April 3, 2024 – The Coffee Shop Devotions: Mocha Is Better Than Lessa

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs…” John 2:1-11

The Mocha is “a flavoring made of a strong coffee infusion or of a mixture of cocoa or chocolate with coffee”. It is the opinion of this pastor that coffee and chocolate are both wonderful, but neither should be mixed with the other. It just isn’t right. It would be the equivalent of having an iced coffee – coffee is meant to be consumed hot, not cold. Chocolate is meant to be enjoyed for its own rich properties and the enjoyment it can bring – especially for the antioxidants. Most importantly, I do not like flavored coffees. When I was in college, the “hazelnut” coffee was a big deal. I consumed my fair share of the flavored coffee, one could say a huge abundance of hazelnut coffee – so much so that I no longer can stand flavored coffees. If I want to drink a coffee, I want one that tastes like coffee.

Jesus attended the wedding in Cana, and soon into the celebration, the wedding party ran out of wine. This was a disaster – especially since the wedding celebration would have gone on for days and days, and it was a celebration for the whole community. The family would have been humiliated if they ran out of wine. Jesus doesn’t seem to notice, but his mother, Mary is quickly attentive to the situation. She, showing her trust in her son, tells the servants to listen to Jesus and do what he says. In doing so, Jesus provides the wedding celebration an abundance of wine, and not just the cheap stuff. What Jesus gives them is an abundance of the finest wine.

The implication is clear for us today – Jesus wants all people to have an abundance of good things in their lives, beginning with an abundance of forgiveness, love and Grace.

Pastor Dave