​I deliver pizza to help cover my college tuition. Once I called on customers who sent their seven-year-old son to pay me. As he approached the screen door, I noticed he was carrying a check in one hand and two dollars in the other, which I assumed was my tip.

To my dismay, he pocketed the bills before handing me the check, which was for the exact cost of the pizza.

"Could that have been a tip?" I asked, trying not to sound accusatory.

"Yep," he replied proudly. "Not bad for just a walk from the living room and back!"

You all helped to make our special day, our 58th Wedding Anniversary on Monday, August 13, a lovely day of joy, laughter and remembering so many things beginning with our wedding ceremony, honeymoon, moving to Wilmore, KY, where I enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary, and the three wonderful years at Asbury and the many friends we met.

I want to thank Asbury Theological Seminary, the administration, faculty, staff, students, and donors who made it possible to attend an accredited seminary with Holiness teaching and spiritual leadership. I am committed to the Bible and believe it is sole authority for my faith, conduct, and life as a child of God. My trust is in Jesus Christ Who loved me and died in my place to forgive me of all my sins and give me eternal life.

In it all, and up to this date, God has been with us and provided for all of our needs.

We thank God for you our readers. It is exciting to see so many thousands of people, sometimes 12,000 visitors who come  to our website in one day. Thank you for allowing us to come into your homes, offices or places of business or recreation with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We learned yesterday that Navy Chaplain Timothy Moore, son of Bishop Ronald Q. and Mrs. Doris Moore, had a successful total knee replacement in Norfolk, VA. He is in a lot of pain, and is back in his room.

Would you join me in prayer for the proper healing of this knee following surgery and rehab?  Chaplain Timothy Moore is one of our finest IPHC military chaplains assigned to the United States Navy. 

Timothy and Pam along with their youngest son, Joseph, have moved from Guam to Norfolk. VA.

Anniversary -- time to relax, remember and reminisce the many memories you have made together these past 58 years. May this journey continue on the path of love paved with pebbles of sunshine, funshine, laughter, tears, health, family and the presence of the One who sanctioned this union. True love is eternal and you are proving it -- special couple.

[Editor's Comment: Mary Belle Johnson is a jewel, a precious stone, a lady of inestimable wealth of love, kindness, and generosity. She and Melvine have been good friends for decades. You know they are both North Carolinian's.]

Mary S. Vaughan -- Congratulations to both of you on this Happy Anniversary Day!
We too have been married 58 years as of June 30, 2018.

It is good that the Lord has kept us.

Ron and Mary Vaughan
Remington Park Tabernacle
Windsor, Ontario  

Elwood Long . . . Happy Wedding Anniversary to a delightful Couple, Dr. Hugh and Mrs. Melvine Morgan!

​Dear Visionary Leader:

For the last several weeks, as we've continued the "Hand Me Another Brick" series, we have been teaching on financial freedom. I do not pretend to be the expert on this subject. My straightforward emphasis has been to expound on Nehemiah's approach to revenue and rebuilding and money and ministry. When we began this financial focus, we first illustrated the problems of financial bondage. From that point, we've been moving forward to explain many of the principles of financial freedom.

I remember as if it were yesterday when I moved from Mobile, Alabama, to Springfield, Missouri, to attend Central Bible College. I had transferred to CBC as a second semester junior. After I had moved into the dorm, I became acquainted with my dorm mate.

One afternoon my dorm mate and I were talking about being involved in ministry while attending Central Bible College. I told him, "I plan to be out speaking a lot while I attend CBC."

His response was, "You will not be able to speak a lot while you are here."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because there are a lot of us who would like to have that opportunity, but we are unable to do so," he said. "There are just so many ministers and preachers who live in the Springfield area."

When I heard his response, I said, "Nevertheless, I plan to be traveling and speaking a lot while in college."

"Why do think you are the exception?"

I answered, "If you are willing to preach anywhere, there is a 'where' for you to preach." 

In case you have not seen it on our Facebook page or website yet, the resources for the 2018 Girls' Ministries Week are available online. We first introduced the theme and poster in the July Girl Talk. Now we invite you to browse the webpage and see all the resources available. Or, you can click on the graphic to the left to immediately download the theme booklet. This booklet is filled with devotions and ideas related to the theme for GM Week and the new 2018-2019 school year. We will use the Mosaic theme until next September.

