An Everyday Jesus

Text

John 2:1-11

John 2:1–11 ESV

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 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 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.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Intro

What we have here is Jesus, His mother and his disciples at a wedding. This was to be a joyous celebration which would likely last for days. Throughout the Gospels we see jesus in the homes of different people. Jesus visited the home of Matthew, Peter, the home of Simon the Pharisee, Jairus’ home, Martha’s home, home of Zacheus, there may be more but that’s the ones I can pull of the top of my head. Throughout the Gospels we also see Jesus in the synagogue, the local church of the day as well as the temple, which we may say was the denominational headquarters. But here in John chapter 2 we find Jesus at a, somewhat social event. I feel like this is worth pausing to think about for a second. Today Christians are comfortable with Jesus in the church, Christians are comfortable with Jesus at home, But how many of us consciously take Jesus with us to social events. I guess one could argue that Jesus is there anyway, in the heart of all believers. But for Jesus to show up at this wedding an invitation had to be made. Someone, was thoughtful enough to invite Jesus. Whether this invitation was sent by letter or word of mouth I do not know. But the fact is someone thought to ask Jesus, “Jesus, will you come to this event and celebrate with us.” Folks, that invitation made all the difference. Doesn’t Jesus have the right to be part of all of our life, not just bits and pieces. Too many people leave Jesus standing on the side lines as there life is passing by.

When the invitation was extended to Jesus to come to the wedding, what did he do. He went. Jesus showed up. During the celebration tragedy struck. They ran out of wine! To all of us this may not seem like such a big deal but in the 1st century culture this was a problem. The host family would be terribly shamed at a shortage of wine or food or anything else they were to provide. The host family could even be fined. So this is a huge problem. ……Life doesn’t always go as planned does it church?.... A divorce, an accident, a death, an undesirable diagnosis. Those things are NOT planned. What greater hope do we have, than knowing Jesus is there with us in the midst of tragedy. Folks, I don’t know what would have happened at this wedding had Jesus not been there with those people who were about to be greatly embarrassed and shamed. BUT He was there, Jesus was there becaseu he was invited to join in the daily life of this family.

I hope you hear what I am saying. Invite Jesus to every event, and in the hour of need he will be there. …And you ask, “what if I don’t feel him?” “What if the storm rages and I feel consumed by the waves?” I remind you of the disciples as they were beaten and tossed by the storm, the boat was filling up and they were sinking. They shouted out, “Teacher, don’t you care, we are dieing here!” (mk4:38) They thought Jesus had left them to their own fear and that they may die, but the whole time he was there. And in his perfect timing, he met the need of those disciples. And I believe he will do the same for every believer.

Jesus mother in this text leaves us with a great example. When a problem arrises, what should we do? #1 turn to Jesus. And remember if you have invited him into your life he is right there. #2 Do what he says… Do what he says. You know what Jesus says folks, you don’t have to hear his audible voice. God give us his word right here. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (matt 6:33) Jesus said You believe in God, believe also in him (John 14:1) If any one thirst, let him come unto me and drink (John 7:37-39) Follow me (jn 12:26) love your neighbor as yourself (matt 19:19) And in Matthew 6 Jesus tells us to FORGIVE. No one here this evening, no one in this world can use the excuse “they don’t hear from God” Because the fact is God speaks through his word. And if we would just listen and practice what God says through it, we would be better prepared for when life doesn’t go as planned.

This story amazes me, I am not so surprised by it anymore because Ive read it 100 times but each time I have read it I learn something more about Jesus. Jesus is interested in your life, every piece of it. From the grocery store to the garage, the bedroom to the bank, from the church to the social club, Jesus is interested. And he is powerful. Jesus has this ability to intervene, to make better, restore, change, help, save, and rearrange. What he done here at this wedding was a miracle, He turned water into wine, to rescue a family from shame. What Jesus done was done to rescue a family from what many may think was not that big of a deal. What Jesus done was unexpected, no one saw it coming. But, one, believed he could make a difference. I wish we could all be like that one and believe, NO matter what the circumstance, I wish we all could believe that Jesus could make a difference.

Jesus went about making a difference in a peculiar way. Some may think he coulda just wiggled his nose or pointed and the miracle would have been done. And he could of done it that way but he chose not to. He involved some servants, perhaps to show them personally who he was? Perhaps because Jesus likes to see his people working for the good of humanity and that was one way he could employ a few folks?

It has been my experience most often it seems Jesus chooses the long way around when it comes to helping us. Or maybe we are just impatient. Think about how Jesus helped people in the scripture. He didn’t always just snap his fingers and bring about healing or peace. I have already mentioned the disciples in the boat, things had gotten really bad before Jesus changed there situation. I think about John 9 and Jesus healing the blind man. Remmeber how Jesus restored that mans sight. He rubbed mud in his eyes! That must of hurt. How does the old saying go, “You gotta get through the rain to see the rainbow?” CS Lewis says a little hurt and pain is Gods megaphone, “God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscious, but shouts in our pains, it his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” I don’t know why God does things the way he does them. I suppose because he is the creator of the heavens and the earth and he knows best. The prophet Isiaha reminds us that Gods ways are higher than our ways his thoughts higher than our thoughts.

We have to believe that. If we don’t we don’t really have faith at all. Did ya hear what I just said. If we don’t believe Jesus for the impossible, for the big stuff, If we don’t believe Jesus to be all powerfull, all knowing, and all present, who do we believe him to be? Jesus done the things he done in scripture for a reason. And I believe the same is true today. Our God does the things he does for a reason.

Why did Jesus turn water into wine, to save a family from shame? That was only part of the reason actually. Vs.11 What Jesus did here in cana of galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory and his disciples believed him. Its true Jesus did provide materially for the wedding party. But he also provided that which pertained to faith. The signs throughout Johns Gospel are miracles that point to the fact that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. One who could provide, one who could heal, one who could restore and save. At the very end of Johns Gospel he signs off. This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 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 vs.24-25.

Jesus Christ is who this Bible teaches us he is. His heart for people hasn’t changed. His desire to be with his people hasn’t changed. Church, Invite Jesus to be with you where ever you go. Its one thing to go deer hunting, its another to invite Jesus along with you and offer him thanks for the bounty he provides. It’s one thing to go to the doctor, but its something else to go to the doctor with the great physician being invited to take the journey with you.