Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

Advent Daily Devotional - Joy to the World!

Day 3 – Tuesday, December 5

Key Verses:
“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” — John 2:11, New Living Translation

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” — Hebrews 12:2, New Living Translation

Today’s Reading:John 2

Listen to today's reading on her.BIBLE®

When we hear the words of the Christmas Carol, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come,” we can think of the baby Jesus in swaddling clothes asleep in Bethlehem. But an event near the end of Jesus’ earthly life would paint the most powerful portrait of joy (Hebrews 12:1-2).

A few years prior to that event, recorded in John 2, Jesus performs His first public miracle, which happened at a wedding in Cana. Interestingly, out of all the miracles Jesus could have selected for His inaugural demonstration of power, He chooses one that does not meet a desperate need — as most of His later miracles would — but rather creates joy.

Jewish wedding feasts were marvelously festive occasions, often lasting an entire week. They were full of joy, feasting, laughter and dancing.

The most important element of the wedding feast was the wine. The master of the banquet — to keep the wine flowing — would usually bring out the expensive wine first and let everyone drink until they were drunk. Then the master would bring out the lesser quality wine. At this particular wedding, the wine started running out earlier than expected. Mary, Jesus’ mother, suggested Jesus do something about it.

Jesus tells the servants to fill up six large stone jars with water and to take some to the master of the banquet. When the master tastes it, the water has been transformed into the best wine. The guests, overwhelmed with joy, claim that the master “saved the best wine for last!”

A few years later, during the Last Supper on the night Jesus is betrayed, Jesus tells His disciples that the wine represents the blood He would shed on the cross. In fact, He endured the cross knowing the joy that awaited Him and awaited us upon His resurrection. Jesus would ultimately bring the joy that results from the freedom from sin at the great cost of His own life.

The couple at the wedding likely did not have the resources to provide enough wine for their own wedding feast, but Jesus provided. Likewise, we cannot afford to pay for our own sins. There is nothing we possess and nothing we could ever do to earn our own salvation (Romans 5:17-18). But Jesus paid our sin debt with His own blood, purchasing eternal life. Joy to the world! The Lord has come!

Reflect:

In what ways are you trying to earn God’s forgiveness?

Knowing that Jesus has paid for the forgiveness that you can’t earn, how might this bring you new joy?

Pray:

Lord, we are so thankful for the incredible gift of grace that we have received as a result of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We acknowledge that we don’t have the ability to pay for our own salvation but are thankful for this gift of grace. Help us to live with an awareness of that grace and a deep knowledge that the favor we have in You is not based on our performance but on Your mercy. Thank You for Your love.

A Deeper Dive

Learn the key to being satisfied in your experience with God.


Todd Tillinghast is currently serving as the national team leader for Cru Panama in the Republic of Panama. He also serves as the pastor of preaching and vision for La Comunidad Bible Church — a multicultural, multigenerational congregation in Panama City, Panama. He has been married to his beautiful wife Marielena for 23 years and has two sons, Juan Diego and Lucas.

Looking Forward to Advent

Where do you look when your world feels like it's on shaky ground?

Advent Wallpapers

Download these free Advent wallpapers for your smartphone.

How to Turn Holiday Conversations Toward Jesus

Get some ideas to turn holiday conversations — from Christmas to New Year's Day — toward Jesus.

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.