Being Thanful For Small Miracles

Today we are talking about the miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine. But before we get there let me tell about a miracle that never was.

A family of farmers--Ma, Pa, and their son Jim--take a trip to the city and walk into a shopping mall for the first time. They gape in awe at all the shiny surfaces and gleaming store windows full of fancy objects. Before long, the boys wander off and leave Ma ogling a kiosk of crystal jewelry.

Pa and Jim find themselves in front of the elevators--having never seen such a thing before, they stop and stare, wondering what sort of strange city doors these be.

A little old woman, wrinkled and bent, slowly taps her way into the elevator with her walker. The doors close with a DING, and the lights above the elevator flash--a moment later, the doors open with another DING, and a tall, gorgeous twenty-something blonde saunters out into the mall.

The country boys gape at the sight for a moment, mouths open wide.

"Boy," Pa gulps, "go get'cher ma."

Historical/Cultural Context -

The Gospel of John was written between 90 AD and 100 AD. Scholars also believe that John wrote the three Epistles and the book of Revelation around the same time-frame as he wrote this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written after Matthew, Mark, & Luke had been written and circulated. John has been dubbed by most scholars as “The Spiritual Gospel.”

Biblical Text -

John 2:1–12 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. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 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. 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!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Be Thankful For Where God Has You & That He Cares About The Little Things.

Life Point- Be Thankful For Where Christ Has You Right Now.

Exegetical -

John 2:1–5 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. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Homiletical -

Now Jesus and His disciples go to Galilee, specifically Cana for a wedding that Jesus’ mother was to be at. He was invited along with His disciples.

A practical problem arises. They have run out of wine. During this time it would be shameful to run out of wine before the wedding feast has ended.

So here we have a real world problem that has arisen and one person knows who can fix it.

Mary knows Jesus can fix this situation and so, like many of us, she goes to Jesus and says “They have no wine.”

A couple of things this request has to it:

(1) It is a need that will help keep people living the life they have been living.

Is the need a matter of life and death? No

Is the need something that the people could live without? Yes, it is.

Was the need brought to Jesus’ attention out of a sense of awe and submission?

No, and that is what is going to cause the gentle rebuke to His mother here.

(2) If the need is not met then everyone involved in this wedding will have shame brought about on them.

This does not mean that maybe shame should not have been brought on them, even though Jesus ultimately stops this outcome.

God is not there to help us save face, though He may do that anyway but only according to His sovereign will.

In our language the term Woman here could be misinterpreted to be something unflattering or even rude. When in the Greek it is a term of respect, but not one of warmth.

So Jesus isn’t being rude to His mother as some have said in the past.

It is a gentle rebuke telling her that his time had not yet come.

Time for what?

Time to reveal His ministry publicly.

We call this Jesus first public miracle, but really it wasn’t when you think about it.

Only the servants, His disciples, and His mother knew. Not the guests of the wedding feast nor the officiants of the feast knew what Jesus had done.

How does this apply to us today?

There are a lot of times we get frustrated because what we are doing for God seems to be in the background. Times when we feel nobody notices. In these times we have to remember who we are doing it for. Are we serving to server Christ or to get the recognition of man?

Also remember that your time of service may not have yet come. Yes you are working for the Kingdom of God, it may seem small to you but it isn’t. There are many in the church that do the work of the ministry every week. Whether that is changing the A/C filters or turning the A/C on or off every Sunday. These are not right up front, but are important none-the-less.

Colossians 3:22–24 NLT

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12–30 NLT

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!

Life Point - Be Thankful That God Cares About The Little Things.

Exegetical -

John 2:6–12 NKJV

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. 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!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

Homiletical -

You ever notice Jesus doesn’t do thing half-way. He didn’t turn the water to cheap wine, but to the best wine everyone could taste.

So here we are and Jesus tells the servants to use the most readily available thing. Water.

Water, even today, is taken for granted but trust me when you don’t have any water you don’t take it for granted.

You know a couple of summers ago our water pump went out and it took us 3 days before someone could get out to replace it. Not having water in your home will definitely make you more appreciative for the times when you do have it readily available.

So Jesus takes the most readily available, most mundane thing and turns it into something valuable. That is He turns it into wine, but not just any wine, the best wine anyone had ever tasted.

It was so good that the master of the wedding feast stops to praise the couple for holding back the best wine until the end.

How many people know that when all looks lost, your at the end of your rope God turns it around? He comes through in His own timing.

2 Peter 3:8 NKJV

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

There are many in this church that can testify to this fact. There are many in this church who knows what it is like to receive an unexpected bill that must be paid right away, but there is only one problem. They don’t have the money. Then like out of nowhere the funds start coming in or they pay it and it seems like they had the money for the rest of the month.

We serve a supernatural God that does things His way and in His timing. These may not seem like miracles, but they are. God cares even for your finances. God cares and does miracles all the time, like the wedding feast. He did a miracle, but not everyone knew it at the time.

Just like He does miracles today. Whether that is health, finances, and some days, even our mental health. We should praise Him when we see things happening in our lives, and in our ministry, which is the local church.

Life Principle– Be Thankful For Where God Has You & That He Cares About The Little Things.

Call to Action – altar call….