We don’t deserve the Lord’s invitation to have an intimate relationship with him.  Yet, that’s exactly what Jesus offers.  By his death, we can be forgiven.  By our faith, we can receive Salvation;  By his resurrection we can live.

What a PRIVILEGE.

What a GIFT.

What an amazing GRACE Jesus offers.

What do we not understand?  God hears our pleas; God listens to our cries; and God knows and He cares.

What a privilege to enjoy the sweet fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the whole world.

Go with me to the first public miracle Jesus performed.  Like us, Jesus must have enjoyed attending weddings because on that day, he found himself attending the wedding in Cana of Galilee with Mary, his mother, and his disciples.  The ceremony had been witnessed, the food had been enjoyed, and the day was passing away as the “wedding attenders” were enjoying the festive day.  It is there, in the midst of the fun, that we see Mary ask Jesus to perform a miracle. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”(John 2: 3)

See the six stone waterpots.

See Mary as she tells them, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2: 5).

See the stone waterpots ready for the gallons and gallons and gallons of water.

See Jesus say to the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water” (John 2:7).

See them fill up the six, stone waterpots with water, “to the brim” (John 2:7).

See the servants draw out some of the water from each waterpot at the command of Jesus.

See the servants carry some of the drink “and take it to the headwaiter” (John 2: 8).

See the servants do as Jesus commanded.

See the headwaiter call to the bridegroom and say to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine;  but you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2: 10).

See the beginning ministry of Jesus.

See the first miracle of Jesus.

See the water turned to wine.

See how the disciples saw how Jesus “manifested His glory and [how] His disciples believed in Him” (John 2: 12).

On a sidebar note, I have always wanted to ask Mary—“How did you know to ask Jesus this question?”

Sure, Mary was there when the angel told her that she would conceive   &

Sure, Mary was there when she faced Joseph, her husband-to-be and informed him that she was pregnant with the Child of God   &

Sure, Mary was there, inside that stable, the night baby Jesus was born   &

Sure, Mary was there when they left Jerusalem and realized that Jesus was missing, that he was not with them   &

Sure, Mary was present when they returned and found twelve-year-old Jesus teaching the teachers in the synagogue.

Hear Jesus, when found, say to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me?  Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2: 49)

Still the question remains:  “Mary, how did you know to ask Jesus this question—to change the water at the wedding into wine?”

Mary—“How did you know to ask Jesus?”

She knew because she knew Jesus was born the Savior of the world.

She knew because God told her so!

She knew because she believed God.

She knew, & it was an amazing privilege to know!!!!!!!

Evidence!

She Knew that She Knew that She Knew the true identity of Jesus!

What a privilege it is to intimately know Jesus!

What a privilege it is to belong to God!

What a privilege it is to look toward our death and know that we too will live and not die when the end of this life comes to our earthly body!

What a privilege it is to walk through every day with Jesus!

What a privilege it is to commune, to talk, to be led day-by-day, as we go with the sweet Holy Spirit of God!

What a privilege!!!!!!!

“Fall on the Nation” by Pennell contains these lyrics:

“In the name of Jesus . . . Be Saved.

 In the name of Jesus . . . Be Saved.”

Do we ever find ourselves wishing to go deeper?

Do we ever find ourselves escaping the cares of the world and immersing ourselves in the depth of the Scriptures?

Do we ever find ourselves wanting to avoid difficult circumstances and difficult people, just to get alone with God?

Do we ever find ourselves hoping all the “guests,” all those we are dealing with today, will depart so we can experience intimacy with the Lord?

It is a privilege to talk with Jesus, even amidst the daily noise.

It is a privilege to talk with Jesus, even when immersed in the chaos of the world.

It is a privilege to walk with Jesus, even while rubbing elbows with the most difficult people.

It is a privilege to walk with Jesus, even though the others, the “guests” who have come to stay inside our day—seem here to stay for quite some time.

It is a privilege to walk with Jesus, even as we walk through the cares of our days & even as we carry the Scriptures with us in the palm of our hand and in our memories & in our heart.

It is a privilege to go deeper & deeper & deeper—with JESUS!

It is a privilege!!!!!!!

Are we suffering?

Are we digging in, searching the Scriptures, seeking vital nutrients and the living water?

Are we thirsty, pursuing the “living water” only the Father can provide?

Are we planted, like a branch, attached to the true vine, hungry for growth?

Are we daily seeking the face of Jesus?

Are we?

After Jesus was crucified upon the cross of Calvary.

After Jesus was declared dead and removed from the cross.

After Jesus was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

After Jesus was secured inside that tomb, His body sealed inside, and His body guarded by Roman guards.

After Jesus was buried in the tomb and remained there three full days.

After Jesus was CRUCIFIED, BURIED IN THE TOMB . . .

After all that—JESUS RESURRECTED TO NEW LIFE!

After all that—THE LORD LIVETH!

After all that—THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AROSE!

The Amazing Grace and privilege to receive Jesus!!!!!!!

What a privilege to serve a risen Lord!

What a privilege to serve the King of Kings!

What a privilege to serve the God of heaven and earth!

What a privilege to serve our Master & Lord, Jesus Christ!

What a privilege!!!!!!!

It is a privilege to own a Bible.

It is a privilege to be able to read daily the Word of God.

It is a privilege to know that we can learn as we study the Scriptures.

It is a privilege to carry the Bible within us and in our hands, as we go through our days.

It is a privilege!!!!!!!

A privilege to look, to read, to see the words of Jesus, found inside the Word of God.

“Afterward He [after Jesus had risen to new life] appeared to the eleven themselves [the Apostles] as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;  but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who have believed:  in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;  they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them;  they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

(Mark 16: 14-20)

Thank You, Jesus, for this privilege, Only YOU can provide.

Thank You, Jesus, for this Salvation, we can receive Only through YOU.

Thank You, Jesus!

It is a privilege to share the Gospel message with the world.

It is a privilege to share Jesus with those who we know do not yet know.

It is a privilege to share the good news of Christ Jesus.

It is a privilege to share our testimony of how Jesus saved us.

It is a privilege to follow the call of God.

It is a privilege to be led by the Holy Spirit.

It is a privilege!!!!!!!