It
seems this is the season for weddings!
Recently we witnessed the wedding of David
& Rebecca here at church.
Yesterday -- Jeannette & I went down to
This coming Saturday -- we hope to go up to
By the way -- did you hear about the pastor
of a big city church who ran an ad in the newspaper for a
caretaker-housekeeper?
The next day -- a well dressed young man
appeared at the pastor's door -- but before he could say more than "Hello,
I came to see about ..." -- the pastor began questioning him.
"Can you sweep -- make beds -- shovel
walks -- run errands -- fix meals -- balance a checkbook -- & baby
sit?" -- the pastor asked.
"Whoa" -- the young man replied.
-- "I only came to see about getting married -- but if it's that much work
-- I'm not interested."
It has been suggested that many women marry
men just like their father -- which just may explain why many mothers cry at
weddings.
In John's Gospel, chapter 2 -- we are told
that at the very start of His public ministry -- Jesus graced a wedding
celebration with His presence.
The very fact that Jesus attended a wedding
at the outset of His public ministry -- sanctions the marriage relationship!
God ordained marriage in the Garden of Eden
-- & here Jesus put His stamp of approval upon the very institution of
marriage.
His presence at the wedding in Cana of
Galilee -- was an "Amen!" -- to marriage itself!
Marriage is a sacred institution in the
sight of Almighty God -- & without the presence of Christ -- a marriage is
not complete.
Have you invited Jesus to be a part of your
marriage?
Have you invited Jesus to come into your
home? -- To be a part of your wedding plans? -- To participate in your
marriage?
Marriage was His idea! -- He gave the basic
ground rules for it!
He best knows how it works!
He longs to be invited to come into your
marriage -- into your home!
There can be no happy marriage -- in the
true sense of happiness -- unless Jesus is invited to the ceremony -- &
then invited home with the bride & groom!
And let me also say -- it is never too late
to invite Jesus into your marriage -- your home -- or your life!
Let's read the story -- found in the first
11 verses of John 2 -- & watch how the intense drama of this wedding
celebration in Cana -- (a rather inconspicuous town not far from
On the
third day a wedding took place at Cana in
Jesus'
mother was there,
and
Jesus & His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
When
the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him,
"They
have no more wine."
"Dear
woman, why do you involve me?"
Jesus replied,
"My
time has not yet come."
His
mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you."
Nearby
stood six stone water jars,
the kind
used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,
each
holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus
said to the servants, "Fill the
jars with water";
so they
filled them to the brim.
Then He
told them, "Now draw some out
--
&
take it to the master of the banquet."
They
did so -- & the master of the
banquet tasted the water
that
had been turned into wine.
He did
not realize where it had come from,
though
the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Then he
called the bridegroom aside & said,
"Everyone
brings out the choice wine first & then the cheaper wine
after
the guest have had too much to drink;
but you
have saved the best till now."
This,
the first of His miraculous signs,
Jesus
performed in Cana of Galilee.
He thus
revealed His glory, & His disciples put their faith in Him. (NIV).
There are three things I would have you
notice in this Gospel story: --
1. There is The Shortage! -- Verse 3: -- Jesus'
mother said to Him, "They have no more wine."
Speaking of shortages -- one New Year's Day
-- during the Rose Bowl Parade -- a beautiful float suddenly sputtered, stuttered & quit moving.
With countless millions of viewers watching
on their TV sets at home -- the whole parade was stopped cold.
While nervous commentators struggled to keep
the viewers at home from figuring out what was happening -- the float
organizers scrambled to discover the root of the problem.
Finally -- just as many viewers were ready
to change channels -- the float began to move again -- & the problem was
resolved.
What was the problem that had stopped the
seemingly unstoppable annual Rose Bowl Parade?
Apparently -- the whole parade was held up
because the float had run out of gas!
What makes this story incredible -- is that
the float had been designed & built to represent a major oil & gasoline
company!
In spite of its vast oil & gas resources
-- its truck was out of gas -- & no one even realized it!
A shortage created a real crisis at this
wedding in
In Jewish times -- the newlyweds -- instead
of going off on a honeymoon -- would hold an open house of joyful festivities
for several days.
In fact -- a wedding celebration could last
for a whole week.
They had made provision as best they could
for their guest -- hoping for the best.
Maybe more people attended the wedding feast
then they had counted on.
Whatever the case -- the bridegroom was
responsible for the food & the wine for the guest -- for however many guest
there were -- & for however long they stayed.
In that culture & time -- to run out of
wine was considered the height of rudeness! -- For hospitality is everything!
It would cause the newlyweds such
humiliation that they would never be able to lift their heads in public
again.
It could conceivably open up the bridegroom
to a lawsuit!
At the very least -- it would ensure a
tension-filled -- rocky start to their relationship as a couple!
This was a marriage in trouble almost from
the moment it began!
How long has your marriage been in trouble?
Evaluating it -- what have you run out of
that has accelerated a crisis?
