Marriage and God Episode 76
Every Christian marriage has its ups and downs and when you think about marriage as a Christian it is important to look at the scriptures! In this episode, we will explore the Bible and look at the example of the marriage at Cana as well as all the places where God shows up in every day in our lives.
Thanks to our sponsor CSBible.com
In changing water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana we look at it so many years later as the first time we see the Lord, Jesus performs a miracle. But in the gospel of John, he does not refer to it as a miracle, he calls it a sign. It was a sign that was performed in order to reveal God’s presence in human history. What does this sign reveal? It reveals so many things personally to me. First, Jesus performed the miracle because his mother, Mary asked. I often wonder, did Mary realize this was a first in human history? Did she realize that in asking her Son to bless the water and in turn create wine that was the best the guests had tasted that it was the beginning of His public ministry? Did Jesus previously perform miracles at home with just Joseph and Mary as a witness? There are so many questions that are left unanswered.
I believe that Mary was given Divine grace, first in her ability to say yes to the angel, Gabrielle so many years ago. Then, in the way to raise Jesus. The only glimpse we are given into his childhood is when He is lost for three days and Mary and Joseph had to return to the temple and when they did, they found him among the elders teaching. Was this a time that Mary and Joseph had an argument? The men and women did not travel together so they both possibly thought the other had Jesus and then somehow learned he was not among them.
How did this family deal with adversity with the Savior of the world in their care?
This leads us to our own families and the conflicts that often arise. There is no one marriage manual that explains the differences between men and women so well that we understand our spouse completely. There is no manual to read before entering into a marriage that will solve all of your marriage issues because marriage is fluid. It changes. I am definitely not the same person I was when I said, “I do,” many, many years ago. That person was used to getting her own way and compromise consisted of my husband saying he was sorry and next time he’d do it my way! Okay, I wasn’t that horrible but you get the picture.
Marriage changes us and if we focus on God as a couple it will help us get through all of the tough times to come. Thankfully, we committed on our wedding day before God and our friends and family to put God first. If you have not committed your marriage to God consider doing that today! If you are not married remember the importance of this covenant with each other. We read about covenants in Scripture.
- Isaiah uses wedding imagery (Isaiah 62:4-5) … “as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride,” and the metaphor of marriage, “makes your land his spouse,” which describes God’s relationship with the land, no… with us, with humanity. God is united with humanity as we are united with a spouse in marriage. Scriptures often use words that we understand to describe that which we can not possibly understand.
- A covenant and a bond is created various times throughout scripture. In Cana, Jesus transforms the water into wine. The water was used for ceremonial washings and the wine was used by the guests to celebrate the wedding. Again, common day symbols for an understanding at that time.
- Wine is again used at the Last Supper, where it becomes His blood on the cross. Jesus drinks from the cup at the Last Supper, but on the cross, He says, “Father if it is possible let this cup pass me by.” It was not possible and Jesus embraced the cross and His death. The cup of our salvation. Jesus is the bridegroom sent by God to humanity, which is His bride.
Just as Jesus lived life with challenges as God and as man, we too are called to live our lives as men and women.
We expect nations to get along and often cannot get along in our own families. These Scriptures show us the price paid for our salvation. We join in marriage as a covenant and a symbol to God and to the outward world of a promise. How does that promise get so messed up in our daily lives? Well, one is that we face so many pressures the minute we wake up!
Ask yourself and journal about the following:
- What is the covenant you’ve made with your spouse? (If you are not married what is the covenant with God?)
- How are you living a life that is pleasing to God?
- If you live a life that is pleasing to God how will that help you in your marriage?
- Thanking God each day for the gifts of life and all of the things that happen in your life is the first step to a long and happy marriage. Can you begin this today?
- God is love, does that translate into your married life?
- Looking at the word sacrifice is there any way you can sacrifice in your life or in your marriage more than God sacrificed for you?
- Can you begin to put God first in your life?
- Can you put your spouse and their needs above yours and after God?
- What does dying to self mean to you?
- Name one thing you can change beginning today?
Love is a sacrifice. The two cannot be taken apart. We believe that love conquers all things and it does to a certain extent but until I learned to die to self, which is one of those very hard life lessons, things did not get better. We serve a selfish God. He wants all of us, not the leftover self we give him for two seconds before we fall asleep at night.
If we want a wonderful marriage we must have a wonderful covenant with God. Begin today.
Dear Lord, I praise you for all things even those things I’d rather not be happy about in my life. I know that all things are known by You, still Lord I want to ask you specifically for ___________. Lord allow me to pray for those nearest to me daily. Let me be a prayer warrior for them, please call to mind instances when I should pray for them. Dear Lord, I praise You and I thank-you. You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I am honored to serve such a mighty God. I thank you ahead of time for all the answered prayers and I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.
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