In their book The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath describe an experiment in which participants underwent three painful trials. In the first, they submerged a hand for 60 seconds in a bucket filled with frigid, 57-degree water. In the second trial, the time was increased by 30 seconds. For the first 60 seconds, the water was still 57-degrees. But in the final 30 seconds, it was raised to 59-degrees. In neither trial were participants told how long the experiment would last. Before their third and final bucket, they were asked if they'd prefer to repeat the first or second experiment. A whopping 69% chose the longer trial! Think about that for a moment. In both of the first two trials, their hand was placed in frigid water. The second trial was 30 seconds longer and only slightly less uncomfortable in the end. Yet, more than two out of three people asked to repeat the second trial. Why? Psychologists tell us it's because when people assess an experience, they rate the experience based on its best or worst part (that is, the peak) and the ending. They call it the "peak-end rule."
Whether you like it or not, people will tend to remember you for when you were at your best, or worst, and for the way you were in the end. It's impossible for any of us to always be at our best. Our worst selves will sometimes slip out no matter how hard we try to hide them. But the ending is something we can better control. Knowing that it's the end, we can devote more time and attention to getting it right.
In titling today’s message, saving the best for last, we find in the Gospel of John where Jesus not only gave one of His first recorded miracles, but He specifically shows us how important the end really is. The miracle here wasn’t healing a disease, the deaf, the mute or the blind, but it was something much more simplistic. In this, we find a tremendous meaning behind what lies ahead for us who worship and serve God in that its not the beginning that makes all the difference, it’s the end.
In paraphrasing, Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding. In the ancient days a wedding was a very big thing. Strangers were not invited, the best food and drink was given first, and if you think the wedding would last about an hour or so, in the ancient tradition, it would last for at least one whole week of joy and celebration. One of the points I want to reflect upon here is just as God created a covenant between a man and a woman in marriage, so He desires that was each of us, meaning a relationship; not a one time thing. With a relationship it takes growth, not being stale. This wedding that just got started, Jesus was there to take part and even party some, which came with fine dining and definitely have a laugh or two. The people at this wedding are seeing a side of Jesus who was known as a man of grief and sorrow to where He then put His hair down so to speak. Jesus wasn’t invited to a joyful event such as a wedding to be grim, dull and repulsive to sinners. Jesus came to have a good wholesome time while being uplifting and loving as we all should be.
So as the joyful time progressed, the mother of Jesus said to Him, we have run out of wine. Boy, what an embarrassment to the hosts. This great festival of joy has now become an eyesore. They didn’t get enough wine to enjoy the festivities. As I mentioned earlier, the best food and wine is always served first! Its easy to suggest the good stuff is now gone. So now they are forced to tread the barnacle to serving the poor wine, but how Mary makes it sound like, all the wine is gone period! Meaning, Jesus has been there for a while.
So, Jesus told them to get six stone waterpots, totaling approx. 130 gallons and fill them with water. Jesus then directed them to draw some out and take it to the head waiter. This is important. The head waiter tasted the water thinking it was wine which indeed had become wine. The only people who knew where the wine came from where the servants who had put the water into the waterpots. Everyone else more than likely had no idea there was a wine shortage at all. So, the festivities kept on going. So, this is where it gets interesting. The head waiter was alarmed. He knew the good wine is always served first and the poor wine second, but this wine that the servants gave to the waiter is better than the original batch of wine they had. The headwaiter *called the groom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
What we are seeing here is God, even to those who are already drunk, desires to give us His best for last; even when we don’t’ deserve it! And His best was not something expected. Notice who knew where the wine came from! It was the lowly servants and the disciples. Those who seeked and follow God. The humbled! No one, not even the bridegroom or head waiter knew there was a shortage of wine; and this portrays throughout the Gospels where those who are living in the darkness but also reaping the benefit of God’s blessing. How many of those at the wedding did or did not serve God we do not now, but regardless, everyone reaped the benefit of this profound miracle. How many people who Jesus fed from the thousands mentioned in scripture truly was hungry or near death due to starvation? It doesn’t matter, God saved the best for them as well.
With us humans, we tend to focus on the best things come first. We dress up, put on our best manners, and hope others will not find out how empty or needy we really are. Hoping our dirty laundry stays hid and not seen. We clean up our rooms before guests arrive, and even shove the messes of our lives into back bedrooms or basements before guests come. This is not so with our Lord. With Him the best comes at the end, not at the beginning. God accepts us who we are today, not tomorrow!
Let me ask you this morning, what are you expecting from God today? Are you exclaiming the perfection, sinless and most healthy life here on earth, satisfying yourself with the old wine, old habits and out of date behaviors? Or, are you preparing yourselves for what is to come, the new wine served at our destination, our heavenly home? You see friends, its God’s time that has to take place and come to full affect, not ours. Eternal life is what I speak of today; and it’s not of this world. The ultimate promise with life everlasting that is beyond our comprehension and knowledge yet very true and real. It is the faith we deepen in our Lord whereby He fully reveals Himself to those who call Him Lord and Savior. But you may ask yourselves, what have we to do with God who saves the best for last. Why not give us all the good stuff now? You see friends, without God’s promise of love and hope, we have nothing. And in a world of sin, God cannot and will not tolerate sin; hence the real reason why this world is not our final destination. While God’s majesty, glory and honor that is always His, we whom are His humble servants shall indeed reap the rewards that God promises when and only when we wait patiently for His return as we are to live a righteous life as God has saved the best for those who’s names are written in the lambs book of life. This is where the rubber meets the road. God gives blessings to all people, but he saves the best for last to those who know Him. Let me say this in closing. If you were asked how do I get right with God, are you getting closer to Jesus. What would your answer be? This is where our relationship with our savior is more than important, it is vital to our future. So, this miracle or sign from Jesus that changed water into wine should reflect upon you this morning that even though it happened at a celebratory event, Jesus had a true meaning of it towards those who only knew Him. His disciples, servants along with you and me. Jesus is among us, not to provide new wine, but to provide a new life—not in old vessel but a new one. This friends is our eternal reward. Just like the old hymn says, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.” OH How true it is! So when in doubt, think about the end of this life where God saved us from the beginning to meet with best in the end. Amen.