Even Jesus Likes to Party

Intro

We’ve all seen these before right? (Show a sign ADD TO SLIDE SHOW)

You probably saw some of these on the way into church today.

What is the purpose of these signs?

Signs are meant to direct you. They point you to something.

Have you ever been in a place that doesn’t have signs? I grew up in a town like that, small town and when someone who is not from there comes there, my goodness they are lost and confused.

Without signs on the highway we would be lost, some people on 95 are still lost with all the signs they have on that highway.

More about signs in just a moment.

Today we are starting a brand new series Miracles! Which I am very excited for. We as a church are going to walk thru the miracles of Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John.

John was as he referred to himself as the beloved disciple.

John is writing this as an old man and he has seen the other 3 Gospels be written. And as an old man they get him and try to convince him to write about his time with Jesus, so he does that. But, John wants to do it differently than the others. They provide more historical accounts and recordings of what happened, John looking back on it decides he wants to provide a clear picture of Christ now that we’re on this side of the resurrection. This is why his account sounds so different at times.

In fact, at the very end his account he says this…

John 21:25 NIV

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Which begs the question, John what did you include and why?

Central to his account are these miracles, but John doesn’t call them miracles, he calls them signs. and there are seven of them and he structures the first half of his account around these seven.

The second half of his account revolves around the last week of Jesus earthly ministry.

Scripture

John testifies about Jesus

Jesus baptized

Jesus calls his disciples

John 2:1–2 NIV

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

Weddings in those days would go on for a few days. They would feast and celebrate the bride and groom for days. Sounds like fun, we should bring that back.

John 2:3 NIV

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

Very troublesome to run out of wine. Disgraceful even. B/c wine was part of there culture.

There is an old jewish proverb…

“Without wine there is no joy.”

Jewish Proverb

And the church said? Amen.

Some of you are saying “Brandon I think I belong in first Century Judea”

John 2:4 NIV

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

Don’t hear that and think Jesus is being disrespectful he’s not. The greek word here doesn’t mean any disrespect, but it’s interesting that he doesn’t address her as mom here. Either way, he says “why are you coming to me to fix it?” “My Heavenly Father hasn’t released me, my time” meaning the time that people would recognize he was messiah, that time hadn’t come.

Come on mom, can’t we just sit back and enjoy the party. They’ll send someone to the ABC store and get more wine.

And I love what his mom does, I mean it’s such a mom move. I think she rolls her eyes and looks to to the servant and says…

John 2:5 NIV

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

And I think she walks away. Just looking over her shoulder. Now, here’s the thing. She must’ve seen Jesus do miracles before. She’s seen him do these before b/c of the confidence she has that he will do this one.

Jesus we’re out of sugar!

In all reality, Mary has the upmost confidence in Jesus. She doesn’t doubt him for an instant.

I bet Jesus looks at here and thinks, mom, doggone it. The text tells us that…

John 2:6 NIV

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

These jars had a very specific purpose. Ceremonial washing, as in, part of the Law. These were a representation of what was, the Mosaic Law, God does if I do system, and Jesus was about to use them as a way to show everyone who He was. B/c remember, signs point to something they are meant for directing you.

“The old empty symbols of ritual are changed into abundant sources of celebration.”

John 2:8–10 NIV

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 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 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.”

You see they would start with the good wine and then transition to the poor wine after everyone had become drunk. They did this throughout the event, remember it’s a multi day event.

The Master of the banquet, whoever is in charge kinda running this thing, ceremonial position, comes out and is blown away at the quality of the wine. Notice they didn’t come out with it and state that Jesus did it…

B/c the sign wasn’t for the entire banquet, it was for the servants and for the disciples.

John 2:11–12 NIV

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Those jars were likely the jars used for the washing of the guests when they came in. They would wash both their hands and there feet as they came in each day. So we’re thinking day 2 or 3 b/c we’re running out of wine and Jesus takes something that we would consider gross or disgusting and he turns it into something wonderful.

Don’t miss this, that was what Jesus came for. To change the narrative and flip the script, the old has passed away, something new has come, something better than the Law, something better than ceremonial washing.

Application

So what’s the moral of the story. Be like Jesus, do what momma says.

In all reality the question that you and I need to answer is

Are you ready to trade out the old for the new?

That’s what this sign announced, the old was gone, the new is here. The new is better, the wine was better, and Jesus is better than the Law.

New is hard, and new is scary. Some people hate new. I bet if people saw where the wine had come from, what it started out as they wouldn’t have drank it even though it tasted better than the other wine. Why? B/c it’s new.

But over the course of this series I want you to walk with me as we discover this new faith and the new you that Jesus invites us into.

Are you ready for something new?

New faith, not that old stale faith…new faith…faith that is alive…that changes your world and the lives of people closest to you.

So if you’re ready, join me as we walk with John and he tells us the stories of the Miracles of Jesus.

Prep them for Communion