all, the reading inspired me very much. I must salute Robert J. Morgan for being able to speak so much with just a few short paragraphs of each personality.

This book has indeed increased my appetite to know more about those saints of old. Someone said, “Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it” but I would say of this book, “Those who learn history from this book will be excited about the future with God.”

If you are looking for systematic history in this book, you will be disappointed. I believe the author just wants the readers to grasp a sense of God’s working in history everyday. He ends every story with a relevant verse or verses to tell the world that God’s Word still works today!

I give four stars to this book.

I want to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for giving me this book free for the purpose of this review.

THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE

My darkest fear had finally become a reality! And the lightning and thunderstorm outside made it worse. My mom warned me beforehand that I would live to regret it. That day, regret was more than an understatement. I had ruined my life.

When my dad was very ill, he began to manoeuvre the directors to have me helm his company. Suspecting my constant indifference towards business, they fought against the idea. Finally they gave up and in I went. As a loving traditional father, he hoped what he had strived for would be carried on by his son. But it was not to be. Instead, it was a disaster just waiting to happen.

I remembered how I sat at his desk just a week after his funeral. It was an indescribable feeling. The aspiration to take over finally came. But I had an agenda. A wicked agenda that was. Every one that stood in my way was either fired or transferred out! Many advices were torn asunder and thrown aside! Including my mom’s!

I started to bully smaller companies and forced them to close down. They cursed me to bits but I cared not a bit! In my mind I thought those were worthless companies! Many people suffered under my destructive ideas! Although I felt like a champion but deep inside there would always be a tinge of fear for consequences. Months passed and those fears intensified. The board of directors dropped hints whenever we met. The loudest was my mom who outright warned me that my sins would catch up with me, just a matter of time.

Just a year only I took over the company, the profit plunged and overheads increased tremendously. I knew somehow something was not right but I was too lazy to do anything about it. I trusted “my” people to monitor everything for me while I went about living out my promiscuous life.

That night changed everything. Few men accosted me outside the bar and hit me real bad. Stabbed and battered, I lied unconscious on the dirt road next to the rubbish dump. Before I collapsed, I still remembered that in my mind, I told myself, ‘This is it! This is it!’

Lying in the hospital bed at this moment, tubes everywhere in me, I remembered my mom’s warning, “Just a matter of time!”

The parable of the barren fig tree is only found in Luke 13:6-9.

When Jesus tells this parable, He is responding to some self-righteous people who think that those who had suffered and died violently deserve it (v1). They reason that God has judged them is because they had sinned greatly. Or simply they are Gentiles and are not chosen people of God. Remember, Luke writes to everyone regardless of status and creed, souls as loved by Jesus, the Saviour of the world. That “holier than thou” mindset is prevalent in Jewish culture. It is dangerous and must be seriously addressed. And Jesus knows that. This kind of thinking will prevent them from accepting God’s grace that He comes to offer the world.

Jesus being radical with His teaching on parables, does not mince His Word. He warns them about the impending wrath. Jesus assumes the role of the prophet of old. Repent or else! And He utters it twice (vv3, 5). Those who think they can escape the wrath of God with their sins must think twice. It is just a matter of time.

No one will escape the judgement of God unless he humbles himself and acknowledges his sins before a righteous God. God does not want anyone to perish! He waits patiently! Jesus tells of giving the fig tree another year after a long wait for the fruit.

On another look at the parable, the owner seems to give enough time for the tree to grow fruit. It is the servant who asks for another year extension. God listens to the prayers of His saints. If not for the prayers of the saints, many people would have perished.

Let us all take this parable as a warning that self-righteous attitude will lead us nowhere but downhill. How many Christians who went through troubles and sickness had received a double whammy when “Holier-than-thou” people whacked them of having been judged by God.

Let us all remain humble at all times and also pray for God to wait longer so that precious souls can repent and be reconciled to God.

Next: Parable of The Lost Piece of Silver Coin
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/01/parable-of-lost-silver-coin.html

THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

I came back to my room, confused and frightened. Staring at the still photo of my best friend near my bed brought chills down my spine. How could such a successful man die so suddenly? When he had everything going his way? My mind that day wouldn’t let me doze off as quickly as I usually could.

Memories after memories of Peter came rushing back like an overflowing river about to burst its bank. Peter had flooded me with so many nuggets of wisdom about being rich and successful yet one statement always hollered louder than the rest. “Grab everything NOW while opportunities are in front of you!” Even at the funeral that evening, scores of friends and colleagues spoke of him as a self-made man. One even said jokingly of Peter as “The Grabber".


But no one knew that he spoke to me privately about how he wanted to settle down and enjoy his spoils. He told me how he wanted to live like the conqueror, like the king who had just won a battle, savouring victory. All his life, Peter worked tirelessly to get hold of everything that life and opportunities granted him. Before he died of sudden heart attack, he already acquired a mansion with 10 rooms, huge swimming pool, few fountains leading to the vast garden, fourteen cars of all kinds, plenty of properties all over the city. Wine and women were his constant companions. He was the envy of the city!

I stared at the clock and it was 3AM. Then something like a feeling of depression wormed its way into me. I am rich but why am I still depressed? Death took everything away from Peter! I didn’t think he anticipated that ‘thing’ to hit like that! Far from sight and far from mind.

On second thought, I felt death could be knocking on my own door soon. I began to wander about the rightful place of money and material things I acquired. Never one time had I heard my late best friend said, “Let’s use this money for charity!” or “Let’s give some money away to the underprivileged people!” In fact, we had these people all around us. We didn’t even stop for them, let alone give.

Peter’s sudden death changed my life forever. In the wee hour of that morning, I knelt at my bedside and prayed a tear-filled heavenward-goal prayer. “Lord, all my money comes from YOU and I do not deserve a single cent. Please forgive my sin of greed and indifference. Lord, from now on, let YOUR will be done!”

Strangely, when I finished this prayer, my eyes felt heavier. When I woke up the next day, I felt so fresh as though I got a shower from heaven. Immediately, my mind whipped up an idea, “I will shower my world with all the blessings from heaven!”

The parable of the Rich Fool is only found in the Gospel of Luke 12:16-20.

In Luke’s world, the rich are the elite Romans who lust after all kinds of material gains. God is of course concerned about the Jewish populace and later churches being influenced by them. Already, they are some Jews colluding with the greedy Romans just to enrich themselves.

Jesus tells the hearers to watch out for all kinds of greed (v 15). It is not only the greed for money that concerned the Son of God but also lust for fame, sex, power. But to love money is the root of all evil. Greed of money will eventually lead a person to lust for all other worldly pleasures that go against the will of God.

It is therefore both appropriate and timely that Jesus shares the death of the rich man who thinks he has it all. The man calls himself a success but God calls him a fool! Death is not the opposite of life but a part of life. No one escapes death even when one chooses not to talk or think about it.

At the end, Jesus wants His hearers to see the temporal state of life on earth. It is not that God wants everyone to refrain from enjoying life or trudging through life like a pauper, rather, He wants them to focus on heavenly riches.

In God’s spiritual law, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Greed does the opposite. Greed always says what’s in it for me. It doesn’t care who is hurt as long as I get it. God and greed don’t mix. You will love one and despise the other. The man in the parable chose the latter and lost everything when death knocked on his door. He not only lost what he hoarded but also opportunities to use what he had to serve God.

What about you? What will you choose?

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:20-21)

Next Parable - The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2010/11/parable-of-barren-fig-tree.html