As a kid, I used to love a good scavenger hunt. You’d read a clue or solve a riddle and it’d take you to the next place on the map. All of this hunting and finding develops excitement and anticipation for the end. In many ways, it makes the gift at the end of the journey so much more exciting! John is a beautiful author in how he constructs the story of the Good News about Jesus Christ. This Sunday we begin the scavenger hunt that John has laid out for us. At the end of the story about the Wedding Feast at Cana where Jesus turns water to wine, John tells us that this is the first of his signs (2:11). Jesus is back in Cana in 4:46-54 where he heals the Official’s Son. John tells us that this is the second sign (4:54). John has pointed to two signs and leaves you to do the rest of the work!
Throughout the Sundays in Lent, we are going to follow the signs leading to the Resurrection. I encourage you to be intentional with your time during this season. Set a time when you will read and reflect on the passage for the week each day. Approach this time with expectation that God will meet you in the text. John writes in a way that invites you into the stories as a participant so that you encounter Jesus in different ways. I will provide some prompts for each week’s reading to help with your time of listening for the voice of God in your life. Invite someone to join you in walking with Jesus during Lent and set a time to share how God is speaking to you through these passages. We’ve provided a guide for this time together here. The guide also has the scripture focus and Dwelling in the Word passages for each week.
Set aside some time to read and reflect on the Wedding in Cana in John 2:1-12. Read through the story slowly and pay attention to which characters in the story stand out to you. Use your imagination (a beautiful tool given to you by God) to allow the story to guide your time of prayer.
- From this character’s perspective: What do you see? What do you smell? What do you taste? What do you hear?
- Reading the story again: What do you notice about Jesus? Who does he pay attention to? How do you see faith on display?
- Reflect on the text (maybe go for a walk with Jesus). Here are some prayer prompts for different characters within the story:
o Mary – In what ways do you need to be bold in your faith to simply know that Jesus is going to step in and take care of the problem?
o Servants – What is Jesus calling you to do that would take great obedience because it doesn’t make sense?
o Master of the Feast – Where are blessings in your life that you’ve tried to find other explanations for or give others credit for that need to be given as praise and thanksgiving to Jesus?
o Bridegroom – Where is Jesus blessing you in your life right now that you need to stop and give thanks?
o Disciples – Where have you seen Jesus working in the lives of others that call you into deeper belief and therefore deeper commitment to following and becoming like him?
- More reflections and prayer prompts for this passage:
o Who sees the signs of Jesus in this story?
o Who is the most blessed in this story? Those who receive the gift of good wine in the celebration? Those who are saved from embarrassment? Or, those who saw the work of Jesus to bring reconciliation to the situation through the miracle?
o Pray for your eyes to be open to the work of Jesus around you and that your hands will be ready to join in that work.