The Life of the Party

Why did Jesus choose a wedding as the place to perform his first miracle? (Read John 2:1 - 11). Why was it in the midst of this party that Jesus gives the world a sign of his true identity? I am not sure if I know the answer. But I do believe that the story teaches us that joy comes when God has broken into the routine experiences of our daily existence. Throughout the scriptures we find Jesus taking bad moments and making them redeemable moments. John Ortberg says, "Jesus makes good things better." Everything is made better when Jesus is involved. We serve a God who is full of joy. Joy resides in the heart of God. When God looks out over creation he rejoices (Ps. 104:31; Gen. 1:31). He rejoices over the good found in his people (Deut. 30:9; Zeph. 3:17). Jesus declares, that his joy may be in us and “that our joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). According to Jesus, the problem with people is not that we are too happy for God’s taste, but that we are not happy enough. The Hebrew word for joy is “simhah” which is understood as “to be bright” or “to shine.” Joy is at the center of God’s character. God is the happiest being in the universe. His desire is that we would radiate that joy in our own lives.

Scripture tells us that joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). Celebrating the small things in life brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong. Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Joy produces energy. Joy makes us strong. The absence of joy brings weakness. Many of us give into sin because we lack true joy. We think the person, thing, or desire that we are being tempted with will somehow bring us joy. But if we are already living in joy then we have no reason to turn to something or someone to give us joy. What Jesus has come to bring is freedom. Freedom to enjoy life and to live in happiness. Being a follower of Christ is like going to a Jewish wedding. It is a celebration. To know Christ is to taste new wine. The teachings of Jesus were like new wine for all those that had been drinking out of the bottle of legalism. The call of discipleship with all its challenges and struggles is a call to experience the joy of life. Like turning water into wine, Jesus takes our lives and puts into us celebration. It is interesting how this story plays out. If the wine had ran out the party would have been over. Everyone would have said their goodbye’s and went home. Instead by turning the water into wine Jesus extends the party. He keeps the party going. Now that is an interesting way to look at Jesus? Invite Jesus to your party and He might keep it going into the long hours of the night.

Joy to the World!

Jesus told his friends that his aim was that they should be filled with joy, but not just any kind of joy: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” According to Jesus, the problem with people is not that we are too happy for God, but that we are not happy enough. Lewis Smedes puts it this way: “To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.”
Jesus is the joy-bringer. We see that in the announcement on the first Christmas. We read it through the pages of Scripture. Wherever Jesus went he seemed to bring a renewed sense of joy. He gave joy to those who were fearful when he said, “Fear not, for I am with you.” He gave joy to those weighed down by guilt. He gave joy to those who were self-centered by redirecting their focus outward. Jesus is the joy-bringer.
At the end of the Gospel of Luke, we have a story of two disciples of Jesus coming from Emmaus. They were on their way home from Jerusalem after Jesus was crucified, and they were dragging along as if they’d lost their best friend. Suddenly Jesus appears and walks with them. They don’t recognize him. But he asks them, “Why are you so sad?” They reply, “You mean you were in Jerusalem and you have to ask? We thought Jesus was going to be the Savior of the world, and today he is dead.”
Jesus begins to remind them of all the scriptures that speak of the Messiah. He tells them how the Messiah must suffer and die. When the disciples reached their home, they beg Jesus to come in and have dinner with them. As the blessing is being asked over the meal, they suddenly realize who he is and he disappears from their eyes.
They were so thrilled that they can’t contain their excitement. It was dark and the roads dangerous, but that didn’t matter. They rush back to Jerusalem and tell their friends they had seen the risen Christ. They could not forget how they felt. “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he spoke,” they said. And the gospel says, “They returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
The Jesus story starts with a joyful birth and it ends with a joyful resurrection. It is slammed packed full of joy. We can experience the joy of this message when we commit our lives to Jesus, the joy-bringer and start viewing life from this perspective.