Read: John 2

Over the summer I’ve had the privilege of visiting numerous events – in a church, a school, a field, even on a boat – and all about sharing the love of Jesus with children and young people.

What struck me is the differences and similarities of the volunteers leading them. There’s much that unites them – a real sense of God’s call, a passion for seeing children and young people come to know Jesus, and an infectious enthusiasm that inspires those around them. On the other hand, they are also very different people – some are larger-than-life extroverts who love to be at the heart of all that’s happening, whilst others are background figures, quietly pulling the strings to ensure everything runs smoothly.

I wonder if you’ve ever done a personality test. Your responses to numerous multiple-choice questions reveal your personality, where your strengths and interests lie and where you’re most likely to add value. Some come out as initiators, others as completers, some as big-idea, blue-sky visionaries, others as pragmatic realists with a focus on the detail. When doing these, I’ve often wondered how Jesus would come out.

In John 2 we see both ends of the spectrum. Firstly, Jesus is at a wedding in Cana. At the wedding, the father of the bride has just run out of wine. When his mother asks him to get involved, Jesus’ initial reaction is, ‘My hour has not yet come.’ This is the big picture – about what he was born on earth to do.

But Jesus is also big on the detail: ‘Fill the jars with water … Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet,’ a detail of the here-and-now.

The most successful events are those with people leading who own the vision, stick with the aims and know what success will look like. But the events also need people who know what time lunch is, have made sure the right games or craft equipment is available, and the words for the worship songs are on the computer, and there are enough minibuses to get people to activities.

Jesus led the most successful team in history. From the original motley crew of 12 disciples, the team now runs through centuries and into the millions, still with that same winning combination of big picture and minute detail. Praise God for each one.