Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 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, “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 2:7-10
How Jesus Loved People
Jesus loved people by providing practical help.
“They have no more wine.” Jesus’ mother said. Have you ever been around the women in charge of a wedding celebration when something goes wrong? I have. Running out of anything at a wedding is a big deal.
They had no more wine, and Jesus had the capability of providing wine.
Jesus was in the right spot at the right time with the right capability to meet the need at hand.
So He did.
How to Love Like Jesus
I’m guessing you don’t have an ability to turn water into wine.
Neither do I.
But there are capabilities you do have.
Just a few months ago, my family and I were on the road to Portland when my 2001 Ford F150 started to falter. I limped into my nephew, Kody’s house in Springfield where we swapped out my truck for his Toyota Highlander for the rest of the trip.
On the way home we stopped in Springfield to return the Highlander, and there my son, Gabe repaired the problem with the help of a great Ford mechanic another nephew of mine, Kassidy, tracked down.
We needed a vehicle, Kody had a Highlander available. We needed the truck repaired, Gabe had the ability to do it. We were pressed for time, Kassidy knew of the Ford mechanic who came over to help speed the process. Kody and Kassidy’s wives, Sofia and Miriam both provided amazing food and hospitality while we waited for those with mechanical ability to finish the job.
Gabe, Kody, Kassidy, Sofia, and Miriam were in the right spot at the right time with the right capability to meet the need at hand.
Getting back to Jesus’ example, there are a couple more things worth noting about how Jesus provided. Notice how He gave His best.The master of the banquet called the bridegroom aside and said, “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.”
Also notice Jesus helped in a way completely devoid of any claim for credit. The master of the banquet did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Only Jesus and those immediately around Him at the time knew of what He’d done.
So here are four things you can do, to love the way Jesus loved, on a practical level.
4 ways to love like Jesus
1) Don’t be concerned you can’t change water into wine. Don’t be concerned about what you can’t do.
Focus on what you can do, no matter how small.
2) If we’re paying attention, we’ll notice the Holy Spirit has a way of putting you and putting me in the right spot at the right time with the right capability. Be on the lookout for those times. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
3) When you find yourself in such a situation, recognize it’s an opportunity provided to you by the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…It is the Lord Christ you are serving. So give it your best. (Colossians 3:22-24)
4) When you help, do it without seeking credit.
Jesus was in the right spot at the right time with the right capability to meet the need at hand.
So He did — love is a verb.
That’s how Jesus loved.
You can too.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
