A Message by Rev.
Given to
March 28, 2010
JESUS REVEALED
John 2:1-11
BACKGROUND:
(vv.1-2)
·
Cana (location
on PP)—small, remote, country village in the highlands; came from
·
It is thought
that this was probably late February/early March in A.D. 27.
·
“the third day”:
under Jewish law the normal
day for a wedding was Wednesday for a virgin
·
“the mother of Jesus was there”: Joseph dead
most likely
o
Experienced
the death of His earthly father.
o
One parent family.
o
Jesus worked
for years supporting His family.
·
The wedding,
most likely, was for family or friends since Mary appeared to have a
significant role in the wedding.
·
Jesus began
His earthly ministry at a wedding. He
will conclude it, one day, with a wedding (the Marriage Supper of the Lamb)! The church will be presented to Him as His
bride!
I.
THE SON’S DEVOTION (vv. 3-5)
·
“They have no wine”: In
the OT, “wine” symbolized JOY
·
The world’s
joy always runs out, but the joy He gives is ever new and ever satisfying.
·
The world
always offers the best that it has up front, then
things get worse.
·
Jesus always
offers lasting joy that gets sweeter with time!
“[He] is
able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to
the power that works within us…”
Ephesians 3:20
“These
things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in
you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11
·
The world’s
joy/fun is limited, it will run out—it’s a mirage!
·
Sin is fun, but it’s
TEMPORARY fun!
“Do not
enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from
it and pass on.”
Proverbs 4:14-15
“Heed
instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it…for he who finds [wisdom] finds
life and obtains favor from the Lord.
But he who sins against [wisdom] injures himself; all those who hate
[wisdom] love death.” Proverbs 8:33, 35-36
“The
perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their
walk are His delight. Assuredly, the
evil man will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 11:20-21a
“He who
walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer
harm.” Proverbs 13:20
“There is
a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs
14:12
·
Mary didn’t
tell Him what to do; she just reported the problem—BUT, you could read between
the lines. ;)
·
Put yourself
in Mary’s shoes.
o
She had been
living under this stigma for nearly 30 years—Jesus being virgin born.
o
Nice people,
but a “little off.”
o
She knew who
He was, but didn’t share it with others.
o
She wanted
this stigma/bad reputation removed once and for all!
o
“It’s time to
show everyone who You are! Do a miracle!”
·
“Woman”: a polite way to address her (Ma’am)
·
Jesus made it
clear He was no longer under her supervision—their relationship had forever
changed.
·
She was no
longer to relate to Him as her son, but as her Messiah, the Son of God, her Savior.
·
“My hour has not yet come”: The
implication is, “This isn’t the time/occasion.
I’ll clear your name, but not here.”
·
Where would He
eventually clear her name/reputation? THE CROSS!
Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it
dies, it bears much fruit. "Now is My soul troubled. And
what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from
this hour'? But for this purpose I have
come to this hour. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself."
He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die.”
John 12:23-24, 27, 32-33
·
She must’ve
told everyone after His resurrection—“I TOLD YOU SO!”
·
So, Jesus
showed devotion to His earthly mother, while ultimately showing devotion to the
Heavenly Father.
·
Where does our
allegiance lie? What is keeping you from
fully following God?
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his
wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot
be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
·
We are to be
so devoted to Him, that every other relationship looks like hatred in
comparison.
·
“Do whatever He says”: Great
advice for everyone!
·
Are you doing
that? HOW? Obey the Word!
“Faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:17
II.
THE SON’S PURIFICATION (vv. 6-10)
·
“stone water jars”:
Jews believed clay/earthen
water jars would make them unclean ceremonially
·
Jesus wanted
to use the water jars that were meant for ceremonial purification to point to
the purification that He would bring to us spiritually through His death.
“…the
blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from
all sin” 1 John 1:7
·
He’s saying,
“The hour of my death is not yet here, but I will give an acted out parable of
my death and what it will mean.”
·
The
purification rituals of water are going to be replaced with a new way of
purification—His blood.”
·
Is there
another act of worship that pictures this?
Lord’s Supper
“For as
often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death
(purification) until He comes.”
1 Corinthians 11:26
“Unless
you . . . drink [the] blood [of the Son of Man], you have no life in you.” John
6:53
·
“tasted the water now
become wine”: Someone poetically once said, “The unconscious
waters saw their God and blushed.”
·
Jesus revealed
Himself as Creator God! Not only was He
Creator of the material world, but also of the spiritual world!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2
Corinthians 5:17
III.
THE SON’S DEIFICATION (v. 11)
·
We come to the
very PURPOSE behind Jesus’ first miracle—and every miracle.
·
“sign”: Signs point to something
o
ILLUS: Traveling to
·
Jesus showed
that He was CREATOR GOD!
“I told
you, and you do not believe. The
miracles that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about Me…” John
10:25
“But if I
do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe
the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I
am in the Father.” John 10:38
“Jesus did
many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His
name.” John 20:30-31
·
Interestingly,
Moses’ first miracle was a plague—turning water into blood, which speaks of
judgment. Jesus’ first miracle was a
cure—turning water into wine, which spoke of His grace.
·
John 1:14
CONCLUSION:
·
Where is your
devotion? Are you devoted to
self—satisfying self and making happiness the chief aim?
·
Have you
allowed the blood of Christ to purify you?
·
Have you
humbled yourself before the revealed Creator/Jesus?