I know in my house whenever we were planning the boy’s birthday party, a gathering of family and friends, this was Diane’s greatest fears.  In fact I remember Diane planning a dinner party for some two dozen people. Diane had prepared thirty Cornish hens.  One for each person and a few extras just in case someone wanted more.  I can remember hearing her say, because she said it all the time, "Do you think we have enough."

You think! We had enough to feed the entire defensive unit of the NY Giants.

At first I thought this was an Italian thing, but I have come to learn that this concern for having enough food and beverage transcends cultural lines.  It even transcends time.  John 2 is a perfect example.

There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  Now we think we make too much of weddings and receptions today.  In Jesus’ day, weddings were week long festivals.  Many banquets were prepared for the many guests.

Today we struggle and agonize planning for one celebration.  Can you imagine the planning that had to go into a week long celebration.

Today it might be embarrassing to run out of food or drink.  In Jesus’ day it broke the strong laws of hospitality.

Mary aware of the fact that the wine gave out went to Jesus and made Him aware of the situation.  To which He said,

Having reached the limits of available wine, probably because there were those who went beyond their limits, Mary turned to Jesus.

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you seem to have come against a brick wall?  A time when limited resources, limited talent, limited time prevented you from succeeding.

Like most parents, there were times when my two sons pushed me to the limit.  Being pushed to the limit doesn’t only happen to parents.  We are all vulnerable to situations and people who push our patience to the limit.  Whose patience has not been tested by a telephone marketing person who doesn’t understand the word NO?  You don’t want to be rude and just hang up.  Yet regardless of how many times you say, ‘You are not interested.’ They continue their sales pitch.

What do you do? When you are pushed to the limits?

When you have exhausted every avenue available? When you have called in every favor, every contact, every resource and still your situation is no different?

Max Cleland was faced with just that dilemma. At the age of 24 while serving in Viet Nam, he had his right leg and hand blown off by a hand grenade explosion and his left leg was so completely mangled it had to be amputated.

Max Cleland at that point in his life remembered two things. He remembered that the apostle Paul said, "Hope did not disappoint."  He also remembered Gen. George Patton said,  "Success is how you bounce after you hit bottom."

Max Cleland returned to civilian life, entered politics, learned to drive and traveled extensively mobilizing support for veteran causes.  At the age of 34, Max became the youngest man ever to head the Veterans Administration.  Some time later he was elected Georgia’s secretary of state.  (Story taken from God’s Little Devotion Book for Men)

One could say that Max believed Paul’s message to the Philippians,

"For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11,13)

When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him,

"They have no wine."

And Jesus said to her,

Certainly running out of wine pales in comparison to overcoming the loss of three limbs.  However, both stories address the issue of limits.  To be painfully honest we don’t like limits.  We live in a society which is not content.  A society which wants to raise the limits.  Driving at the speed of 55 was too slow, so we made it 65.  Some states have even made it 70 & 75. The hottest vacation packages being sold to the 20-30 year old generation are Extreme Vacations. Vacations which involve pushing yourself, your body, your spirit to the limit.  Just last month espn covered for 10 days the Extreme Games.  Two weeks ago on the youth retreat one youth said, "The ten commandments are too restricting."

Well lets take a look at the state society is in today. How much of it is due to the fact that we have pushed the limits of the ten commandments?  When are we going to learn that the limits that God has put on life are for our own good, for the health and well being of all people.

Which leads me back to a previous question I asked, what do you do when you feel limited in finances, in health, in strength, in anything?  Did you ever think God intentionally placed that limitation upon you; that God did so, so that He might reveal His presence and power to you, as He did at the wedding of Cana at Galilee.

Jesus response to His mother may seem as though He doesn’t care.  Ultimately He does. Because He did instruct the servants to fill the jars with water, and in conclusion turned the water to wine.  While this may seem like a very strange way for Jesus to launch His ministry.  The truth you and I can obtain from it is, God loves to help people in need!

This is not the first time in the Bible we read how God used limited resources to do unlimited things. There is the story of God using the jawbone of an ass to crush an army; a shepherd’s staff to confound Pharaoh; a king’s insomnia to save Esther; five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000.

Limitations are opportunities for God to reveal Himself.

You and I need to realize that our limitations of intellect, performance, finances, wisdom, power, love are grounds for God to break through.

We are limited in power, God is not.

We know some things, God knows everything.

We can do a lot of things, God can do anything.

The blessing of limitations is that they make you fall to your knees in prayer. We must acknowledge our limitations.  We must swallow our pride and ask God for help.  Tell me, if you were swimming in the ocean and suddenly began to drown, would you be too proud the cry out for help.  I Doubt it.  So then you find yourself in deep water, when you find yourself with limited resources, why do you hesitate to cry out to Jesus?

Mary didn’t hesitate.  Mary said,

She might not have expected the answer she got,

But Jesus answer did deter her faith that he would help. Check out her response. "His mother said to the servants,

‘Do whatever He tells you."

She knew that Jesus would not stand by and fail to help someone in need.  You and I need to have faith in this truth.  Jesus will not fail to help us.  When faced with life’s limitations may you fall to your knees believing, that God will use your limitations for your benefit and His glory.

amen

Past Sermons

Prayer Requests