Just before worship Sunday night the woman reading scripture in the service walked up to me and asked, “Tuck, how do you read this,” and pointed at Jesus’ statement to his mother in John 2, “Woman, what does this have to do with you and with me?” Take the phrase to your lips and you feel more than a little disrespectful. Kids, don’t try this at home. This is one of those odd statements of Jesus – filled with tension – not as much rude, as distancing. And what is the point anyway – Jesus yields to the request, the water becomes wine, and the party goes on.

John’s account of this first miracle and sign is fascinating. Chapter 1 closed with Jesus’ promise to Nathaniel that he would be wowed by much greater things than Jesus’ startling revelation that he had already seen whatever Nathaniel was doing under the fig tree. Anyone following him will see heaven and earth connected in Jesus, angels ascending and descending -- greater things. This first miracle is the first installment of the promise. It is a private but wild miracle in which Jesus turns water to wine at a wedding feast. After the odd exchange with Mary, Jesus creates an abundance of the best wine – maybe as much as 3 gallons of wine per guest! Can you even imagine the party?

John leaves us with a simple conclusion -- “the disciples saw his glory and believed” – and as before, I imagine the assumption is that we ought to join them as we walk through the story. But how?

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[Editor's Note: Tuck Bartholomew and his family recenty were sent out by Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York to plant City Church in Philadelphia. This is Tuck's first report about the new plant.] 

Six weeks have passed since we started with our first summer "gathering." When someone asks me the church plant is going. I think -- "surprised -- especially on Sundays." OK -- lots of times I am anxious. I wonder what the heck we are doing -- I am 45 years old -- I have three school aged kids -- am I crazy? On Sunday mornings we visit other churches, and sitting in the pews or chairs our thoughts ramble… will we do it this way or that way? How will City Church look compared to _____? By Sunday afternoon I am asking if "they" will be back this week? It is all very ridiculous -- but this is odd work and we are surprised. 

Five weeks ago I was getting ready for our first "staff" meeting with the worship guy and our intern. I was thinking about what I would say to them. They have signed onto risky work and they need some reassurance that they aren't crazy. The Jedi mind trick came to mind, a slight wave of the hand, "I really do know what I am doing, I really do know what I am doing, really…. I do." You get the point. I settled instead for the sobering truth.

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