John 4:46-54

But as Christians we’ve driven a stake in the ground and said for God I live for God I die. Jesus take and use all of me. But what do between now and when Jesus shows up? What do we do between the promises of God and the fulfillment. More importantly how are we to understand the fulfillment of his promises.

God isn’t in the business of endowing us with obligatory blessings: health, peace, wealth, restored relationships, freedom from addiction, prodigal child returned home, a new car, a healthy marriage, a growing career. Just b/c He’s your heavenly Father and your his child. It’s not like He’s big daddy war-bucks from Annie, that gives His adopted kids anything they want.

Have you ever stopped to ask; God why am I so blessed? Why didn’t you leave me the way you found me. I know that we’ve be taught to count our blessings, but what about asking why these blessing. Today as we explore the first of Jesus signs that He is God’s gift to the world, we’re going to answer the why question. Why does God bless us with: Spiritual, material, and physical things. Why does he grant us favor beyond salvation?

We’re going to start that work by exploring a well known story about Jesus at the “Wedding of Cana” where he famously turned water into wine. Though this story has been used to justify drinking and to encourage people to name their blessing and claim it. I assure you the purpose of this account is anything but that. Right off the bat what you need to know is that...

When Jesus does anything, big or small its for one reason and one reason only - to reveal himself as God. (v.11)

That’s the lens through which you have to read this miracle through. Le’s put our Biblical-bifocals on and work to understand and apply God’s Word to our lives as it relates to the why behind God’s blessings to us.

Open your Bible to John 2:1-10. If you need a Bible please put your hand up and we’ll get one to you. If you take ours, keep it, this is our gift to you. Or you can use our Bridge App, simply open it up and click the notes button. There you’ll find everything you need, to follow along and take notes.

I’ve decided to divide this story into 2 parts: 1. The first deals with what we do between blessings. 2. What to do with God’s favor once we get it. Let’s start with the first half, in between now and then we should. We know that God is going to come through, so what do between now and when he actually does.

Between Now & Then… We should be...

Be more about God’s will than what people want you to be about. (v.1-3)

John 2:1-3 “1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.””

The setting is a wedding, Jesus is present along with his mother, his disciples, and countless other. In order to best understand the urgency of Marys request, you need to understand that Jewish wedding in those days were big deal. Even more so than our modern weddings, there are historical accounts wedding celebrations lasting up to 2-weeks.

John doesn’t tell us how long the celebration had been going on he simply raises the issue of running out of wine. In the days of Christ to run out of food and wine would have been a major embarrassment for the newly weds and their families. Knowing all of this Jesus’ mother Mary approaches her son b/c she knows that he’s the only who can fix the problem.

This idea is somewhat lost on us, at our wedding reception when the food runs out or when the bar closes its sign that says you’ve had enough, its time to get ready to go. There’s no shame associated with it, at least not that I’ve heard of.

Jesus’ response to his mother’s request, has been the source of great consternation. Check out what he says in v.4...

“4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.””

It sounds like Jesus is disrespecting his mother and depending on how you were raised. His response would have gotten you a quick backhand to the face. Wouldn’t it be crazy to read that Mary smacked Jesus for talking back to her.

But this is Jesus. He’s not like you and I, He’s not motivated by his flesh. He’s always about serving Father’s will. And He takes offense to anything that get’s in the way of it. So how should we understand his response to his mother?

I’ve assume that you have a working understanding of what God’s will is for you. But incase you don’t know. God’s will is both universal and specific.

1. All Christians should give themselves to the process of sanctification - becoming more like Christ and less like the old you on a daily basis: thinking, acting, looking, speaking, and loving more like Jesus. That’s the universal part.

The specific part is...

2. Using your unique skills to serve Jesus. Giving him to glory for being able to do what you do on regular basis with little to no effort. Cooking savory food. Organizing financial books. Building things. Negotiating contracts. Leading others. Protecting networks. Excelling at academics. Playing sports. All of us have specific gifts that can and should be used to glorify God. But your skills are you unique to you, that’s what makest them specific.

We have a duty and obligation to glorify God in all that we do through our service to Him. We we’re saved to serve - not sit. We we’re saved to be about doing God’s thing - not our own.

The key to understanding Jesus response, is found in the last 6 words of v.6. Dear mother why are you bringing this issue to me.... “my hour has not yet come.”” IOW his heavenly father had not yet released him to perform miracles as a means to reveal himself as Messiah. As the one who came to save the world from their sin.