Is it a shortage of patience? -- Of
understanding? -- Of kindness? -- Of thoughtfulness? -- Of respect? -- Of time?
Is it a shortage of something practical --
like money -- or physical space -- of mutual friends?
As a result -- has the "wine" --
that liquid that symbolizes passionate affection -- lively love -- run out of
your marriage?
In the Bible -- wine is most often a symbol
of joy!
"They have no wine!" -- Somehow --
hear those words as if they include us; -- you & me! -- After all this
story is about us!
When did you first realize that the joy of
life has run out? -- was gone?
What happened that caused you to see -- that
your life wasn't working?
When did you figure out -- that all the
bailing wire in your repair kit -- couldn't patch or fix the "you" --
that is broken on the inside?
When did you discover truth about yourself
-- that your brains -- your beauty -- your money -- your connections -- your
luck -- or whatever else it was that you were counting on -- was empty when you
needed it the most?
The wine is gone! -- You have run out of
gas! -- The joy -- the excitement of life is gone!
No matter who you are -- or what you have
tasted of life -- a time comes when the exhilarations & the excitement of
life wears out!
For some -- it comes sooner! -- For others
-- it comes later!
It can happen during the teen years; -- or
during the college years; -- or during the early years of marriage -- but it
eventually catches up with everyone!
The wine of life -- the joy of life -- runs
out! -- The shortage appears!
2. There is The Solution! -- Verse 3 tells us
that the mother of Jesus went to her Son to tell Him of the problem!
Mary somehow knew of the embarrassing
shortage.
It is possible that Mary was related to the
bride -- or the groom -- in some way.
It stands to reason that she was assisting
in the arrangements for the marriage feast -- since she gave instructions to
the servants.
In Mary's case -- Jesus was not just her son
-- but God's Son as well!
And Mary knew that Jesus could make a difference!
Mary's faith was evident in that she went to
Jesus for help!
She knew Jesus would do something -- even if
she didn't fully under-stand what -- or how!
She knew Him well enough to know He cares
about the smallest details of our lives -- as well as the largest details in
the world.
She knew Him well enough to know He cares
about -- not just spiritual things like salvation -- justification --
sanctification -- & glorification -- but He also cares about everyday
practical things -- like wine at a wedding party.
And she knew enough to place the total
control of the situation to the problem into His hands!
When the wine was gone -- but Jesus changed
the water into wine!
What Jesus did was to produce approximately
180 gallons of new wine!
What a wedding gift!
Jesus did not just doctor the water -- so
that it had a taste of wine.
He literally transformed the water into the
finest of wine -- the very best wine!
Jesus furnished a new, better, more
satisfying supply of wine.
The host of the banquet was surprised by the
quality of the wine Jesus had created.
He said to the bridegroom: -- "Usually
the best wine is served first -- but you have kept the best until now!"
Oh what a lesson there is in that thought!
Sin is so inviting; -- there is pleasure in
sin -- but only for a season.
Sin gives the best it has first!
The longer you continue in sin -- the poorer
life becomes.
The thrill disappears -- & remorse,
guilt, & pain afflict the soul.
The "way of the transgressor"
becomes darker -- & gloomier -- until it ends in destruction.
But life with Jesus Christ -- gets better
& better with each passing year! --
No one ever regrets serving Jesus!
You will never get tired of walking with the
Lord.
And beyond abundant life here with Him --
you can experience the perfect unending life of Heaven! -- Jesus saves the best
till last!
Our hearts -- like the water -- have to be
transformed!
Our hearts have been completely changed into
another nature.
Changing water into wine symbolizes the
power of Jesus to turn ordinary existence into abundant life!
That is why Jesus could say: -- "I have come that you might have life
-- & have it more abundantly!" (John 10:10).
He wants to give you the fullness of life --
a life with over flowing meaning -- & value -- & joy -- that comes only
from Jesus Christ Himself!
The whole underlining idea of this scene is
that of abundance!
Jesus is the Giver of abundant life -- &
of abundant joy.
I will never forget the first time I saw all
the rocks of
I thought it was the
Stand almost anywhere in
Wherever you are -- you're likely to see
mountains off in the distance.
There is such an over abundance!
God didn't give us just one mountain -- or
two mountains -- but many mountains; -- & all of that just here in the
State of
Have you ever been to the coast -- &
looked at the beauty of the ocean?
There is more beauty than your eyes can
absorb!
Have you ever seen a field full of
wildflowers?
Not just enough to fill a vase in your
living room -- but more than enough!
My friends -- this shows us the abundance of
His grace -- that God wants to give you today! -- More than you need! -- Full
& overflowing!
There is more than enough grace & love
for all of us!
An abundance! -- More than we can
fathom!
Jesus is the solution -- to the shortage in
your life!
In Jesus -- we go from shortage to
abundance!
3.
There is The Submission! -- Verse 5: -- "Do whatever He tells you."
After speaking with Jesus -- Mary
immediately called the servants together.
I imagine that they were already exchanging
knowing looks -- rolling their eyes -- shaking their heads -- but they listened
quietly to Mary's instructions: -- "Do whatever he tells you!"
