Sermon PC 20 Jan 2019

The Miracle that Reveals the true Son of God. Divides believers.

Introduction:

The topic of miracles (supernatural divine occurrence), bring a great dispute amongst believers and theologians.

One of the common arguments amongst evangelicals is whether or not miracles still happen.

Do miracles happen today?

Jesus did things that distinctively point to his deity. He spoke and it happened, when he spoke to the dead arise they raised.

They happen today, around the world they can happen today when God pour his spirit.

Miracles will happen in our lives in various forms, it can be physical, physiologically (mentally), economical but always according to his will.

They happen today, around the world they can happen today when God powers his spirit.

Jesus says “ (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

With that in mind,

Intro:

Chapter one of John Introduces us to the Messiah.

It can be broken down into 3 days section.(Testimonies of John regarding the Messiah mentioned in days).

Day one;

verse 1-18:- Introduction of the messiah.

Day one;

Verse 19-28: Clears the air about who John was.

He denies being the Messiah.

Day 2:

Verses 29-42:Declaration of who Jesus was and is.

John testifies about Jesus.

Day 3

Verse 43-51 : Jesus begins to recruit his disciples. They follow Him.

Jesus begins to recruit his disciples. They follow Him.

In fact, he had just recruited Philip and Nathaniel. So the story in chapter two happened in the presence of his disciples.

Body

Let us look into what John tells us now in 1.

Beginning in ch. 2, John presents a series of signs or miracles designed to prove Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and Son of God. In this first sign, Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana attended by His family and disciples.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Beginning in ch. 2, John presents a series of signs or miracles designed to prove Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and Son of God. In this first sign, Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana attended by His family and disciples

(Why would Jesus turn water into wine?

To help us go through the story systematically. I have devided the verses in three parts

Why would john include this particular miracle? not all others that Jesus did).

A. Christ’s participation in the events of life. .

B. Christ power in the events of life. Verse 3-6.

C. Christ provision in the events of Life 2:10-11

A. Christ’s participation in the events of life. John 2:12.

V1. Jesus is involved in our lives.

2:1-2 The third day:

John is narrating the events of the first week. Two days after the call of Philip and Nathanael.

So during this third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.

This would have been the Home town of Philip and Nathaniel. Not to far from where the event was gonna be taking place.

We are not told whose wedding it was and who invited Jesus and his disciples. Whether they were related to the bride and groom or not. Some people have assumed that since Marry was there, perhaps it would have been a relative or just someone they have known as a family.

Something About Weddings:

I am in the process of organising my wedding, for those who are familiar with preparing for weddings for a member of a your family of even a friend. You know that it can be a very stressful time.

It can be that time that it is easy to feel like everything has been left on your own shoulder. It can feel very lonely.

In my culture, once one is preparing for the wedding, the whole community would almost be involved. People would contribute towards the preparations. And so it would be a big family celebrations. In some parts of the country, these celebrations tool even a week long.

It was a similar occurrence in the near eastern cultures.

The celebration itself was a significant event for the bride and the groom and their families.

The entire community would also be involved in the festivity which typically lasted a week, often with new guests arriving each day.

Guests brought presents and in return, expected the grooms family to provide food and wine.

Lesson

Jesus would have declined this invitation and went and did something else.

But he choose to attend this wedding and meet people where they are at.

At the place of celebrations, a place of a cultural identity (that’s what the community did).

Today he still uses us (me and you) to reach out to these place/situations.

He chose to participate in this common routine, event. Jesus isn’t just for Sundays. He desires and deserves to be included in all of Life!

He is either LORD of ALL or He isn’t lord at all in your Life. .

Friends remember Jesus is here by invitation. You too can invite him to be involved in all parts of your life.

B. Christ power in the events of life. Verse 3-6.

Verse 3.

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, x why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

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

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.

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

The New International Version Chapter 2

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

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

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.

In verses 3-.6

Something an expected happened. They run out of wine.

This would have been a disgrace to the family that organised the wedding.

Running out of wine was a major embarrassment for the hosts. In fact, a failure in this important aspect of the celebration left the groom’s family liable to a lawsuit.

Mary then says to his son that the they had no more wine.

Mary is aware of the embarrassment that is to follow if nothing is done about the situation.

She is cruelly concerned about the situation.

I don’t think she expected Jesus to do anything about it yet she mentioned it anyway.

Sometimes if is good to mention things of concern to you even if you don’t expect any answers. You never know someone else might have the solution.

Jesus response to the mother sounds a bit rude.

