I Don't want To

John 2:1-11

John 2:1–11 NLT

1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The Little Things

A. This is one of the passages of Scripture that I often ask WHY is it even in the Bible.

This passage is especially hard people in our tribe because it seems to endorse the idea of social drinking. I am not going to get into whether or not drinking is wrong or right because this passage really is not about that at all. In fact this narrative or story is about a much bigger idea.

A. This is one of the passages of Scripture that I often ask WHY is it even in the Bible.

Introductio

B. This passage is especially hard people in our tribe because it seems to endorse the idea of social drinking. I am not going to get into whether or not drinking is wrong or right because this passage really is not about that at all. In fact this narrative or story is about a much bigger idea.

Some times people think that pastors don’t really struggle. Or maybe you are not under that illusion…but from time to time I and other pastors I know can become burdened with things that take our attention from the mission of equipping the saints to trying to please the saints.

C. This passage is an example of how trusting Jesus even in what seems ordinary could be one of the most evangelistic and compassionate thing we can do.

What I mean is when attendance wains, money becomes scarce and complaints start to abound as a pastor it can be a temptation to try to fix those things.

D. We all have moments where ordinary or seemingly insignificant things end up being the most important thing in our lives. (Ill) Champions do the little things that losers refuse to do. This was the sign over our locker room door in highschool. Little things seem insignificant but a wrong first step or one bad angle or not know snap count make the difference in winning and losing.

We preach more about outreach, beg for money, try to please people and apologies for things that maybe we should not…we visit more people take on more projects until we get to the place where we just want to be able to stop and focus on what God called us to in the first place….but for many pastors they don’t so the continue the merry go round hoping that one day they will be able to focus on what really matters….

I know that many of you go through the same struggles in your life inside and outside of the church. Your kids have tons of activities, relatives complain you don’t see them enough, the end money comes before the end of the month, and so you begin to look for ways to fix these problems…

E. Insignificant or ordinary things are how God makes the biggest difference in our lives.

You get friends and relatives to help you with kids so they can do everything, you apologize to your relatives even though they are being unreasonable, you take on a second job or odd jobs, and in doing all these things you find that you are stressed out, tired, sleep deprived and if your not careful lonely wishing that some how some way you could just stop it all and focus on what really matters.

The problem with this way of going through life is that both pastors and you are spending so much time on fixing the symptoms we never get around to focusing on the REALLY important things in life.

The Spirit of the Wedding was in danger. V1-3

When we go to the doctor we don’t want them to simply fix the symptoms because if that is all they do we will never get well…we want them to tell us what is wrong so that we can then begin the process of getting well.

A. If you have ever lived in a small town (which Cannon was) you know that after such an event the talk would not have been about how wonderful the wedding was but instead how could they have run out of wine.

I think that there are a lot of people in this room this morning that if your are honest have been focused so long on the symptoms of your unhappiness, turmoil and pain that you have actually come to the place where you believe the symptoms are the disease.

1. Story of Richmier Wedding. While we joke about it all the time I have a feeling that I took away from the importance of that moment because I did not fully prepare that wedding.

Until people begin the process of setting priorities that matter to God and begin to focus on the things that really matter they will never be able to live in the hope that Jesus Birth, Death, and resurrection promise.

B. Knowing this Mary had faith that Jesus could do something about it. V3

C. Jesus made the Bridegroom look like a genius despite not really wanting to participate in this way v 10

This means we should refrain from using scripture to fix behavior instead of letting it shape us. This unusually passage have the ability if we will let it speak to us to drive home one important truth that has the potential to change your life and the life our our church.

Jesus heart really was not into the miracle.

READ NLT

At first Jesus was not interested. In fact he argued that it was not time to reveal himself. Yet at Mary’s urging and my guess is out of compassion Jesus gave in and took something used for ceremonial washing and used it for something it was never intended for…to create wine.

This is one of the passages of Scripture that I often ask WHY is it even in the Bible.

This passage is especially hard people in our tribe because it seems to endorse the idea of social drinking. I am not going to get into whether or not drinking is wrong or right because this passage really is not about that at all. In fact this narrative or story is about a much bigger idea.

So why does Jesus use this time to show His power?

Not only wind but the Good stuff…V9

Ordinary things are how God makes the biggest difference in our lives.

Jesus made the Bridegroom look like a genius v10

The Spirit of the Wedding was in danger. V1-3

No one knew that Jesus was behind this other than the servants, Mary and the disciples. Jesus did not take responsibility for the miracle. He was content with this arrangement. He was not ready for the whole world to know His power yet.

If you have ever lived in a small town (which Cannon was) you know that after such an event the talk would not have been about how wonderful the wedding was but instead how could they have run out of wine.

However this did solidify the belief of the early disciples. V11

Story of Richmier Wedding. While we joke about it all the time I have a feeling that I took away from the importance of that moment because I did not fully prepare that wedding.

Hopeful Christians do things that need to be done not only things they want to do.