This year’s theme, Mosaic, is how we chose to reflect the 2018 denominational theme which has focused on our fifth core value-–“All Generations.” The IPHC has developed videos and articles to enhance the core value. We encourage you to use that material and have included information about it at the end of this packet. Because GM Week falls in September, we obviously join the theme a little later in the year. However, that allows us to make good use of the videos and articles released by the IPHC highlighting the year’s core value. We encourage you to use that material and have included links to it at the end of this annual theme booklet.

–Irvina Parker, IPHC Girls' Ministries Director

Click on the images to download or browse the various aspects or on the titles listed below the Graphics tab for the various art files..

On the GM Week webpage, you will see four different "title blocks" that look like the one to the left. These four titles divide the available resources into manageable downloads. The graphics block, for instance, takes you to a page where you can download the different art files that have been created for your use, such as a poster and a t-shirt graphic. Clicking on the Bonus Ideas block on that page will take you to all the available bonus ideas that we provide. That is where you will find the PowerPoint slide show for GM Day or perhaps to use in the class for the older girls. These are being updated frequently until everything is in place so, check back often.


Click to visit our GM Pinterest site.

As you celebrate Girls' Ministries Week and implement the Mosaic theme over the next year, don't forget to check out our boards on Pinterest where we collect pins of interest, specifically the GM Week 2018–Mosaic and the We Value All Generations boards. And as always, there are plenty of other boards and pins on our site as well. Connect to our Girls' Ministries Pinterest site Girls' Ministries Pinterest Site and then scroll through to find the two boards mentioned or some of the others for year-round use. We have also included links to the Pinterest pages on the Bonus Ideas web page for your convenience.

Its purpose is to encourage all ministers, church members and lay leaders whether in local congregations or other expressions of denominational leadership.

In this issue of Encourage, you will find articles by several well-known speakers and authors including Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham, Lee Grady, Dr. Michelle Anthony, Chris Friend, and Gordon McDonald.

We pray that this edition of Encourage will be a support to you as a leader.

You may Click Here to download the August 2018 digital Encourage magazine. You will be blessed.

You will certainly want to read all of the articles, but it is imperative that you read Gordon McDonald's article, "Were is God When Tragedy Strikes?" You will love Gordon McDonald's style of writing and his tremendous insights about the presence of God in the midst of tragedy. Gordon is a friend of mine. He is the Bishop of the Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada. Hugh's News has around 100 Canadians who read this newsletter called Hugh's News. Did you know that Dr. Garnet Pike is a Canadian?  And so is Bob Cave. What a blessing the 
Canadians are to the IPHC. We thank God for them.

President Ron White is a man of faith and prayer. 

He has wisely chosen to lead Emmanuel College on his knees. 

The Bible says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16, NKJV). 

Let us join with Dr. Ron White in daily prayers for Emmanuel College and for Dr. White and Carol, his wife.

​Here is what he wrote on Tuesday, August 14, 2018:​

Sending Them
 
"Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world" (John 17:18, NLT).

Today's meditation:

• God saved Emmanuel College to be a sender of the truth and grace of God through our faculty, staff, and students, and especially through our graduates.

Pray today:

• For the people of Emmanuel College to recognize our holy calling as disciples of Jesus, for us to engage every opportunity to influence the world for Christ.

Pray for the top three needs of Emmanuel College:

• To hear the Word of the Lord regarding life after debt and our vision for an expanded mission for 2018 and beyond.
• To enroll more than 1000 students in August 2019.
• To continue reducing our debt over the next five years with the purpose of becoming debt-free.

Pray for upcoming events and activities:.

• Chapel services each Tuesday at 11 a.m. and on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
• Vision 4 Education Celebration sponsored by Women's Ministries, October 5.
• Board of Trustees Meeting, October 5-6.
• Homecoming Weekend, October 19-21.
• Fall Preview recruiting event, November 2-4.

Pray First! Pray Through!
 
Ron White, EdD
President
Emmanuel College
181 Springs Street
Franklin Springs, GA 30639
706.245.2803
​

On this 15th day of August 2018, I sense that it will be appropriate for me to use as our benediction or blessing a song that we all love as Americans. In the spirit of the magnificent words that Katharine Lee Bates' has given to our nation it is my prayer that it will bless every heart and life who reads it.

