First Thoughts: This is an interesting miracle we have here. It doesn't have the gravity of healing a blind man, the drama of stilling stormy waters, or the pathos of feeding a hungry crowd. So what does it have? A party -- and that's not a bad thing! We sometimes forget that one of the criticisms people made of Jesus was that he wasn't somber enough. He was always feasting and hanging out (and with all the wrong people). There is something subversive in Jesus' willingness to be joyful, even to excess, and perhaps it's a lesson we need to learn more in our churches. Although we learn from Jesus' initial response to his mother that this isn't exactly the time or place for his "coming out" party, he still responds to her request for help. What's important to others is important to him. Also, he doesn't take himself too seriously. It's good to have fun, to participate in communal celebrations, and to join others in their joy. It's important for us to remember that our work as Christians isn't about us. We are a window through which others get a glimpse of God. If that glimpse doesn't show some serious laughter and happiness, it just isn't complete. Invite God to fill you with joy and even a bit of silliness as you prepare for your time with the children.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody, guess what? I'm throwing a Valentine's party in a few weeks. Isn't that fun? I even have my party planning list here so I don't forget anything. Want to hear what's on my list? Let's see. I need to pray for good weather, pray that my friends are healthy, pray the food is yummy, pray... You know what? All the things on my list are praying about things. Do you think a party is important enough to pray about? I think Jesus would say yes!
According to our scripture passage today, Jesus performed his first miracle to keep a party going. He was at a wedding party with his friends when his mother told him that the people had run out of wine. He told the servants to fill up wine jars with plain water and serve it. When people tasted it, it was the best wine they'd ever had. You know, there's more to faithful living than trying to be serious and perfect all the time. Sometimes you just gotta have fun. So who wants to party with me and Jesus?
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 1 has list, goes over it)
Leader 2: What do you have there, (name)?
Leader 1: It's my party planning list. I'm having a Valentine's party in a few weeks and I want to make sure I don't forget anything.
Leader 2: So what do you have to do?
Leader 1: Let's see. I need to pray for good weather, pray that my friends are healthy, pray the food is yummy, pray...
Leader 2: Wait a minute. Is everything on that list praying?
Leader 1: Yeah. I want to make sure it's a great party, you know.
Leader 2: I know, but it doesn't seem like those things are important enough to pray about.
Leader 1: I think Jesus might feel differently about that.
Leader 2: Why do you say that?
Leader 1: According to our scripture passage today, Jesus performed his first miracle to keep a party going.
Leader 2: What?
Leader 1: Yeah! He was at a wedding party with his friends when his mother told him that the people had run out of wine. He told the servants to fill up wine jars with plain water and serve it. When people tasted it, it was the best wine they'd ever had.
Leader 2: So Jesus liked a good party.
Leader 1: It seems so. You know, there's more to faithful living than trying to be serious and perfect all the time. Sometimes you just gotta have fun.
Leader 2: So am I invited to the party?
Leader 1: Of course. I'll be praying that you remember to bring chocolate chip cookies.
Leader 2: Got it!
Closing Prayer: God, help us to remember that you are with us in every part of our lives -- when we're sad, when we're working hard, and when we're having fun. Remind us to invite you to every party. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, encourage the children to talk about things they do to have fun. Write the phrase "WWJD" on a board or piece of construction paper. Then ask the children "What would Jesus do?" and invite them to name the things they love to do. For example, "Jesus would draw, Jesus would play basketball, Jesus would play video games," and so on.
As a craft idea, provide the children with magazines that have pictures showing lots of fun activities. Invite them to cut out the pictures they think look most fun. (You could also ask them to draw pictures.) Provide them with little cut-out faces of Jesus copied from a Bible coloring book or taken from the internet. Then invite the children to glue the faces of Jesus onto the bodies doing the fun activities and make a collage on a large sheet of paper. At the top of the page invite them to write: "What Would Jesus Do? Have Fun!" Close with a time of prayer.
