Beginning of Miracles
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG: The art of alchemy was handed down through the centuries from Egypt and Arabia to Greece and Rome, and finally to western and central Europe.
Simplified, the aims of the alchemists were threefold:
to find the Stone of Knowledge (The Philosophers' Stone)
To discover the medium of Eternal Youth and Health
To discover the transmutation of metals.
To the medieval alchemist's mind the different elements were but the same original substance in varying degrees of purity. Gold was the purest of all and silver followed closely.
They in vain attempted to transmute one substance (such as lead) into another (gold). Although they discovered many things about chemicals, they never succeeded in their efforts at transformation.
TS: Today, we are looking at Jesus’ first recorded miracle. Jesus performed a transformation to demonstrate His deity as he turned water into wine. Only God can create from nothing. (all the added molecules in the water now made wine.)
John identifies 8 unique miracles as signs or confirmations of who Jesus is. This is the first.
RS:
The Problem
The Problem
Setting John 2:1-2
John 2:1–2 (NKJV)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
Jesus and His disciples attend a wedding in Cana of Galilee
Wedding celebrations in Israel could last for a week.
Financial responsibility lay with the groom.
Crisis John 2:3
And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
The wine supply runs out, and Jesus’ mother comes to Him with the problem.
This would have been an embarrassment to the groom and may have opened him to lawsuit from the bride’s relatives.
It was a real issue to the family.
Pattern to follow:
Bring your problems to Jesus
We can completely trust Him
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Don’t worry, PRAY
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Don’t worry over them
we can chew on our problems in our mind and spend restless days and nights
Pray
Take them to God with thanksgiving
Be at peace
When we have truly given them to God, His peace guards us.
We know He is on the job and He guards our hearts and minds
The Solution
The Solution
Response
Timing John 2:4
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
Jesus reminds Mary His time has not yet come
Paraphrase: ‘Ma’am, what does that have to do with us?”
Jesus is distancing himself from the situation, it wasn’t directly His problem
However, Jesus takes up the problem in response to Mary’s request!
What a picture!
My Hour
constantly refers wot His ultimately mission of salvation-
His death and Resurrection
He was on a divine schedule decreed by God.
Mary’s Orders
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Mary instructs the servants to do whatever jesus tells them to do
She had gone to Jesus with faith and expectation and know His nature as only a mother could, she knew He would fix the situation.
Jesus’ Orders
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
He tells them to fill 6 huge jars with water
These were jars used to hold water of purification
Each jar would hold approximately 25 gallons of water
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.
Results
And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
The guests testify that the wine is the best!
Jesus created all the molecules to mix into the water to be wine.
The normal way to do things is the first cup to be the best. When the flavor was the star. Then, after time went on, the quality usually went down. When Jesus worked this miracles he shattered that pattern and created the very best!
Pattern
Obey God!
Do what He says.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.
The Glory
The Glory
This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
John used the word “signs” here to refer to significant displays of power that pointed beyond themselves to the deeper divine realities that could be perceived by the eyes of faith.
By this word, John emphasized that miracles were not merely displays of power but had a significance beyond the mere acts themselves.
Glory revealed
This, and all, miracles, demonstrate Jesus’ glory
As one of 8 labeled signs, this one takes on extra significance
This demonstrates He is the Creator!
He creates something (the components of wine) out of nothing!
Faith inspired
The sign had the desired effect:
Disciples had faith
Pattern:
Have faith!
Trust Him completely
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We have seen a pattern in John 2
Bring your problems to Jesus
Do what He says
Trust him