JESUS DIDN'T NEED IT

John 2:7-10 NKJV 

7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 

This is the story of Jesus turning the water into wine at a wedding. I have used this story of what Jesus did at a wedding as an encouragement to couples at the wedding ceremony. My big takeaway is that if Jesus was willing to help a couple keep from being embarrassed at their wedding, how much more is He willing to help a couple build a strong marriage? After all, the lack of wine was Mary's concern, not Jesus' (see verse 4). 

But Jesus helped out by instructing the servants to draw the water and fill the six waterpots. Since those pots held between 20-30 gallons of water Jesus provided an abundance of wine for this couple. And not only did He provide an abundance, but He provided higher quality wine than what was originally set out for the guests. Just like Jesus to provide a high quality lived 

When the servants took the wine to the wedding coordinator, he was surprised that the best wine had been saved for last. And he did not know where the better wine came from. Only the servants knew, and I imagine they were not in the mood to discuss how the good wine came about. If the head of the wedding was happy, then they were happy. 

But Jesus never said a word. He never stepped up and declared that He was the reason the bridegroom had better wine. Jesus never told how it was originally water, but He turned it into wine. Jesus was willing to let the bridegroom take all the credit. 

Why is that? Why didn't Jesus, in an attempt to establish Himself as a miracle worker, set the record straight on where the wine came from? A couple of thoughts come to mind. Jesus was not trying to establish Himself as a miracle worker. He performed miracles to help people and to bear witness to His message. He was only attending a wedding and performed this miracle to help a couple. It was a witness to His disciples, so Jesus was satisfied. 

The second reason Jesus did not take the credit was that He did not need man to verify who He was. In verse 25 of this chapter, John wrote, "and (He) had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man." Jesus did not need man's confirmation or acclamation. He did not need man's praise and He did nothing motivated by gaining the approval of man. So Jesus was perfectly fine with letting someone else take credit, and He may have enjoyed watching the bridegroom try to figure out the better wine situation. 

APPLICATION 

Following Jesus in this area would mean so much freedom for us. What would it be like to not be the least bit concerned with who gets the credit? How liberating to never have man's approval as a motive. What a strong position to live so that God is glorified and people are helped. 

PRAYER 

Lord, help me follow You in not needing the credit, especially for the things You have done. Help me to live free from the opinions of man!