The Wedding at Cana… (4 things)

• 1^st – Jesus began his ministry at a wedding… vs. 1-2
  • It had only been about a week since John the Baptist first revealed Jesus as the Lamb…
    • Jesus had already been baptized – and spent 40 days in the wilderness…
    • Ready to begin the work – He and the disciples (only 6 so far) were invited to a wedding
  • The beginning and the end…
    • The word ‘wedding’ is only used 16 times in NT – only twice in the book of John…
    • Fitting that Jesus started His ministry by attending a wedding with the disciples…
    • Because He will also end His ministry at wedding with the disciples…
    • THE wedding – the marriage of Jesus (Lamb of God) and the Church!
    • Revelation 19:7,9 – “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made ready herself… Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
  • The invitation has been sent out for anyone to come to THE Wedding!
    • Romans 10:13 – “Whomever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
    • Anyone – absolutely anyone – who accepts God’s invitation – will be saved!
    • Accepting God’s invitation to THE Wedding means that you are welcome into Heaven!
      
• 2^nd – Running out of wine… vs. 3-5
  • During the course of the wedding feast – they ran out of wine…
    • Mary the mother of Jesus turned to Him and said – ‘they have no wine’…
    • Now Jesus had never performed any miracles as a child or young man…
    • It was not like every time a kid got a cut – you went and called for little Jesus…
    • But Mary had ‘kept in her heart’ the wonder of Jesus’ birth – Luke 2:19…
    • God will not necessarily performs miracles in our life every day…
    • But that does not mean He cannot do amazing things – if we have faith…
    • Often the reason God is not working in our lives – we do not ask – James 4:2
  • Woman – it is not our problem – my hour has not yet come…
    • We do not know the tone in which Jesus spoke this – but we can assume respectful…
      • It is the same word He used to refer to His mother on the cross – John 19:26
      • There are two possibilities on what Jesus meant by – ‘My hour has not yet come’…
    • 1^st – Jesus did not yet intend to publically reveal Himself as the Messiah…
      • This seems unlikely as He goes on to perform the very miracle Mary asks for…
      • It is doubtful Jesus could be swayed in His timetable for His public revelation…
      • Just because we want something – does not mean God is obligated to do what we ask…
      • We may even try to justify ourselves motives – but God is not fooled…
      • God if you will just give me that new cell phone – I will text everyone Bible verses…
      • If we ask for things out of our own selfish desires – God will not give it to us…
      • James 4:3 – “When you ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
    • 2^nd – Mary was anxious to see Jesus do a work…
      • Mary wanted everyone to see Jesus as she did – God almighty!
      • And Jesus fully intended to perform His first miracle – but wanted to wait…
      • Perhaps until all the wine was gone – so there was no doubting the miracle…
      • If our desire is for the world to see and know Jesus – for their salvation…
      • That is a request we can be sure the Lord will answer – a selfless request!
      • The Lord might say we need to wait for the right timing – but He will answer!
  • The last words of Mary…
    • There are many today who elevate Mary to a super status – ‘Queen of Heaven’…
      • Those who will pray to the ‘Virgin’ – as though Mary has special access to God…
      • Yet when Mary came looking for Jesus with her other sons (no longer ‘a virgin’)…
      • Mark 3:33 – “[Jesus] answered saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”
      • Mary had no ‘special’ access to Jesus – she was not sinless – she was not perfect…
      • Mary was chosen by grace – because she had faith in God… 
      • Mary was just like us!  Saved by faith – through grace – in Jesus – Ephesians 2:8-9
      • We don’t need any help in getting to Jesus – pray to Mary/Saints or anyone else….
      • We have complete access to God – we can boldly to His throne of Grace!
    • Mary did have wisdom – her last recorded words in the Bible…
      • If you want to respect Mary – certainly an amazing woman – follow her words…
      • Listen to Jesus – and whatever He says – do it!
        