“Woman why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come”

The term “Woman” as used in Greek would have meant any form of rudeness or being impolite. It was not a disrespectful word.

He uses the term woman (gynai) as a polite address to the women He encounters throughout Johns gospel.

What is important/significant in Jesus’ statement is that He doesn't share Mary’s concern.

His concerns are dictated by the Father’s WILL and they don’t include a lack of wine.

And then he says

“My hour has not yet come”

In Johns gospels, this refers to the His passion

His death, resurrection and ascension (, ; ).

Lesson:

Life doesn't always go as we had planned it

There are times when problems arise and troubles come our way. ; , Ecclesiastics 2:23.

It is good to know that when our problems do come that we can take them to Jesus. Those around us may see them as nothing,

but Jesus understands our pain and feels our need ().

So what do we do in times of trouble? Mary teaches us two things in verse 3-5

Flee to him: When the problems arose, Mary took it to the Lord ().

Follow his commands; When problems arise and troubles toss our lives the best thing to do is to simply to do what Jesus ask as to do!

Come to him (

Cast your burdens/ cares on Him ().

Trust him ().

Believe on Him for salvation ().

Although his time for His passion hasn’t arrived, the time to begin His ministry in earnesty has.

In verses 6-9, We see his performance;

He instructs the servants to fill the jars with water and told them to draw some out and take it to the master of ceremony.

- The servants listened

The servants listened to him

They followed all the instructions.

Application;

In order for God to work in our lives, we equally need to listen to him through his word and prayer.

We need to follow his instructions and guidance.

Because his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

His ways are far better than ours.

When we are able to do all these things, he is able to save us. For he says in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path (prob 3:5-6).

Jesus can change any situation when you let him.

C. Christ provision in the events of Life 2:10-11

In verse 10-11. What Jesus did was Uncommon.

When the master of ceremony tested the wine, he was amazed and wondered why the best wine was served last.

According to the tradition, Over the course of a feast, diluting wine with water was a common practice to make it go further.

As the week progressed, the guests would have been less attuned to the decreasing quality of the beverage because of getting drunk.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Over the course of a feast, diluting wine with water was a common practice to make it go further. As the week progressed, the guests would have been less attuned to the decreasing quality of the beverage.

However,

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

While drunkenness was common for Greek banquets, it was not an approved practice for Jewish feasts. All types of wine in ancient Palestine were alcoholic, however.

2:11 beginning of signs The signs are designed to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. John declares that his purpose in writing

While drunkenness was common for Greek banquets, it was not an approved practice for Jewish feasts although all types of wine in ancient Palestine were alcoholic.

Amongst some christian group up to date alcohol is not allowed. A believer is not to drink.

While drunkenness was common for Greek banquets, it was not an approved practice for Jewish feasts. All types of wine in ancient Palestine were alcoholic, however.

it was not an approved practice for Jewish feasts. All types of wine in ancient Palestine were alcoholic, however.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

beginning of signs The signs are designed to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. John declares that his purpose in writing the Gospel was to promote belief through the story of Jesus and the signs He performed (John 20:30–31)

As you may all know that Alcohol can be a negative and a positive as well.

The negative effect of it is evident in our local community here in Kensington.

Conclusion:

John in verse 11 concludes well the purpose of the story.

He says that it was;

Beginning of signs.

The signs are designed to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Messiah.

John declares that his purpose in writing the Gospel was to promote belief through the story of Jesus and the signs He performed ().

Friends :

What I want you to take home with you from this message is this.

Jesus is tied to the events of your life.

He is not just some remote supernatural being who is totally removed from our need.

He cares about the smallest details of your life (), and waits for you to call Him into your times of need so that He can minister to you.

What is your need today? Salvation? Are you backslidden? Some burden? A bad situation? Some circumstances are beyond your control, but not beyond your ability to worry over?

Do as Mary did, bring it to a Lord who cares. Bring it to Jesus!

End Amen

or

Let us be reminded that Gods ways are different from ours.

He is the new wine.

Because he has done something in one way in the past doesnt mean that he will do it the same way.

Do not try to put God in a little box.

He is capable of transforming our lives.

The whole experince was un belkiuevable.

Contrast;

It is the first time Jesus is revealing himself. He had been revealed already by John the Baptist.

What we learn:

V1-2. God is interested in our businesses/likes

v7. He requires us to be obedient to the instructions he has out before us.

v7. obedience to the instructions of our lord.

v9-10. God’s gift/provision is always the best.

v 11-12. The miracles/testimony of God always reveals his glory.