Scripture: John
2:1-11
John 2:1-11
On the third
day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2
and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3
When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus
replied. "My time has not yet come."
(It begs the question…how did Mary know he could do
something about it?)
5 His mother said to
the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Nearby stood six
stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each
holding from twenty to thirty gallons. (At least 25x6 = 150 gallons)
7 Jesus said to the
servants, "Fill the
jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them,
"Now draw some out
and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9
and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.
He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn
the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said,
"Everyone brings out the choice wine first and
then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have
saved the best till now."
11 This, the first of
his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his
glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
WEDDING FEAST LOCATION
SLIDE Cana - Cana was a
village west of the sea of Galilee and 5 miles North of Nazareth. The location
makes it likely that the person getting married was a friend or relative of
Mary. That is important information as to why they were there and why she felt
a responsibility to make sure the wedding feast went off without a hitch.
Andrew found
Peter. Phillip (also from Bethsaida) was told “follow me”. Phillip found Nathanael
(Jesus knew he had been sitting under a fig tree). So, we know for sure that at
least Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael were at the Wedding feast. The
first time they were collectively called disciples – so they would not have
been invited until Jesus showed up with them – extras not planned for – need
more wine.
This
could have been the wedding of a brother or sister of Jesus; or very likely one
of his relatives. His mother and brothers were in attendance. John 2:12 After
this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. Add to his family being on the guest list,
Mary is concerned that everything goes off well and suggests Jesus do something
about the shortage of wine. Also the fact that the servants responded to Mary
without question would suggest they know who she is.
Jesus did not call Mary, Mom. He
called her dear woman – a term of respect but one that suggests a reminder that
the divine has authority above the human. However, Jesus does what she says
which suggests that God the Father then said, “now is the time.”
WHY DID JESUS
PERFORM THIS FIRST MIRACLE?
Jesus turned water into wine to prove
that He's the source of life. Changing the water to wine offered a symbol of
the new spiritual life Jesus offers. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come!"
Jesus turned water into wine because
changing one element into another symbolized marriage. It brings new life out
of old.
Jesus turned water into wine to prove
that the old covenant lacked the resources to meet Israel's spiritual needs.
Jesus didn't have to reference the stone pots to perform the miracle. Since
they were used for ceremonial washing of people and utensils, Jesus had them
filled to prove that He fulfilled and overfilled ceremonial cleansing; then had
the servants draw water turned into wine from the well to illustrate that God's
new life came from a different source - Christ Himself.
Jesus turned water into wine to
illustrate the inimitable nature of God's revelation through Christ. Everything
God had said through Law, Prophets, proved magnificent. But as great as things
were for Israel with God in under the old covenant, God saved the best for
Israel till the last revelation of himself in Christ.
Jesus turned water into wine to prove
His real nature to the disciples. The ultimate purpose of the miracle was to
reveal His Glory, with the result being faith in Him.
Jesus turned
water into wine for one reason more. To show us that we can participate in a
miracle with him if we will just fill the jars. Who participated in this
miracle and who saw it close up? The servants who filled the stone jars. The
ones who put the water in are the ones who took the wine out. They got to
experience it first-hand. Why? Because God almost always uses the least of
these, the outcast, the sinner, the down and outer, the average person AND
because they simply DID what he said to do – they filled the jars.
First, we are to
see that Jesus performed miracles and this should create in us faith that is
the son of God. Secondly, we are called to “Just Fill the Jars.”
Not only did
Jesus produce a large quantity of wine, but the quality of it astonished the
banquet master. In the same way, Jesus pours his Spirit into us in abundance,
giving us God's best.
While it may
seem insignificant, there is crucial symbolism in this first miracle of Jesus.
It was not a coincidence that the water Jesus transformed came from jars used
for ceremonial washing. The water signified the Jewish system of purification,
and Jesus replaced it with pure wine, representing his spotless blood that
would wash away our sins.
Two Words for
Life
The Greek
language, in which the New Testament was written, has two words for life. One
(bios) means “mere biological existence”; the other (zoe) means “life in all
its fullness.” What we are being offered is fullness of life, which not even
death itself can destroy. We are not being offered an endless extension of our
biological existence but rather a transformation of that existence.