She was so confident Jesus could make a
difference in the crisis -- that she deliberately, consciously placed the
situation under His absolute authority!
Soon Jesus directed His attention toward six
stone jars by the door.
Jesus issued a command to the servants that
seemed to have nothing to do with the shortage of wine: -- "Fill the jars
with water."
The servants without question -- or argument
-- filled them to the brim.
I wonder what they were thinking as they
filled those jars with water.
Maybe they wondered to themselves -- what
filling the jars with water -- had to do with the shortage of wine.
And what did they think when Jesus told
them: -- "Now dip some out & take it to the master of the
banquet."
Can you imagine the looks on their faces at
Jesus' instructions?
"Do what? -- Take water to the master
of the banquet when he is expecting wine? -- Do you know how embarrassing that
is going to be? -- Do you want me to lose my job? -- People will laugh at me!
-- I may be a servant, but I'm no fool!"
But the water had been transformed into the
best & the finest of wine!
What a miracle! -- What a victory!
But the key to the miracle is found in the
words of Mary in verse 5: -- "Do whatever He tells you!" -- That my
friends -- is submission!
Submission & obedience to the will of
God is always the key to victory & miracles in our lives!
If you want that miracle -- then do whatever
He tells you to do!
That is submission; -- complete obedience to
God's will!
What thoughts have been running through your
mind in response to the instructions Jesus gives you? -- You may be thinking:
--
"If I submit to my husband -- he will
walk all over me."
"If I'm patient & loving with my
wife -- she'll begin to expect such treatment all the time!"
"If I make the kids go to church now --
they'll rebel against God when they get older."
"If I forgive my spouse -- he/she will
get away with the wrong."
"If I obey the instructions Jesus gives
-- I'll lose out; -- I'll be laughed at; -- I'll be criticized; -- It will
never work; -- I may be a servant, but I'm no fool."
Most Christians are willing to do some
things Christ says to do -- but not many are willing to do whatever He says to
do!
But it is our duty to render simple,
wholehearted obedience to Jesus Christ -- in all things!
We must do what He says -- if we hope to see
Him work wonders & miracles in our lives! -- That is submission!
Have you placed your home -- your family --
your marriage -- your situation -- under the Lord's absolute authority?
Until you do -- Jesus won't have the freedom
He requires to make the necessary changes.
God can redeem your situation -- if you
submit totally to His control -- & obey His command!
The same God who performed a miracle at the
wedding in
But we have to give Him absolute authority
& freedom to act!
Maybe one reason He has allowed you to be in
your present crisis -- is to bring you to the point of complete submission to
His good & perfect will!
A gentleman was once given a handsome Swiss
watch from some of his good friends.
After he had worn & enjoyed it for
awhile -- the watch stopped working.
His wife took it to the local jewelry store;
-- the repairman said he was sorry, but he could not fix it.
She took it to another repairman &
another; -- they all said the same thing; -- that it was beyond mending.
The couple had to make a trip to
While there -- she arranged for the watch to
be taken to the company that had made it -- explaining that it had broken --
& no one could fix it.
Within a very short period of time -- she
received the watch back -- running like new!
The company that had crafted it had no
trouble at all in making it work again!
My friends -- God crafted you! -- If you are broken -- all the repairman --
or counselors -- or lawyers -- or advisors -- or even preachers -- you may go
to -- will be unable to fix you!
But the Creator -- Who made you in the first
place -- can make you whole once again! -- That is why God has given you Jesus!
Conclusion:
-- Is there a shortage of some kind in your life?
Is there no more wine in your spiritual
life? -- No more joy -- no more love --
no more patience -- no more kindness -- no more understanding -- no more energy
to work out that relationship?
Are you broken? -- In disrepair? -- Is there
a shortage of some kind?
The whole idea that pervades this entire
Bible story is that Jesus is adequate for every one of life's situations!
Reliance upon the Lord's ability -- along
with faith in prayer -- & the determination to follow His command --
whatever that may involve -- is the clear path to victory & abundance in
your life!
You -- can bring your needs -- whatever
their size -- large or small -- & give them to Jesus.
Believe -- as Mary did -- that He will do something
about your situation; -- obey Him completely -- & God will work miracles in
your life!
The miracle is that God takes ordinary
people -- ordinary things -- ordinary events -- & changes them into new
wine -- & gives them to us as gifts of His love & grace! -- Gifts that
strengthen -- encourage & heal!
Whatever it is -- God's grace & strength
is yours today!
And it is good wine -- the best -- & it
is in abundance!
The real miracle -- is that regardless of
what happens to us today -- or tomorrow; -- regardless of what losses we
suffer; -- regardless of what hills we have to climb; -- regardless of what
hurts we have to endure; -- the grace of God greets us in abundance!
There is no shortage; -- there is no
rationing -- of God's all abundant & overflowing grace!
Won't you come today -- & dine at the
Lord's banquet table?
Pastor
www.wynnechapel.org