Katharine Lee Bates' poem was printed in The Congregationalist for Independence Day, July 4, 1895:

O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,
For Amber Waves of Grain,
For Purple Mountain Majesties
Above the Fruited Plain!

America! America!
God Shed His Grace on Thee
And Crowned Thy Good with Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!

O Beautiful for Pilgrims Feet,
Whose Stern Impassioned Stress
A Thoroughfare for Freedom Beat
Across the Wilderness!

America! America!
God Mend Thy Every Flaw,
Confirm Thy Soul in Self-Control
Thy Liberty in Law!

O Beautiful for Heroes Proved
In Liberating Strife,
Who More Than Self Their Country Loved,
And Mercy More Than Life!

America! America!
May God Thy Gold Refine
Till All Success Be Nobleness
And Every Gain Divine!

O Beautiful for Patriots Dream
That Sees Beyond the Years
Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam
Undimmed by Human Tears!
​
America! America!
God Shed His Grace On Thee
And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!

​A man rushed into the doctor's office and shouted, "Doctor! I think I'm shrinking!"

The doctor calmly responded, "Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

“A wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding” (John 2:1-2).

The best decision this couple ever made was to invite Jesus to their wedding. These young adults obviously did not comprehend, though, just how prestigious the guest was they welcomed. In addition, they had no way to know their union was about to become the symbol for marriage in the Christian era. The presence of Jesus of Nazareth made it so.

It is possible these young people did not come from wealthy families and were not able to plan a large wedding with hundreds of guests. Their more modest means, however, did not hinder Jesus from attending their wedding and bringing His disciples. 

Today this couple is honored around the world, and Cana of Galilee, in the ancient tribe of Asher, is a village with enduring, worldwide fame.

Marriage is God’s idea; He birthed the institution, making the family the basic building block of society. The Lord Who was present at Cana also had been present at history’s first wedding in the Garden of Eden.

It is important to study the life of Jesus both for what He said, and for what He did. His presence at this Jewish wedding made its own statement about what the Lord considered important. The Messiah’s presence and first miracle there extended the model of the wedding in the Garden of Eden to the whole of the Christian era.

Moses interpreted the first wedding in Eden in the Pentateuch saying, “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–5, 8). This language is so focused, in fact, (one man for one woman until death parts them), that any other model of a “wedding” cannot carry the blessing of “Christian.” Not only is God the Father the originator of marriage; He is also its protector.

Oh! that every bride and groom today would consciously and prayerfully invite Jesus to their wedding, as well as seek His aid in making their marriage successful.

Jesus as the First Apostle

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, ‘They have no more wine’” (John 2:3).

A subtheme of John’s Gospel is showing how Jesus in His humanity gained information. Here He learned from His mother the supply of wine was gone. This presents Jesus as the Son of Man. What He did about it shows Him as the Son of God.
Running out of wine could suggest the limited financial means of this young man and his family. It would have been embarrassing to them and perhaps offensive to their guests.

This wedding was also an open door to see the apostolic nature of the work of Jesus. Jesus is the first apostle of the Gospel era. An apostle is a person who is sent on a mission. As the Son of God, Jesus was commissioned by His Father to take away the sin of the world. At this wedding, His apostolic function was to help this young couple and in doing so set the example for what would become the place of the wedding in the church that would be birthed not many months down the road.

This wedding is only one illustration of how Jesus created new sunrises and launched new beginnings. The totality of Jesus’ incarnate life, in fact, was given to changing millennia–old paradigms, blazing new trails, and introducing new ways of thinking. The writer of Hebrews expressed it, “Holy brothers who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest Whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1). 

Sanctifying Marriage

Marriage and the family are very important to God. Jesus’ presence at this Jewish wedding guaranteed marriage between a man and a woman would have the highest importance in the New Covenant. Hence, Jesus’ attendance set a cornerstone value for the church He was soon to launch. This wedding also modeled the divine ideal is for children to be reared by a father and a mother.

The Apostle John further demonstrated the special significance of weddings by placing this wedding at the very start of Jesus’ ministry. In doing so, Jesus affirmed the institution of marriage and the family before He met with Nicodemus and introduced the New Birth (Chapter 3).

Jesus, the “apostle…of our profession” set the bar high, performing His first miracle not at a sick bed, but at a wedding celebration (Hebrews 3:1, KJV). The symbolism resulting from His doing this is that the institution of marriage is foundational in building Godly homes. God-fearing families develop Biblically based cultures. As goes the family, so goes a nation.