Knowing this Mary had faith that Jesus could do something about it. V3

A. Law of Incremental Change

Jesus heart really was not into the miracle…

1. Brittish Cycleing (Atomic Habits) Chapter 1

Jesus heart really was not into the miracle…

2. I am learning that I cannot change all of my bad habits but I need to change at least one and when I get one victory that will lead to another. Most of the time Christians do not fail because the do not want to help or ministry they simply miss their opportunity to make those small investments because they are so focused on the big moments.

At first Jesus was not interested. In fact he argued that it was not time to reveal himself. Yet at Mary’s urging and my guess is out of compassion Jesus gave in and took something used for ceremonial washing and used it for something it was never intended for…to create wine.

B. Big Moments rarely happen until we have conditioned ourselves to be faithful in the basic moments.

Not only wine but the Good stuff…V9

A. Insignificant or ordinary things are how God makes the biggest difference in our lives.

Jesus made the Bridegroom look like a genius v10

B. Jesus did not want to help at the wedding

No one knew that Jesus was behind this other than the servants, Mary and the disciples. Jesus did not take responsibility for the miracle. He was content with this arrangement. He was not ready for the whole world to know His power yet.

C. The Wine was more about reputation of Bridegroom than life or death

This sign solidified the belief of the early disciples. V11

D. The Wine however created an opportunity to show His power.

Jesus is showing us through this story that to follow Him means to engage with the world even if you don’t want to.

E. What insignificant thing are you not doing that is keep you from having the opportunity to show the Hope and Power of God? To be the Light of Jesus to the world you must first strike a match.

I have been learning that God is tired of His people Pastors (Me) and Laypeople (you) treating symptoms and he wants us to understand what really matters.

F. O God of steadfast love, at the wedding in Cana your Son Jesus turned water into wine, delighting all who were there. Transform our hearts by your Spirit, that we may use our varied gifts to show forth the light of your love as one body in Christ. Amen.

He has called us to understand that until people stop being picky about what the will and will not do and engage in the messiness of life nothing is going to change in your spiritual walk or in your church.

G. Communion

That does not mean advocating for the change you believe is right or the things you want but being obedient to that mission that God has called each and every one of us too.

H. Receive the Benediction

This passage is an example of how trusting Jesus even in what seems ordinary could be one of the most evangelistic and compassionate thing we can do.

I. Let the name of our Lord Jesus be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen

This passage is an example of how trusting Jesus even in what seems ordinary could be one of the most evangelistic and compassionate thing we can do.

Big Moments rarely happen until we have conditioned ourselves to be faithful in the basic moments.

The most basic thing we are called to is to be involved in the lives of people and situations that we really do not want to be in….(My Time is not yet come)

Gazaway New Years Eve…I’m going to share something you may not agree with at first but you will not be able to deny how God used it….If all you hear is I played poker and was around a bunch of people who were drinking instead of having a watch service you are allowing the enemy to blind you.

I want to bring in the people the need Jesus not only so they can be saved but so that you God’s people can be saved. You and I were set a part for this reason.

You and I were not saved so that we can come in every Sunday and enjoy some christian entertainment, hear our favorite song, or get our way.

We were saved to sit with the drug addict, adulterer, drunk, and the hurting so that the Joy of our salvation can be seen and shared with them.

This is where our hope comes from…this is when hope wins,

This is the vision of the Church that God has given me. If you want to make the altar a place that works it does not happen by opening it every week. It happens by immersing our selfs in the lives of people that can’t help but be drawn to it because they are here with us.

Last Night this song was the back round to a dream that I had…I won’t try to explain the dream but I will share the chorus of the song.

Crowds have lined the narrow street To see this man from Galilee Just a carpenter some say, leading fools astrayYet many kneel to give Him praise

There is strength in the name of the Lord There is power in the name of the Lord There is hope in the name of the Lord Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord

When my plans have fallen through And when my strength is nearly gone When there's nothing left to do but just depend on You And the power of Your name And as we call upon Your name Your strength through weakness to show We can know the masters plan extend the masters hand When we come in the name of the Lord There is strength in the name of the Lord There is power in the name of the Lord There is hope in the name of the Lord Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord His name will be worshiped forever Creator, Redeemer and King There is strength in the name of the Lord There is power in the name of the Lord And there is hope in the name of the Lord Blessed is He, who comes, blessed is He, who comes Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord In the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord

His name will be worshiped forever Creator, Redeemer and King There is strength in the name of the Lord There is power in the name of the Lord And there is hope in the name of the Lord Blessed is He, who comes, blessed is He, who comes Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord In the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord

Today maybe you need to experience this truth for yourself. Maybe you need to be healed emotionally, or physically?

Today maybe you need to make the altar work for you? Maybe you need to repent of majoring on the minors? Maybe you are here today and you need the hope I have been talking about and you are ready to be the Church that God has given me a vision for.

Maybe you need to repent of majoring on the minors? Maybe you are here today and you need the hope I have been talking about and you are ready to be the Church that God has given me a vision for.

Hope does Win.

Hope does Win.

Hope does Win.

Lord of Love,

at the wedding in Cana your Son Jesus turned water into wine, delighting all who were there. Transform our hearts by your Spirit, that we may use our varied gifts to show forth the light of your love as one body in Christ. Amen.

Communion

Receive the Benediction

Let the name of our Lord Jesus be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen