John 2v1to12 we will witness miracles

I)       When we walk with God, we will witness miracles.  John 2:1-12

A)    File:  John 2v1to12 we will witness miracles.doc

B)    Audio:  When we walk with God, we will witness miracles.

C)    Series:  Walking with God

D)    Preached:  February 25, 2007

II)    Intro to the series:  Walking with God

A)    We can still walk with God by following Jesus.

B)    First:  It’s all about the Father’s Business.

C)    Second:  We must follow.

D)    Third: When we walk with God, He will prepare the way.

E)     Last time:  When we walk with God, we will witness division.

III) READ John 2:1-12

IV) Miracles will teach us about Jesus

A)    This miracle better thought of as a sign:

1)      Miracle:  M/W Coll.:  an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs, KJV

2)      Sign:  something material or external that stands for or signifies something spiritual, NASB, ESV, NIV, NKJV, The Message

3)      Sign preferred for the Greek word.  Word used is sēmeion meaning “sign” a miracle with a purpose.  Not dunamis which emphasizes power.

4)      This is meant to teach us something other than the simple fact that Jesus did this – significance.

B)    Wiersbe – Why some miracles come with a sermon in John.

1)      John 5 – paralytic on Sabbath – Lord of the Sabbath

2)      John 6 – feeds the crowd – Bread of Life

3)      John 11 – Lazarus – resurrection and life, prays aloud to show that it is the Father that hears Him and sent him.

4)      His resurrection – beforehand stating that He had the power to lay down His life and take it up again.

C)    These signs:  Miracles with a purpose, intended to give what we need:

1)      John 20:31 “These [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

2)      It is plain that this is meant to teach us more, but what?

V)    Jesus came to bring change

A)    Most of Jesus’ signs are healing, casting out demons, obvious

1)      Even calming the storm – Matthew 8:27 “And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?””

2)      Even walking on water brought change – eyes on Jesus.

3)      Many miracles, including this one bring changes in those that witness it – resulting in faith

B)    The changes here:

1)      Water into wine – obvious, but truly miraculous.

2)      Vessels used for hollow, empty, ritual cleansing filled full

3)      Jesus saved the best wine for last against common practice.

4)      Mood changed from impending panic to joy.

5)      V11:  Most important:  Change in the FAITH of disciples.

C)    But this miracle is a sign of more significant change:  John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

1)      Moses – water into blood, Jesus – water into wine

2)      Law through Moses:  a symbol of judgment and death brought by law. 1 Cor. 15:56: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

(a)    Law brings awareness of sin and guilt unto death.

3)      Grace and truth:  Water into wine.

(a)    The symbol of joy.  Old Testament asserts that wine was a gift from God to gladden the heart (Gen. 27:28, Ps. 104.15, Eccl. 9:7)

(b)   When nation faced destruction and exile, prophets spoke of the joy that wine brings as a future hope, (Hos. 14:7; Jer. 31:12; Zech. 10:6-7)

(c)    Isa. 25:6 In speaking of the Millennial reign of Christ, wine would be part of the festivities.

(i)     Jesus said He would not drink it again until then

4)      The prophets spoke of a time of great peace, prosperity, the abolition of sin and war – the Messianic age

D)    So, not only would Jesus bring change, but it would be change that was the fulfillment of scripture…

VI) Jesus came to fulfill prophecy.

A)    Shown here to his disciples and these servants.

B)    Later – a more public healing would plainly show that He was the Christ

1)      Healing a man born blind – John 9:32-33, “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.  If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”  He got thrown out for that.  But his statement was true.

(a)    Isa 29:18, 35:5, physical, other references spiritual.

(b)   This miracle clearly shows Jesus came to fulfill prophecies of the Christ

2)      John 11:4-5, messengers from JTB:  “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight…”

(a)    Jesus’ answer indicates that He considered His miracles to point to fulfillment of prophecy.

VII)          Miracles will come in God’s timing

A)    Jesus’ reply to Mary, v4, “Woman what does this have to do with me?  My hour has not yet come.”

1)      Do not think this address is rude.

(a)    Says, “woman” from the cross.

2)      What about “My hour has not yet come?”

(a)    It is not yet time to deal with the wine.

(b)   More probable:  He is indicating that this is not the time for Him to become public – so he implies that he will handle it on the down low.

(i)     similar 7:30, 8:20

(ii)   His hour came, John 13:1, 17:1.

(c)    Clearly not – that he would not do it – she prepares for Him to handle it.  She is clearly not insulted.

3)      His reply – what is that to me, my hour has not come, is a clear way of reminding her what she learned when He was twelve years old – that He is working out a plan in obedience to His heavenly Father and can not be summoned outside of the Father’s will.

B)    Jesus was asked for signs / miracles on several occasions by Pharisees and other leaders but did not give them.

1)      This was the basis for temptations in the wilderness.

C)    What happens next is interesting – Mary knows He will do something so she prepares the servants – next point.

VIII)       Miracles will come through servants

A)    First to know

B)    First to experience

C)    Jesus anticipated that we would use His power:  You will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes…

1)      Joel scriptures – and other Old Testament scriptures saying that miracles would be done through people. 

2)      Acts – miracles through disciples.

3)      Paul 1 Cor. 12,– Miracles listed among spiritual gifts. Gal. 3:5 indicates Holy Spirit doing miracles among believers

4)      Why not here, now: 

(a)    They are happening here and now.

(i)     Only the servants and Jesus’ disciples seemed to witness this miracle!

(b)   A wicked and adulterous generation desires a sign. 

(i)     He would not do for Pharisees – they attributed His powers to Beelzebul, the devil!

(ii)   We would attribute it to statistical anomaly, power of the will, positive thinking, fluke of science.

D)    Symbolic of how God changes: 

1)      Servants fill vessels (believers) with the water (Word) and the power of God brings about change, water into wine, (rebirth from just living to abundant living)

E)     We can see miracles – but we must be willing to do whatever He asks us to do – to fill the vessels, to draw up the wine

1)      God will change us if we trust Him and obey.

2)      God will add to our number if we will be His witnesses.

3)      God will change our community if we fill it up with His Word.

4)      God will bless this church if we act as available servants.

5)      We also must notice the miracles He is already doing.

IX) Miracles will teach us about Salvation

A)    Vessels symbolic of the believer filled with water symbolic of the Word, then Jesus causes the change.

B)    only at His hands – God does the saving and the change.

February 25, 2007

Sermon Series:  Walking with God.  Learning what it means to walk with God by walking with Jesus through His ministry.

Today’s Message:

When we walk with God, we will witness miracles.  John 2:1-12

Jesus came to…

A)    bring _______________________.

B)    fulfill _______________________.[1]

Miracles will…

1. come in God’s________________________.
2. come through God’s _______________________.
3. teach us about _________________________.[2]

Application:

Do I expect miracles? 

Am I ready to fill the jars? 

Have I yet experienced the miracle of rebirth?

Word Find

John 2:1-11

John 2:1-11:  On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

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[1] A) change; B) prophecy;

[2] 1) timing; 2)  servants; 3) salvation;