Advent Devotional: Day 18 – Part 1

Luke 3:21-23

The trinity was reunited after Jesus was baptized. The picture is one that envelopes our themes completely—Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. The words spoken resonate deep within my soul and create a longing. That longing is about hearing the Father’s proud moment—love expressed. It is the ultimate “attaboy”.

Growing up I did not hear many proud parental words.  Others heard those words about me, but rarely when I was around.  I was asked to cook for Judy Collins when she performed in Talladega.  I destroyed a kitchen that day for her meal.  I used every space in that kitchen at the Bed & Breakfast.  She was taking the stage twice and I was to go to the first performance.  The owners took over the task of cleaning that kitchen.  I was proud of the meal and she did thank me.  The words spoken in the second performance, however, meant more to me because my parents relayed them to me.  I could see the pride they felt in their faces and heard it in their voice.

Luke 2:1-11

His hour would come at the Lord’s supper, not at a wedding at the start of His ministry.  I found this part of the verses bothersome.  But as I was digging deeper it occurred to me that He was pointing to the future explanation of the wine and His blood.  We see in these verses a gentle reprimand, why are you bothering me about these things.  Then we see Him acknowledging His time was limited.  Thirdly, we see the water and the wine.  The living water and His blood are an easy connection for me.

The miracle was for the disciples who were with Jesus.  The men who were following Jesus at the moment considered Him a Rabbi, a teacher.  The last part of verse 11 says that His disciples believed in Him.  This miracle for me shows God the provider of all our needs, the living water that only comes from Jesus and the blood that washes our sins away.

Where do you find your proudest moments?  Do the words spoken to Jesus “with you I am well pleased” resonate deep within you?  What do you see in the miracle of the water to wine?  In what ways has God provided for you in an extra special only God way?