Remembering Jesus As A Family Member

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.'” John 2:3-5 (NIV) 

Families can be an incredible blessing. I really don’t know how I could have survived so long if my family had not been there for me throughout my affliction. Yet there are times when families can also be a challenge. 

I love the scripture that tells about Jesus’ mother wanting Him to help the wedding couple that ran out of wine. I love it not so much because of the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, but because it reminds us that Jesus too had a family here on earth that He interacted with. Jesus also had a mother. 

Life can be challenging enough for those with afflictions just trying to sort out their own fears, anxieties, expectations, frustrations, and disappointments. Add to that expectations from family and friends and those with health limitations find themselves with additional challenges and obligations. 

I think Jesus must have felt obliged to do something for His mother, much more so to than to do something for the wedding party. Otherwise Jesus would have just went ahead and turned water into wine without His mother pestering Him to do so. Yes, I said pestering. That conversation between Jesus and His mother happens every day across the world as mothers are nudging their sons to do things and the sons reluctantly respond. 

It is encouraging to know that Jesus had family and obligations to His family. It reminds us of the human side of Jesus, and it reminds us that He understands what it is like to have a family with all its pressures and blessings. 

With the holidays upon us, pressure on the afflicted is magnified, both from our own expectations and the expectations others have for us. This can make it even more difficult to accomplish our goals, and cause us to fall short of unrealistic expectations. We need to allow ourselves some room to breathe. We need to let family and friends know about our limitations and that we may not be able to do everything we might like to during the holidays. 

It is better to be honest than stretch ourselves to the breaking point and put additional stress on our relationships as well by making unrealistic promises. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, strengthen each of us through this season of gathering with friends and family, and help us to stay honest with ourselves and others about our afflictions and limitations. Amen. 

Karlton Douglas 

Copyright 2017