Have you ever wondered why Jesus asks people to do things that He could easily do Himself? Jesus could heal the sick, calm storms, multiply food, and even raise the dead. Nothing was beyond His power. And yet, when you read the Gospels, you discover something fascinating. Jesus continually invites ordinary people to participate in His extraordinary work. He doesn’t need their help. But He chooses to involve them. I want to share four examples today because I believe there’s an important lesson here for all of us.
1. The Woman at the Well — John 4
Jesus is sitting beside a well in Samaria. A woman comes to draw water, and Jesus says something very simple: “Give me a drink.” Think about that. Jesus, the Son of God, the One who offers living water, begins by asking this woman for a drink of ordinary water! But that simple request opens the door to a conversation. And it isn’t just small talk. Jesus speaks to her about her life, her struggles, worship, and ultimately who He is. Something happens in that conversation. This woman, who came to the well to draw water, leaves her water jar behind and goes into town telling people about Jesus.
John tells us that many Samaritans believed because of her testimony. Here’s what strikes me: Jesus could have announced Himself to the entire village. But instead, He chose to engage one woman in a personal conversation, and she became the messenger. Sometimes God uses an ordinary conversation to accomplish something extraordinary. Maybe that’s why a phone call, a cup of coffee, or a few minutes spent listening to someone can matter so much. We never know what God might do through a simple conversation.
2. Feeding the Five Thousand — Matthew 14
Thousands of people have gathered to hear Jesus. It’s getting late, and they’re hungry. The disciples come to Jesus with what seems like a reasonable suggestion: send the people away so they can find something to eat. But Jesus responds: “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking? There are thousands of people here! We don’t have nearly enough food! All they can come up with is five loaves and two fish. And Jesus says, “Bring them here to me.” Then He blesses the food, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples to distribute. And everyone eats. Notice, Jesus performed the miracle, but the disciples helped feed the people. He didn’t ask them to create food out of nothing. He asked them to bring what they had and distribute what He provided. Sometimes we see a need and think, “I don’t have enough money, enough time, enough knowledge, or enough ability to make a difference.” But perhaps Jesus is simply saying, “Bring me what you have.”
3. Raising Lazarus — John 11
This is one of my favorite examples. Lazarus has been dead for four days. Jesus arrives at the tomb, and everyone is grieving. Jesus asks where they have laid him. Then He gives a rather surprising instruction: “Take away the stone.” What! Jesus is about to raise a dead man back to life! Surely the One who can command a dead man to come out of a tomb could move a stone out of the way. But He tells the people to move it. Then Jesus calls out, “Lazarus, come out.” And Lazarus walks out alive!
But we sometimes overlook something else. Lazarus comes out still wrapped in his burial cloths, and Jesus says: “Unbind him, and let him go.” Hmm… Jesus gives Lazarus life, but He asks the people around him to remove the stone and take off the grave clothes. Only Jesus could raise Lazarus. But others could roll away the stone and help unwrap him.
I wonder how many times Jesus invites us to do something similar. We can’t change someone’s heart. We can’t save someone. We can’t heal every hurt. But we can remove obstacles. We can offer encouragement. We can forgive. We can listen. We can be part of what Jesus is doing in their life.
4. The Wedding at Cana — John 2
Remember the wedding where they ran out of wine? Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And Jesus has them fill six large stone jars with water. Filling those jars was not easy. Together, they held about 120-180 gallons. The servants had to fill them. Then Jesus tells them to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. Somewhere in that process, the water becomes wine.
The servants couldn’t turn water into wine. But they could fill the jars. And I love this detail from John’s account: the master of the feast didn’t know where the wine came from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. They saw what Jesus had done.
Maybe that’s one of the blessings of participating with Jesus. Not only do other people benefit, but we get to see His work up close. At the well, Jesus begins with a conversation. On the hillside, He tells the disciples to feed the people. At Lazarus’s tomb, He tells the people to move the stone. At Cana, He tells the servants to fill the jars. In each of these stories, Jesus does what only He can do. But He invites people to do what they can do. And I believe He still works that way today.
Maybe there’s someone who needs a conversation. Maybe someone needs a meal. Maybe someone is struggling and needs a stone moved out of the way. Maybe there’s a simple task that doesn’t seem particularly spiritual, but God wants to use it to bless someone. We don’t have to perform the miracle. We just have to be willing to participate. Sometimes all it takes to bless another person is sitting down with them over a cup of coffee, asking a question, and genuinely listening—much like Jesus began His encounter with the woman at the well. So, start the conversation, bring what you have, move the stone, and fill the jars.