Everywhere the Gospel has gone worldwide, no matter how pagan the culture, the example Jesus set at Cana of Galilee has exalted monogamous marriage as the divine plan: one man for one woman until death parts them.

Doing this also shows the Lord’s genius in action. Marriage as a lifetime covenant requires commitment and truthfulness in the ups and downs of life. In fact, commitment sustains marriages; feelings of love can come and go, and must always be secondary to commitment. This faithfulness builds into a culture the fidelity that makes for a strong nation. Any society is weak that does not have fidelity as a basic building block of fathers and mothers in marriage.

Mothers: Moving the Heart of God

“Dear woman, why do you involve Me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4).

Jesus’ answer to His mother was not spoken in disrespect but most probably with a twinkle in His eyes that Mary understood fully. A big, knowing smile may have broken on her face as she interpreted His response and watched Him move into action.

Was Jesus motivated by this appeal from His mother? Of course, He was. Since this wedding, millions of mothers have moved the heart of God with their petitions. Acknowledging this, however, does not endorse the teaching of Mariolatry (the worship of Mary). Mary’s position as Jesus’ mother did not give her superior intercessory powers that justify veneration of Mary as an object of worship.

Jesus authorized His followers in every generation to pray directly to Him and in His Name for pressing needs, without appealing to any intermediary. We do not ask Mary to ask Jesus on our behalf; instead, we ask Jesus Himself (John 14:14; 15:7; 16:23).

Jesus listens just as quickly today to the sincere cry of the poorest and weakest of His followers as He did to His own mother! If He did not, He would be a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; John 14:13–14; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus’ response to Mary at the wedding illustrated Him in the classic graciousness that characterized His holy life. From the beginning of His ministry, He delighted to give gifts to people. The miracle at Cana shows Jesus was so full of grace He did gracious things even when the beneficiaries did not realize their need, had not sought His help, and did not know He could help.

A true follower of Jesus will have a gracious heart like Him. How appropriate to look for needs and fill them. To follow the example of Jesus presumes a heart in each of His followers willing to serve the needs of people even when they do not know to ask. The good news of the Gospel shows any believer has direct access to Jesus (John 14:13–14, 26; 15:16).

“[Jesus’] mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you’” (John 2:5).

This was wisdom then and it remains wisdom today: “Whatever He says to you, do it” (NKJV).

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’ So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, 10 ‘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’” (John 2:6-10).

This miracle shows Jesus, the man from Nazareth as the Logos, the Word from God. Jesus demonstrates the power of His Word in this story with two simple commands: “Fill the pots with water,” and, “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host” (John 2:7-8, MSG). They were expressed with no fanfare or showy effort to call attention to Himself. But those were logos words, authoritative words. The power to create wine out of water was tied up in those words.

I wonder if a sparkle was in Jesus’s eyes when He spoke them.

The servants did as Jesus instructed. The result was the best wine and more than enough—perhaps 150 gallons of the finest wine! (2:6, GW). Surely much of it was left over and this young couple could sell it. It was their wedding gift from Jesus!

How important to obey the Lord implicitly!

A New Glory
​
“This, [is] the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs He performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him” (John 2:11).

by Chris Maxwell 

(This is week two of our emphasis on various examples of spiritual beliefs, awareness, and personal growth. We are emphasizing community. Too many people live in isolation. Other people are too dependent on the opinions of others. But true community includes healthy relationships. It refuses to live life alone. As Clarke Sowell writes, “We need each other.” Read this and ask, “How am I pursuing healthy Community?”)

Community: Have you ever had the, “I’m too young to feel this old” moment? It’s never fun. You think you can handle staying up late, but the next day you check your face for tire tracks thinking you’ve been run over.

Life can do that to us can’t it? A responsibility here; a task that overwhelms us there, and eventually we ask ourselves why we didn’t just stay home on and binge watch The Office. The spiritual discipline of community helps us overcome this struggle. No. I’m not telling you spending time with people fixes everything, but it does make life more manageable.