Jesus is not disrespecting his moms, but he does want her to know that His Fathers business is superior. Let this be a word of warning, especially for our newlyweds. As a Christ-follower, it's imperative that, like Jesus, you be about your Heavenly Father's business. It supersedes everything and everyone. His will is final, not your parents'. Not your spouse. Not your friends. What the Lord wants of you, takes president over everything and everyone.

There’s great freedom and provision in prioritizing God’s will above what everyone expects of you. If your’e torn between what you think God wants you do and what others expect of you, remember that you have one master and His name is God. Be about God’s will first.

Given Jesus’ relationship with his mother Mary, and the fact that Jewish moms were known for being able to direct their sons heart, he could have been tempted to subvert God’s will. But he doesn’t do that, instead he stands firm.

BTT… v5.

Mary was sure that her son can and will help the newly weds that she literally says… “Do whatever he tells you do”. As if to say, my sons got this. I know that he’s going to take care of the problem. I so appreciate Mary’s faith in Jesus. She was sure that he would help.

All of us should have faith like this woman. Jesus just told here that his hands are tied. I haven’t been released by my father’s will yet. And the next words out of her mouth are… Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.

What a bold demonstration of faith. It’s also where we get out 2nd principle for waiting. As you’re waiting for God to come through for you.

Rest assured Jesus is near, and he’s more concerned about what’s going on in your life than you realize. (v.5)

I don’t know what you’re currently wrestling with. I can’t log into you mind and see what’s keeping you up at night. I don’t know about the thing that you have bottled up inside. But Jesus does. In fact Jesus goes further than just knowing about your problems. He actually has the means to help you.

If you were to place your problems on a balance scale with Jesus which would weigh more? Your problem or Jesus? If you were to place your problem in front of Jesus would it eclipse Jesus or would he eclipse it? Some of us have things the wrong way around, with out mouths we sing....

Our God is greater Our God is stronger God, You are higher than any other Our God is healer Awesome in power Our God Our God

But hearts sing a completely different tune… God you’re not greater. God your not stronger. God you’re not higher. My problem is bigger than you are. Although we’d never say that publically, in our hearts its on and endless loop like Christmas music you hear in the store from November to January.

So, how do we “rest assured that Jesus is near”? What do we do to ensure that both our mouth and heart sing the same song in 2 part harmony?

It starts with being reminded of who Jesus was seeing him as he’s described in in John 1;1-5 ...

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

Jesus is God. He’s always existed. he created all things. Jesus contains dispenses life making those who are dead in their alive. Darkness (sin and satan) are powerless against him.

IOW Jesus is so high you can’t get over him. He so steeped in wisdom, that you can’t undermine HIm. He’s so vast, that you can’t get around him. And he’s so grand, that you can’t help but fall in awe of him. That’s the Jesus you have working on your behalf. That’s the God that you surrendered your life too. That’s the Jesus that you bring your problems to.

I wonder how might your faith increase, if you lived with John 1:1-5 in your heart. That’s the heart in which Marry responded… “Do whatever he tells you”. In other words I know that my Jesus is going to do something to help these people out. I don’t know how he’s going to do it. But I have faith that He will.

Rest assured, Jesus is near, and he’s more concerned about what’s going on in your life than you realize. So, like Mary, you should be able to say, Lord, do as you please. I only trust you. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.

Now we have the solution to the problem of no wine. Look at v.6 with me...

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim.” 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did.

I’m not sure how Mary and the other waiters thought Jesus would fix the problem, but I’m sure they didn’t see this coming. Whenever Jesus steps in to help us. He always does it contrary to what you thought he’d do. The reason for that is b/c he doesn’t want you to mistake His work for a man-made solution. Instead, he wants you to stop and notice Him. To praise him and him alone.

Loved ones...

Don’t expect your blessing to come through conventional methods - you’re dealing with God, not man. (v.6-8)

I’m pretty sure that Jesus’ instructions to fill handwashing jars with water sounded absurd. They were probably thinking, what’s he going to do with all this water; its only good for washing your hands. Did he hear what his mom said? We need more wine, not water for washing up.

Have you ever received instructions from your boss or parent that seemed silly? like it was a waste of time? But out of respect and maybe a little fear you did as you were told anyway.

Like for instance did you know that in Quitman Georgia its illegal to let your chickens cross the road. Simply put, the law is designed to ensure that chicken owners maintain control of their chickens at all times. Makes sense right???

Jesus doesn’t always operate in a way that makes sense to us. So when we approach Jesus with our problems, we need to be alright with how he decides to work it out. IOW we don’t get to request help and then determine how he blesses us.

