In our world today joy is missing in so many….the news robs us, the pressures of life rob us, attacks on our health, family, finances, jobs all rob us…if you add to that, many in the church are so austere that they can enjoy creation and the life Christ has for us.
Revelation 4:11 (KJV updated)
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure, they and we are and were created.
God enjoys us, not like a puppeteer enjoys his puppets, but like a loving parent enjoys their children. He enjoys spending time with us in quiet and solitude and in laughter and fun
God created laughter, He created joy, happiness, love
I think we forget that sometimes.
Jesus is God with us, God in the flesh and where do we see him perform his first miracle at a celebration!
John 2:1-11
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Jesus shows up at the party and brings six additional guests with him
The disciples with him at the time were Peter, Andrew, Nathanael, Philip, James, and John
This wedding was either a family member of Jesus’ or a very close friend of His mother, Mary.
We begin by seeing that three days after Jesus had called Nathanael, the come to the wedding and Mary is already there.
The traditional wedding feast lasted 7 days…let me stop there for a minute….with every wedding they took 7 full days off from their labors to celebrate, feast, dance and enjoy each others company plus they had 22 holidays per year mostly of a celebration of family and thankfulness to God for His provision in one way or another. Joy was very much part of the culture.
We must remember Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit part of the Holy Spirit, part of God.
As Jesus and his disciples were there celebrating Mary came to Jesus with a problem…we are out of wine
Once again this was probably family and Mary is coming to her eldest son; Joseph has passed so if this is family she comes to her eldest to solve a family problem.
John 2:4
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
Jesus and his friends had been celebrating and he is making it clear to Mary out of respect…while this may be a family issue, I have the Kingdom on my mind….his tone here is one of utmost respect for Mary but he needs to make it clear to her that while I am your son, I am not here to do your bidding, I’m here to do my Father’s bidding
Jesus was a loving son and he also understood the ramifications of running out of wine at a wedding feast.
Running out of wine would be like running out of food at a dinner party or a church picnic yet in the community it would have been worse than here because the whole community would have been invited and it would have been something that would never have been forgotten.
Jesus didn’t need to care…he could have just said “oh well, guys lets move on this feast is over these people should have prepared better, they should have done better, they knew what would happen if they didn’t have enough wine and they choose to be ill-prepared” he could have left and been perfectly right….but he didn’t
That is not the way God is….God understands the human heart, emotions, our brokenness the way we condemn ourselves
How many of you have ever said to yourself…”I’m so stupid!” or I should have done better or should have known better?” I don’t want to see hands but if we are all be honest I will bet most of us have done that at some point.
How important is wine in the scheme of all creation? How important is this one wedding in the scheme of all creation? This story is showing us that what you do, what you are concerned about while you may not think it is important to God because of starving children, or war…you need to realize you are important to God and he is big enough to handle all of the starving children and every war and the little things that concern you…Remember this?
Psalm 139:1-3
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
Jesus had no need to do anything for this wedding but he knew their hearts, what they were feeling, everything about them and he knew this would remind them of God’s great love….I need to add this… getting drunk was not an option in a Jesus culture so this was not about drunkenness in any way
John 2:5-8
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
I don’t think Mary quite understood what Jesus was saying just yet but she submitted to Jesus and instructed the servants to just do what Jesus wanted
The six jars–
These were the wash pots, they had water in them to keep cleaning off the tables they were used as part of the Jewish purification rites in other words they were common things.
Most of us feel common, we don’t necessarily feel like we are special or unique…we go about our business day after day and hope to just get by…but if we are willing Jesus takes that which is common and makes it into something special.
If anyone had known this “wine” had come from these common pots they would have rejected it without even trying it…if they would have rejected it they would have missed out not just on good wine but the best.
I think the Lord wants us to begin to think about ourselves that way, we are called of God to change the world…if we allow our lowly beginnings or our view of ourselves to hinder our being used of God so many will miss out on the best wine….we can not view ourselves anything less than the light of the world the salt of the world because Jesus does not lie and that is what He has called us. Just in case you don’t know these verses
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Here is what happened next
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
When we allow the Lord to bring the light through us we are not only good at what we do, we can be the best….don’t be ashamed or afraid of God living inside of you…Don’t be ashamed or afraid sharing the truth that you know. You sharing His word and living your life as an example to others is sweet and refreshing to those in need…
Psalm 119: 103-105
How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
104 Your commandments give me understanding;
no wonder I hate every false way of life.
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
What we have come to understand of real life in Jesus, we must take and share it to bring hope and to bring joy.
Jesus chose wine because it was what the culture dictated but it also always brings joy and Jesus did it in the best way to bring the greatest joy.
He knew what the people needed that was important to them
– what is important in your life that you don’t think Jesus would care about? Know that He does because you are important! Let him bring you joy by lifting this burden, meeting that need
– whatever view you have of yourself it is probably nothing compared to the way the Lord values you!Stop limiting what God will do in you and through you…just like the pots who were the most inconsequential of things and Jesus made the bearers of the best…he will do the same for you
– Recognize just like Jesus did at the wedding, He wants to bring you joy…what is robbing your joy today? He cares for you, he loves you let Him bring you Joy not because of what you have done or who you are but just because He loves you!
Why does Jesus want you to know and have joy? John 2:11 tells us why
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Your joy will awaken others to see Jesus, it will cause them to believe, it will heal them. What will you choose today? Some here have been hurting and miserable for a long time. I’m not saying you aren’t saved I’m just saying the stuff of life, your past, your self-condemnation, your judgmental nature have robbed you of real joy…Let the Lord give it to your today
If you don’t know Jesus if you don’t have a relationship with him, today is your day…you can know what it is to have real joy he will heal you, forgive you, bring you freedom all today if you are willing