Being alone isn’t necessarily a problem, but staying alone always is. The more self-aware I get, the more I just have to laugh at myself. If someone tries to push me out into an experience where I’ll be around people, I typically push back and have a borderline identity crisis. I think I belong alone and people just don’t get me. What I’m really struggling with in those moments are insecurities and pride-wondering if I’ll be accepted. So, I sigh, I dig my feet in the ground, and I hermit right there. What makes absolutely no sense though is whenever I find myself in community organically and through my own volition, I love it. I end up being myself, I have a good time, and I realize my island of safety is really a trap set to steal my joy that I willingly walk into time and again.

Something so freeing about being around other people is realizing you’re not alone. Duh, right? But there’s more to it than that. A lot of times we isolate ourselves not only when we aren’t around people, but when we are. We do this judging ourselves assuming we are the only one who deals with what we’re going through. We unknowingly convince ourselves that no one will truly accept us if they get to know the “us” we’d rather keep hidden away on our island of safety. When we finally feel safe enough to introduce our peers to the “us” we’ve been hiding, it’s so liberating. The competition we’ve created is over. And typically, we see that fear and isolation has caused our internal judge to grow our struggles completely out of proportions to their real level of importance.

The Bible gives us an image for believers across the globe. It says that though we may be separated geographically, we are all members of one body. Tell me, what body part can be removed and still make a real contribution to the body? What good is your arm if you cut it off and leave it at home when you go to work? A lot of us face the world as that severed arm-never allowing ourselves to be connected to what will ultimately multiply our effectiveness and impact-other people. Maybe we are so tired and beaten down because one arm was never meant to be enough.

Personally, I had to learn this lesson the hard way. Isolation, individualism, and independence—these all start with I. We cling to those things that put us first don’t we? That’s what I did. I had to be first. Every time I went to do something, it was all about me. Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Am I strong enough? How will I be benefitted from serving this person? How will I be elevated to the dreams I have when I do this task that I don’t really want to do? It was a hard realization to have, but my anxiety and fear had a lot to do with focusing entirely too much on myself.

A lot of breakthrough happens when we practice the spiritual discipline of community. Community happens not simply when we’re ourselves around other people, but also when we encourage, uplift, and strengthen others. We start by being ourselves, but then we look outwardly—to those around us in need. We look for ways to help and fill the need. Do they need encouragement? We meet them there. Do they need advice? We give it, but we’ll take it too. In doing so, we bear one another’s burdens. We offer help to those who’ve been carrying more than they’re able to manage.

If we’re quick to help our wounded bodies, shouldn’t we be quick to help our neighbors as well? The next time you see someone hurting, remember the injury that stopped you. Compared to the whole body a knee is a small thing, but let it get injured and it will stop you in your tracks. Those around us are as significant whether we’d like to acknowledge it or not.

Ultimately, community is really very simple. Genuine people coming together and caring for one another. Let’s not complicate it anymore. We need each other.
​
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Editor's Comment: Chris Maxwell is a wonderful young friend of mine. During the time we were without a pastor, Chris stepped in and filled the pulpit. He is an exciting preacher. His style is Chris Maxwell, and I love it. 

Chris Maxwell's 9th book is now on Amazon. Chris wrote, "I should be receiving my copies soon. It is different than all of my other books. It is a collection of poems I have written over four decades."

a slow and sudden God: 40 years of wonder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYX2BRC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EjyCBb08YQT52 

We had a wonderful weekend at Emmanuel. It was great to hear the Word of God spoken and well received.

Thanks again and I pray you have a wonderful day and week. 

Ken Phillips, Director of Men's Ministries at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, GA, is happy to announce that Tommy Valentine with Extra Special People will be our guest speaker Saturday morning, August 18, at 8:30 in our Fellowship Hall, known as Stephanie's Place. You may enter the room from the parking lot adjacent to a lovely rose garden in full bloom on the lower level of our church education wing. ​     

You will enjoy a hearty breakfast prepared and served by our Master Chef, Randy Jackson. He always prepares a delightful breakfast that will satisfy the hungry appetite of any man.

More important than the food, is the fellowship and communications of men who love the Lord Jesus Christ and who have placed their trust in Him for salvation. 

On August, 13, 1943—exactly 75 years ago—Billy Graham and Ruth Bell said “I do.” Their faithful prayers, constant surrender to God’s will, and deep love led them to the altar. Decades later, even as Billy and Ruth rest in the Lord’s presence together in Heaven, their lives are a testimony of God’s plan for marriage.