• 3^rd – The best was saved for last… vs. 6-10
  • There were 6 purification water pots…
    • They were used to wash the hand of the guests before and after they ate…
      • The pot could hold about 80 liters of water each – so 480 liters of water in all…
      • Jesus told them to fill the pots with water – make sure it was up to the very top…
    • In II Kings 4 – a poor widow asked Elisha for help…
      • Creditors were coming to take her sons as slaves – all she had was a single jar of oil…
      • Elisha told her to go and borrow as many empty containers as she could…
      • She then poured out the oil from her jar – and filled all the empty containers!
      • Only when all the containers were full – did the oil in her jar run out…
      • I bet you she wished she had found more empty containers!
    • So often we come to God for help – but our expectations are low…
      • Maybe God cannot make a whole jug into wine – lets just fill it half way…
      • Or lets only get a couple of jars – the oil might not last…
      • If you child asks you for ice cream – do you just give them some ice…
      • No we want to give them LOTS of ice cream – tell them to get a BIG bowl!
      • God does not just want to provide for our daily needs – He has a far greater plan!
      • He wants to give us His whole kingdom – bless us beyond imagination – Luke 12:33
      • The only reason He would not give us something is He knows its not good for us…
  • They took the ‘water’ and gave it to the master of the ceremonies…
    • The guest of honor – an important official – perhaps the mayor – who was attending…
      • He called for the bride groom and congratulated him on the amazing ‘wine’…
      • He noted most give the best drink first – and once they are drunk – the inferior…
      • When you got a wedding they serve Letson first – then the ‘other dishes’…
      • Yet the bridegroom had saved the best ‘wine’ till the very end!
    • He did not know where the ‘wine’ had come from – but the servants did…
      • When God takes care of all our needs – when He blesses us in our hour of need…
      • Those who do not know Jesus – may not know – they do not see what Jesus did…
      • It is up to us to tell them – show them what Jesus did in our lives!
  • The world gives its best up front – God saves the best till last…
    • Sin / the world always seems fun at first – but it does not last…
      • If sin were not enjoyable – there would be no temptation to sin…
      • But it is enjoyable only for a short time – Hebrews 11:25…
      • No matter what sin – in the end there are consequences – Galatians 6:7
      • It may be fun to have boyfriends/girlfriends – till an unexpected baby comes along…
      • It may be fun to hang out at the cockfights – till we loose all our money…
      • John 8:34 – “I say unto you he that commits sin is the slave of sin…”
      • In the end we end up in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!
    • In contrast living for Jesus can seem tough at first…
      • Following Jesus means living a holy life – seeking to please to the Lord in our actions…
      • It means that we will face trials and temptations – John 16:33 – it can seem tough…
      • But Jesus sets us free from sin – and in the end we are given the gift of eternal life…
      • The question we are left to answer – do we want to have fun today – or for an eternity!
        
• 4^th – The first miracle of Jesus – water from wine… vs. 11
  • This passage has often been pointed at to defend drinking…
    • After all Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine – so God must approve of it…

• It is true the Bible does not say it is wrong to drink alcohol…
• With the one exception of Pastors – they are forbidden – I Timothy 3:3
• Because the Pastor is an example to the church – so he is not to drink alcohol…
• Because a drunk pastor is not going to be able to teach the people…
• Can you imagine a pastor coming to Sunday service – drunk…
• Though the Bible does not say you cannot drink – there are 4 things to consider…
  • 1^st – Do not to be drunk – Ephesians 5:18…
    • The Bible does say it is wrong to be drunk – to loose self-control…
    • Much better to be filled with the Holy Sprit!
    • When full of wine you will do things you will regret (and not remember)…
    • When you are full of the Spirit you will do great things for God that never fade!
  • 2^nd – Remember not to stumble other brothers and sisters…
    • I Corinthians 8:13 – “If what I [drink] is going to make another Christian sin, I will never [drink] again as long as I live, for I do not want to stumble another Christian.”
    • We may have the liberty – and self-control – to drink moderately – occasionally…
    • But that does not mean that everyone else around us does…
    • If my freedom in Christ causes someone else to sin – then I should not drink…
    • Do not use your freedom in Christ – to destroy the faith of someone else!
    • I knew a brother in the Lord who struggled with alcohol – lost his whole family…
    • One day a ‘brother’ invited him over to play some pool – offered him a beer…
    • ‘We have freedom in Jesus’ – the brother told him – what can one beer hurt…
    • He ended up falling back into his old lifestyle – walked away from the Lord
    • One man’s freedom in Christ – can be another man’s undoing…
    • Be sensitive to each other’s weaknesses – protecting each other from sin!
  • 3^rd – Do what the Holy Spirit says…
    • So can you drink – wrong question – should you drink – right question…
    • I can drink all I want – I just don’t want to drink…
    • As with all things – pray and ask the Lord if He wants you drink…
    • If you can drink with a clean conscience – then no problem…
    • If the Lord’s convicting you of drinking – ask Him to change your heart…
    • Ask Him to take away the desire to drink…
    • Romans 14:23 – “…for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
  • 4^th – Make a wise choice – I Corinthians 6:12…
    • Perhaps we enjoy an occasional drink – is that sin – not in of itself…

The New Wine of Jesus is what allows us to enjoy the The Wedding of the Lamb!

But the question is can we stop – who is in control – are we or the habit…

If we are no longer the ones in control of our ‘freedom’ – it is no longer good…

If we want to stop – but cannot – then we are not longer in control of our lives…

You never hear someone say – ‘my life is so much better because I drink.’

In contrast many have said – ‘my life is much better since I stopped drinking.’

How much better to be full of Jesus rather than full of wine!

So why was Jesus first miracle wine…

Jesus came to give us the New Covenant / the New Wine  – Luke 5:37-38…

And the New Covenant is infinitely better than the Old Covenant…

If you were hungry – and someone gave you a menu – it just makes you hungrier…

In the same way the Law told you were a sinner – but did nothing to make you a saint…

It was the New Covenant of Grace that gave us the free gift of salvation in Jesus!

The New Wine of Jesus is what allows us to enjoy the The Wedding of the Lamb!