Freeing us from
our Self-Centeredness
‘Salvation’ is a
wonderfully wide-ranging word and it would be a great mistake to think that it
refers only to the forgiveness of our sins. God is as much concerned with our
present and future as with our past. His plan is first to put right our
relationship with him, and then progressively to set us free from our
self-centeredness and bring us into harmony with other people. We owe our
forgiveness and reconciliation chiefly to the death of Christ, but it is by his
Spirit that we can be set free from ourselves; and in his church that we can be
united in a fellowship of love.
THE LAST REASON
– JUST FILL THE JARS
How important is
one person to the success of a local church? It’s been said almost all the
greatest successes in life are achieved by miniscule margins. For example, the
fastest runner in the world is no more than a few fractions of a second ahead
of the other competitors. According to George McMillan, a university swimming
coach, the fastest swimmer is only separated from the others by a few short
inches.
A “drop in the
bucket” may not sound like much. However, it may be very great in the result it
produces. Small pieces of adhesive tape, which somehow disappeared from their
proper position, caused a delay in the orbiting of a very expensive satellite.
Every single piece of stone in a mosaic is indispensable. One little wire
doesn’t appear important. But when it’s disconnected, your car can’t go
anywhere. Look at the peacock’s tail and remember the tiny bit of matter within
the egg from which that peacock grew. A tiny screw on the wing of an airplane
may save a crash. A faulty switch repaired may prevent a fire.
Little things
are extremely important. Not because of what they are in and of themselves.
Rather, because they are a part of something that depends heavily upon them for
success. We may occasionally feel we are but one small speck on this planet,
without worth or value. We may falsely suppose we can make little or no
contribution to the world, others and God. BUT THAT’S WRONG. Every person,
whether single or married, young or old, rich or poor, weak or strong, is
absolutely and extremely important.
Every single
person is important to God, to Jesus, to the world and to your church. Please
don’t ever underestimate your importance to those around you or the God above
you. God placed you on this earth for a purpose, led you to your church for a
purpose, and that purpose is extremely important.
If the church is
to accomplish all God has called her to do, it will take your help. You are
extremely important. Your prayers are important. Your participation is
important. Your gifts and abilities are important. Your faithfulness is
important. Everything you are and everything you do is extremely important.
So next time
you’re thinking about skipping a service or bowing out from helping in some
ministry or activity, think again. Next time the devil tries to convince you
what you have to offer, or what you do, is no big deal … next time you start to
believe what you can contribute is only some insignificant, small thing …
remember: SMALL THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Only,
when you fill the jar – fill it with your best:
Turning Wine into Water for the king
There is
a legend about an ancient village in Spain. The villagers learned that the king
would pay a visit! In a thousand years, a king had never come to that village.
Excitement grew! “We must throw a big celebration,” the villagers all agreed.
But, it was a poor village, and there weren’t many resources. Someone came up
with a classic idea. Since many of the villagers made their own wines, the idea
was for everyone in the village to bring a large cup of their choice wine to
the town square, “We’ll pour it into a large vat and offer it to the king for
his pleasure! When the king draws wine to drink, it will be the very best he’s
ever tasted!”
The day before the king’s arrival,
hundreds of people lined up to make their offering to the honored guest. They
climbed a small stairway and poured their gift through a small opening at the
top. Finally, the vat was full! The king arrived, was escorted to the square,
given a silver cup and was told to draw some wine, which represented the best
the villagers had.
He placed the cup under the spigot,
turned the handle, and then drank the wine, but it was nothing more than water.
You see every villager had reasoned, “I’ll withhold my best wine and substitute
water, what with so many cups of wine in the vat, the king will never know the
difference!” The problem was, everyone thought the same thing, and the king was
greatly dishonored!
Jesus
is pouring wine into you – fill the jars with what he has given you and he will
perform the miracle.
7 Jesus said to the
servants, "Fill the
jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them,
"Now draw some out
and take it to the master of the banquet."
Optional at some point:
PASS IT ON
Verse 1
It only takes a spark, to get a fire going
And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it
You spread His love to ev'ryone, you want to pass it on
Verse 3
I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound
I'll shout it from the mountain top, I want my world to know
The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on
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