Billy said that he was in love the moment he met Ruth at Wheaton College. After their first date, Ruth prayed “God, if you let me serve You with that man I’d consider it the greatest privilege my life.”

But Ruth was slow to make that prayer clear to Billy, and she was determined to be a missionary in China where she had grown up. Billy, however, was confident that Ruth would be his wife. “I let God do my courting for me,” he wrote in Just As I Am.

On July 6, 1941, Billy received a letter from Ruth declaring “I’ll marry you.” He quickly bought an engagement ring. A little over two years later, they were husband and wife, graduates of Wheaton College, and lifelong partners in ministry.

Billy and Ruth put God’s call above all else. As Billy traveled as a worldwide evangelist, Ruth had a mission field of her own at home. But they prayed and served together, and their love flourished and endured.

Ruth penned this poem, written in Footprints of a Pilgrim, after their wedding day:

… Only my ring seemed new--

its plain gold surface

warm and bright

and strange to me

that candlelight…

unworn—unmarred.

Could it be that wedding rings

like other things

are lovelier, when scarred?

Billy and Ruth’s wedding rings surely became worn during their many years together, but their love only deepened. Ruth’s poem proves true. Their marriage is a lovely legacy of devotion to God and lasting, Biblical commitment to one another.

Ephesians 5:25-33  A love that gives and brings the best out in the other person

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 
NKJV  New King James Version

Ephesians 5:25-33  How husbands ought to love their wives as Christ loves the church

25 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church — a love marked by giving, not getting. 26 Christ's love makes the church whole. His Words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27 dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28 And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor — since they're already "one" in marriage. 

29 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, 30 since we are part of His body. 31 And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." 32 This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. 33 And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband. 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Two Alabama State Trooper patrol cars were in hot pursuit of a Camaro heading east toward Georgia on I-20.

When the suspect crossed the Georgia line, the first trooper pulled over immediately. The rookie trooper pulled over right behind him and asked, "Sarge, why'd you stop?"

"You dumb rookie," replied the sarge. "He's in Georgia now. They're an hour ahead of us, so we'll never catch him."

“A wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding” (John 2:1-2).

The best decision this couple ever made was to invite Jesus to their wedding. These young adults obviously did not comprehend, though, just how prestigious the guest was they welcomed. In addition, they had no way to know their union was about to become the symbol for marriage in the Christian era. The presence of Jesus of Nazareth made it so.

It is possible these young people did not come from wealthy families and were not able to plan a large wedding with hundreds of guests. Their more modest means, however, did not hinder Jesus from attending their wedding and bringing His disciples. 

Today this couple is honored around the world, and Cana of Galilee, in the ancient tribe of Asher, is a village with enduring, worldwide fame.

Marriage is God’s idea; He birthed the institution, making the family the basic building block of society. The Lord Who was present at Cana also had been present at history’s first wedding in the Garden of Eden.

It is important to study the life of Jesus both for what He said, and for what He did. His presence at this Jewish wedding made its own statement about what the Lord considered important. The Messiah’s presence and first miracle there extended the model of the wedding in the Garden of Eden to the whole of the Christian era.

Moses interpreted the first wedding in Eden in the Pentateuch saying, “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–5, 8). This language is so focused, in fact, (one man for one woman until death parts them), that any other model of a “wedding” cannot carry the blessing of “Christian.” Not only is God the Father the originator of marriage; He is also its protector.

Oh! that every bride and groom today would consciously and prayerfully invite Jesus to their wedding, as well as seek His aid in making their marriage successful.

Jesus as the First Apostle

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, ‘They have no more wine’” (John 2:3).

A subtheme of John’s Gospel is showing how Jesus in His humanity gained information. Here He learned from His mother the supply of wine was gone. This presents Jesus as the Son of Man. What He did about it shows Him as the Son of God.
Running out of wine could suggest the limited financial means of this young man and his family. It would have been embarrassing to them and perhaps offensive to their guests.

This wedding was also an open door to see the apostolic nature of the work of Jesus. Jesus is the first apostle of the Gospel era. An apostle is a person who is sent on a mission. As the Son of God, Jesus was commissioned by His Father to take away the sin of the world. At this wedding, His apostolic function was to help this young couple and in doing so set the example for what would become the place of the wedding in the church that would be birthed not many months down the road.

