John 2 Weddings_Dustups_and_Death

Secular:

Ever experienced a change in management
New boss… Direct Supervisor
You wonder if they know what they are doing…
You wonder if their boss… “the Big Boss” really supports their initiatives
We test them…

Working at Business depot

Guy from TGI Fridays
Selling office supplies
Selling computers
We tested him…

Substitute teacher…

Does he know how things go here
Does he know what he is talking about
Does he reign in the class… or is it jungle time

We ask of new people…

Do they know…
Do they have authority…
Are they “really” in charge!!

Biblical:

John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 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 that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME." 18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Personal:

Depending on the area of life… We don’t really like people asserting their authority…

Police enforcing law
V.P. enforcing school policy
Church enacting church discipline

We generally prefer to have little authority over our life…
As a board we studied the a section called “The Word of God”
(read Question from Chapter 2)
God speaks directly…

Difference?
Initially… change… immediate reaction
Statement of faith… “We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God”
Do we live that authority…
Recognized…

Within marriage
Within Work life
With Private life

Do we recognize authority…

Bridge:

In John 1 – Connected to God

Creator
Saviour

We need to be connected…

To our Source of Life
To our Source of Salvation
God Almighty…

In John 2 we are going to see Jesus demonstrates Authenticity…
In John 2 we are going to see Jesus demonstrates Authority…
Connected to God is knowing Jesus authentically and be obedient to his authority… Experiencing the fullness of relationship with Christ.

Body:

Jesus and the Wedding…

John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 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 that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Why the wedding…public event…

The Occasion

Wedding at Cana
Jesus, his mother and disciples were invited

The Observation

No wine… (ever notice its mom who spots the faux pas)
Travesty to neglect guests in this way… (highly emotionally situation…. Big impact!!)
Jesus talks about the appropriateness of the timing…

Something great is about happen… are you sure you are ready…

The Orders

Mom says do whatever he says… she knows Jesus

Her Son…
Son of God…

Fill the waterpots…

The Obedience

Filled the pots then took some of the “water” to the head waiter…

The Opinion

Some one with a nose for good wine… and authority… declares not only has a miracle been done and the water turned to wine… but the best of wines… the good stuff
Traditionally served early in the event…

The Outcome

What was the purpose?
11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Big Celebration… Very Public… New Ministry… with Disciples and with a his mother… NOW the time to establish authenticity… (Sort of “Before we begin”)
Gen Lewis MacKenzie…

Sarajevo
Sniper Alley
Canvas Top Jeep… Grizzly… (armoured vehicle)
Said he cared for the troops…
Proved authenticity!!

Jesus and the Temple…

. 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME."

Purging in regard to his Father’s Temple

The Cleansing of the Temple

Jesus as Son

Group moved on from wedding…

Disciples were convinced of the authenticity of Christ (at some level)

Ever done your Father’s business?

Carried a message for your father

Well wishes
A decision
To a sibling “Dad says…”
Later helped with

Business
Will
Estate

Father child communication… whether positive or not… was often conveyed more in fewer words… more understanding…

Jesus Mission… to do his Father’s Will…
Luke 22:41 And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
Authority from the Father…

Jesus and Sin

Jesus is repulsed by sin…
So blatant…
By those who are operating in the name of God in the house of God!!

Right in the Temple…

Centre of Faith and Worship for Jewish Community
… place of Sacrifice…
they have perverted the truth for their own gain…

Again it is an occasion to see more than just a meek and mild Saviour…
But a powerful and holy God…

Incensed with those who would sin in the face of God…
Incensed with those who would sin in the name of God
Incensed with those who would sin in the temple of God

Bringing disrepute to the name of God
They drew his wrath… his holy Anger
Televangelists… that have used God’s name to pad their won wallet…
Christians who use the church as a business network… instead of a body to grow… worship and serve…
It is enough to draw us to wonder about our lives…

The condemning of thieves

Jesus is God

18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"

Hey who are you to be doing these things… * We have a nice little system… going here…
Jesus acted with authority… because He is doing the Will of his Father
Jesus acted with authenticity because… He is God!
Jesus acted because it was his place to act…

Ever been broken into?

B & E on your house?
Car broken into…
Your office…

What are the feelings?

Hurt
Vilolated
Wronged
Anger
Sad

Jesus reacted in his Father’s Temple… because there was a crime in progress….
Jesus is Authentic… and reacted because He had the Authority to do so!

18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Predicting in regard to His fleshly Temple

The ignorance of the Jewish Leaders

The Jews knew that only God or his messenger had the jurisdiction over the Temple…
So they asked for a sign…

For us… and for Mary and for the disciples… they know… Jesus had turned water into wine… they had a sign… new the authenticity and authority of Christ…

Their ignorance is that they did not recognize the God they worshipped… the Messiah they had prayed for…
But the Jews wanted a sign…
Jesus promised them a sign that no one would have thought of asking for…
He said… “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
They are confounded… this House of God… this Dwelling Place of God… this Temple… took some 46 years to build…how is it you will rebuild it in 3 days!
Jesus… is God… the Dwelling place… the Presence of God… and was going to defeat Death and the Grave… They asked for a magic trick… a sign… a demonstration of power… He promises... victory over the grave and salvation… and they don’t get it…
v 20…when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
Careful… those who ought to know… need to be discerning…
No “God in a box” or we could miss out…
Scripture reveals… we need to be ready…

**Baseball card… lesson for who?

· Jewish leaders… teach you a lesson…

The insincerity of the Jewish Laity

v. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. * All aboard…

· Jesus ministry… his signs… his performance gained a following….

Randy MacDonald and I were lamenting the ill fortune of our respective Hockey teams…
Though the Canucks and Leafs are within Striking distance of #1 position over-all… we are stalled of late… failing to hit the mark…
Hockey teams sell-out during great years… have good attendance in good years… and you could swing a cat in the place with no danger of hitting someone in a bad year…
24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man
This fickle bunch… Jesus knows the human heart….

**quick on the band wagon… quick off…

* He knows human nature…. And knew that his authority is not given by humankind… but is to be recognized by humankind…

Conclusion:

Jesus Demonstrates authenticity…

- Water into Wine…

Jesus gives opportunity to meet him
Jesus gives opportunity to recognize him

· Ministry of the Spirit

· Testimony of Creation

· Power of God in our Life

· The Legacy of the Word…

· To those who trust and observe… Jesus Christ is authenticated in so many ways…

· How do we recognize Christ?

Jesus’ Authority

The ignorance of the Jewish Leaders

Ever fell like you don’t get it…