What’s It to Me?

John 2:4 (ESV) And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Every day people around you have problems. These are not your problems. You did not cause them. You will not suffer anything if they are not resolved. You can go your happy way to deal with your own problems when they arrive and let other people suffer from their own problems. Yet, there are many times that you could help others overcome their problems. Maybe you have a set of jumper cables in your trunk that could start the car parked next to you with the dead battery. Perhaps the three dollars in change in your pocket could buy the homeless man on the corner a burger rather than add to the growing stack of coins on your dresser. These truly are not your problems, but you could be part of the solution if you choose.

In John 2, Jesus and his first disciples joined his mother at a wedding. Whether because of bad planning or too many guests, the hosts ran out of wine. Jesus was just a guest. He was not there to get drunk, so it did not matter to Him personally that they ran out of wine. When Jesus’ mother told him about the problem, his reply, translated literally, was, “What is that to you and me?” In other words, “This is not my problem or your problem.” Yet, although it was truly not Jesus’ problem and he did not have to do anything, he chose to help.

Mary seemed to know in advance Jesus would do something, because in the next verse she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Sure enough, even though a lack of wine did not matter to Jesus, it mattered greatly to the hosts, who would forever be ridiculed for inadequate hospitality in a culture where how you took care of your guests was the measure of your character. Jesus saved the day, not because he needed to for Himself, but simply because he could help others overcome their problem.

Today, why don’t you and I both not just try to solve our own problems but try to take notice and action when we can help others solve theirs? Let’s be more like Jesus.