This wedding is only one illustration of how Jesus created new sunrises and launched new beginnings. The totality of Jesus’ incarnate life, in fact, was given to changing millennia–old paradigms, blazing new trails, and introducing new ways of thinking. The writer of Hebrews expressed it, “Holy brothers who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest Whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1). 

Sanctifying Marriage

Marriage and the family are very important to God. Jesus’ presence at this Jewish wedding guaranteed marriage between a man and a woman would have the highest importance in the New Covenant. Hence, Jesus’ attendance set a cornerstone value for the church He was soon to launch. This wedding also modeled the divine ideal is for children to be reared by a father and a mother.

The Apostle John further demonstrated the special significance of weddings by placing this wedding at the very start of Jesus’ ministry. In doing so, Jesus affirmed the institution of marriage and the family before He met with Nicodemus and introduced the New Birth (Chapter 3).

Jesus, the “apostle…of our profession” set the bar high, performing His first miracle not at a sick bed, but at a wedding celebration (Hebrews 3:1, KJV). The symbolism resulting from His doing this is that the institution of marriage is foundational in building Godly homes. God-fearing families develop Biblically based cultures. As goes the family, so goes a nation.

Everywhere the Gospel has gone worldwide, no matter how pagan the culture, the example Jesus set at Cana of Galilee has exalted monogamous marriage as the divine plan: one man for one woman until death parts them.

Doing this also shows the Lord’s genius in action. Marriage as a lifetime covenant requires commitment and truthfulness in the ups and downs of life. In fact, commitment sustains marriages; feelings of love can come and go, and must always be secondary to commitment. This faithfulness builds into a culture the fidelity that makes for a strong nation. Any society is weak that does not have fidelity as a basic building block of fathers and mothers in marriage.

Mothers: Moving the Heart of God

“Dear woman, why do you involve Me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4).

Jesus’ answer to His mother was not spoken in disrespect but most probably with a twinkle in His eyes that Mary understood fully. A big, knowing smile may have broken on her face as she interpreted His response and watched Him move into action.

Was Jesus motivated by this appeal from His mother? Of course, He was. Since this wedding, millions of mothers have moved the heart of God with their petitions. Acknowledging this, however, does not endorse the teaching of Mariolatry (the worship of Mary). Mary’s position as Jesus’ mother did not give her superior intercessory powers that justify veneration of Mary as an object of worship.

Jesus authorized His followers in every generation to pray directly to Him and in His Name for pressing needs, without appealing to any intermediary. We do not ask Mary to ask Jesus on our behalf; instead, we ask Jesus Himself (John 14:14; 15:7; 16:23).

Jesus listens just as quickly today to the sincere cry of the poorest and weakest of His followers as He did to His own mother! If He did not, He would be a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; John 14:13–14; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus’ response to Mary at the wedding illustrated Him in the classic graciousness that characterized His holy life. From the beginning of His ministry, He delighted to give gifts to people. The miracle at Cana shows Jesus was so full of grace He did gracious things even when the beneficiaries did not realize their need, had not sought His help, and did not know He could help.

A true follower of Jesus will have a gracious heart like Him. How appropriate to look for needs and fill them. To follow the example of Jesus presumes a heart in each of His followers willing to serve the needs of people even when they do not know to ask. The good news of the Gospel shows any believer has direct access to Jesus (John 14:13–14, 26; 15:16).

“[Jesus’] mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you’” (John 2:5).

This was wisdom then and it remains wisdom today: “Whatever He says to you, do it” (NKJV).

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’ So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, 10 ‘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’” (John 2:6-10).

This miracle shows Jesus, the man from Nazareth as the Logos, the Word from God. Jesus demonstrates the power of His Word in this story with two simple commands: “Fill the pots with water,” and, “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host” (John 2:7-8, MSG). They were expressed with no fanfare or showy effort to call attention to Himself. But those were logos words, authoritative words. The power to create wine out of water was tied up in those words.

I wonder if a sparkle was in Jesus’s eyes when He spoke them.

The servants did as Jesus instructed. The result was the best wine and more than enough—perhaps 150 gallons of the finest wine! (2:6, GW). Surely much of it was left over and this young couple could sell it. It was their wedding gift from Jesus!

How important to obey the Lord implicitly!

A New Glory
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“This, [is] the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs He performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him” (John 2:11).