That would be like going to doctor and then telling him what medicine you want prescribed. I think that one of problems with all these medicine commercials, they train us to go the telling to prescribe what we want to take for our medical condition. Instead letting the doctor do their job.

Nonetheless, I digress.

Before you ask Jesus to step into your problem, understand that he’s going to deal with the issue according to His will:

-He may choose to let you wrestle with the problem until you learn a lesson. i.e. You’ve been asking God to help you grow in patience, so what does he do, he allows you to go through various trials to make you more patient. One thing that I’ve learned sine the pandemic is to be more patient with people.

-He may choose to deal with the issue immediately.

(DH Drinking) 21 years ago this summer, I asked God to take the desire for alcohol from me. I had abused alcohol throughout high school and well into my college years. I knew it was controlling me. I knew I couldn’t live for Jesus and the bottle. And so one day after getting alcohol poisoning for the 2nd time 6 months I asked the Lord to help me. To take the desire to drink from me and he did. He did it immediately. I haven’t desired to drink since that day.

He might just leave you with the problem, but provide you with the grace you need so that you can endure and not lose hope. We see this in the life of the Apostle Paul, while in service to the Lord he went through unimaginable heartache and pain.

2 cor 11:25-28 he chronicles his trials while in service to the Lord. “25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things...

This is Paul ya'll, a man hand-selected by Jesus to spread the Gospel and plant church. You'd think that if anyone deserved to be delivered from their afflictions, it would be him. But God uses his trials to strengthen his faith and spur him to do even greater works.

We don't know how the Lord will deal with our problems. But, however he chooses, we need to trust his sovereign decision to deal with it as he sees fit. So be ready to accept the medicine that he prescribes you. Take it according to the instructions on the bottle. If he prescribes wait - then wait expecting for him to come through. If he prescribes Perseverance - then lean in and receive his grace.

Don't take your neighbor's prescription. Don't skip days. Follow through and according to the Lord's instructions to you. Even if they don't make sense. Even if it's taking longer than you thought it would. Even if it doesn't look like things are getting better.

Jesus will come through, but...

Don’t expect your blessing to come through conventional methods - you are dealing with God, not man. (v.9-10)

Back to the story...

John 2:9-10 “9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

Every single one of us have had the privilege of being blessed by God. But have you ever asked God whys he’s so good to you? God always goes big when he does stuff, but why? I’m sure the people at the wedding we’re asking the same thing. Why do we have so much wine? Not only was there a large quality of it, but it was top-self wine. It was fine wine.

Jesus always goes big. He always goes beyond what you need. He not like some of us who do things partially. When he paid our sin debt with his life. He didn't just put something on our sins. He completely covered our past, current, and future sins. He imputed his righteousness to us. But why? Why does Jesus go so big. Isn’t okay if he just does enough. If the bar is 10, why does he take it to 10 thousand?

Jesus goes big, b/c you to know that you know it was him...

Understand that everything Jesus does for you is designed to make you see who he is and strengthen your faith in Him. (v.11)

V.11 says...

11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.”

Jesus goes big so that you'll know that he's the one doing the blessing.

Jesus Goes big to reveal himself as the source of your blessing. Which makes you believe in him more and encourages you to tell other people about him.

Everything that Jesus does showcases who he is in your life. Nothing you have or will ever experience through Jesus is meant to be kept in the proverbial closet. He doesn't bless you in secrecy, and you shouldn't keep it secret.

Everyone at the party knew the best wine had been served and that it wouldn't soon run out. There was nothing private about what Jesus did. People would be talking about the Wedding of Cana for days and weeks to come, and we're still talking about it today.

Jesus is still in the business of revealing himself as LORD of all. Two things happen when he blesses us: Our faith in Him increases. 2. Other people hear about what Jesus did for you and are compelled to believe in him too.

Everything that Jesus does is designed to reveal himself to the world. And you know what, he's still at work revealing himself today. When you tell others about what Jesus has and is doing for you, you're actually glorifying God. You’re helping to reveal Jesus.

So receive your blessing and be strengthened, but don't keep your blessing to yourself. Instead, tell other people about it, broadcast Christ glory.

This is just the first of many signs that Christ performed. Next week we’ll look at the first healing miracle Jesus performed as told in John 4:46-54.

Let’s pray...

Be more about your will that our own and others

Rest assured that you are near

Look for man made solution to what only you can do

Give us greater faith in you and boldness to tell other...

Closing...

Tuesday prayer, CC, Stage Prayer/Q’s,New Members,LGLP

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