Why Bother Jesus?

John 2:1-11   Jesus loved people, parties and any event he was invited to. He shows up at this wedding and either too many people came or they were just having too good of a time. But, they ran out of wine. Jesus' mom told him they were out of it. Jesus seemed almost frustrated with her statement and basically told her it was not his problem. His mom ignored that and told the servants to do whatever he told them. You know what happened next-he had the jars filled with water and made the best wine of the day. This was his first "big deal" and a glimpse of who he was and the disciples didn't miss the point. They were sold on him.

Was Jesus really bothered by this request or did he want to see who was on his team? Is he ever really interrupted by our questions? Not really. Nothing escapes his interest in us.

I'll bet that during this past year you have had some questions or thoughts you would like some kind of resolution to. Maybe some were big things and some not so big. Did you involve Jesus in them? Or did you think he might be busy with some real big deals and you didn't want to bother him? As you and I become radical followers of Jesus, one thing we learn is that he is not bothered by anything we talk to him about. He still wants to see who really wants to be on the team.

We are turning a page in a couple of days. Some of us will wake up and yawn but is there one thing you can think of that will get you to the heart of what it really means for you to be more of a radical follower of Jesus? Bother Jesus and talk with him about it. Better-go to a wedding or a bar and take Jesus with you and see what happens.

Too Close for Comfort?

Interesting scene in John 1:46-48   It is one thing to be an acquaintance with someone but quite another to be intimate with them. It is much more safe and non-threatening to be casual with people. Not much usually happens in these relationships if they can even be termed relationships. but ask a significant question or make a revealing comment and you quickly know if the conversation is over or just beginning.
Nate was real "Can anything good come from Nazareth?' He expressed what many in those days thought. Phillip didn't argue but just said "check it out yourself."


Jesus sees what is going on and said "Here comes a guy who is real-nothing fake here." Was Nate proud in saying "How do you know me?" or did he recognize that Jesus really saw through him? Whatever, Jesus said he saw him under a fig tree. He had not met him but already knew Nathanael. Nathanael knew they had not met and that could only mean one thing for him-this had to be the Son of God.
How close are you to Jesus? Maybe we like the acquaintance idea more than the "he really knows me" thought. One way to tell is what your Christian life is like. I mean if we are in the acquaintance section we show up at the right Christian meetings, with a smile, and make a few innocent comments, being friendly and checking our watch to see how much longer we have to do this. If you are in the other section, you talked with Jesus before the meeting about who he might want you to listen to or speak with and you asked him to help you know how to be sensitive to what you should say.
Jesus hangs out in this section and never really goes to the acquaintance area. He is committed to knowing us and us knowing him-really knowing him! Is that scary or exciting to you?


Real church is made up of those who are real-with each other and with Jesus. Where do you church?

Watch Out!

John 1:35-39 opens a door of understanding for us. These two men thought they knew who Jesus was. Maybe they did know some things but they were about to hear a question and a statement that are critical aspects of following Jesus.
Jesus saw them following him and asked them "What do you want?" Seems easy enough but this question is one that has deeper roots than we first think about. Jesus always asks these kinds of things because he wants us to learn what our real motivation is in following him and we need to think through what we believe following Jesus is about. Some of what we want may not be what Jesus is all about. If we want predicitable, comfortable, happiness, cool stuff and insights we better get off the road now.
So these guys ask Jesus a question but Jesus' answers are designed to get us to not only think but also to change. Their question-"Which motel are you in tonight?" Jesus' answer-"Come and you will see." Did he answer their question? Much better than they could have imagined but now, they have to decide-do we check it out or is it a a little scary.

We will often ask Jesus questions and we will get the exact answer Jesus gave here. Why? It puts us in a place where we are going to trust Jesus that he knows more than we do. To really follow Jesus means getting into these situations where the answer draws out our heart and always means something is going to change for us. Ready for the trip?

Do you want certainty in answers to your questions or do you want to learn? Sometimes you get both but it seems we learn more when Jesus says "Come and you will see."

If I could only see God, it would be easier

Ever had an imaginary friend? I had 3 of them-Dieter, Gogus and Gugli. I never asked them how to spell their names. I used to talk with them and play for hours. One day they were gone and that was it. These guys were not real.
Jesus is real but sometimes I know we would just like to see him in person. Sometimes, we just wonder if God is anywhere. Check our Luke 24:13-17-these two men were taking a 7 mile walk (they walked everywhere) and they were talking about recent events and Jesus shows up. But they didn't recognize him. Jesus even talked with them and they just didn't get it. They were focused on the events they had just witnessed.


There are times when we just don't think God is anywhere near us. He is always present even though we don't recognize him or his activity. He might be in a smile from someone, or a neat sunrise, or as we read something and our heart is pierced. How many ways does God appear to you? Do you recognize it when he does or when he speaks in the small voice? If you are focused on non-essential things in life, you are going to miss meeting Jesus just like these guys did at first.


It would not be easier if we could physically see Jesus because he can't get any closer than he is now. He did say "I am with you always." What makes it easier is not for Jesus to come up and high five you, but to become sensitive to his presence and his speaking to you through small things.


Hey, we can bring Jesus closer to people who don't know him at all because he is in our life. So, get out there and mix it up with people this week.