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Entering the public scene
What if Thomas Edison had invented the light bulb and then had not told
anyone about it? How foolish that would have been! Great things need to be
shared!
The greatest "thing" this world has ever received is God's gift of
a Savior - and God wanted people to know it. So, when Jesus was thirty years
old, he began to make himself known in a public, attention-getting manner, so
all could share the benefits!
It started when Jesus went to John the Baptist. John was ministering at the
Jordan River when Jesus arrived. John baptized Jesus, and as he did, God the
Father spoke from heaven, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love"
(Matthew 3:17). At the same time God the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in
the form of a dove. This was the Father's and Holy Spirit's way of
officially, dramatically pointing to Jesus and saying, "This is the one.
This is the Savior."
Then Jesus began to gather a group of followers. But how were they to know
that he was really the true God, that he really was the Savior? Jesus would
have to make it known to them, with words and actions. He did it by doing
things which only God can do. He performed real miracles.
His first miracle took place at a wedding in a town called Cana. Weddings
were major events, sometimes lasting for days, and the host family was
expected to provide everything for their guests, sometimes even changes of
clothing! Unfortunately, this wedding was running out of wine - what an
embarrassment! That's when Jesus stepped in. He told the servants to fill six
large jars with water (each held 20-30 gallons). Then, Jesus ordered them to
draw some out and take it to the person who was overseeing the banquet. When
he tasted it, the water had been changed into wine! Not only so, but the
master of the banquet called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone
brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine … but you have
saved the best till now" (John 2:10).
What a powerful effect this first miracle had on Jesus' disciples! How did
this affect those people whom Jesus had called to follow Him? We're told that
"His disciples put their faith in him" (John 2:11). Wouldn't you
have done so as well? But maybe we wonder - was this a one-time thing? A
fluke? Keep
reading!
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