The Divine Story of Jesus and You: The Wedding
© South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: The Divine Story of Jesus and You: The Wedding
Date: 30 June 2024
Speaker: Pastor Emeritus Stan Long
Sermon Text: John 2: 1-11
Sermon Reflections: The Divine Story of Jesus and You: The Wedding
Date: 30 June 2024
Speaker: Pastor Emeritus Stan Long
Sermon Text: John 2: 1-11
Sermon Quick Summary
We are continuing our miniseries, “The Divine Story of Jesus and You.” The scripture text for today is from John Chapter 2, which is Section 2.8 in your booklet, available for free at www.plusnothing.com. This scripture is called the wedding at Cana. Jewish weddings at the time of Jesus were bound by tradition and culture. The wedding ceremony would take place late in the evening after a time of feasting and celebration lasting for days. At this wedding, they had no more wine. Jesus, as Divinity, performed a miraculous sign and changed water into wine.
We started this miniseries by exploring the three components of God’s story: the necessity of revelation, the indispensability of reconciliation, and the exhilaration of restoration. We now see God working out God’s story through the everyday reality of the wedding. God becomes more aggressive about reconciling the world unto God. God takes advantage of an everyday human problem to get a more serious commitment from you and me. Jesus, Divinity in the flesh, will not carry out the mission alone; Jesus will need us as convinced coworkers. God chooses problems as an opportunity for self-revelation of God. Through the miracle of additional wine, the disciples put their faith in God. Their faith convinced them that God can be trusted. God uses problems to direct us and change our direction. God uses problems to correct and teach us, not to punish us. God uses problems to protect us from greater harm.
The Jewish wedding at Cana bound by tradition and culture with feasting and celebration for days
Weddings, especially Jewish weddings at the time of Jesus, are fraught with things that can go wrong. Because weddings were a big deal, there was a certain protocol that was to be followed. It didn't matter whether you were poor or rich; you were bound by tradition and culture. Weddings of virgin brides took place on a Wednesday. Weddings of widow brides took place on a Thursday.
The wedding ceremony would take place late in the evening after a time of feasting and celebration lasting for days. The father of the bride would take his daughter on his arm, and with the wedding party in tow, they would parade through the streets of the village, so that everyone could come out and congratulate the bride. Finally, the wedding party would arrive at the home of the groom. The wedding actually took place in the front door of the groom's house.
After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom walked through the streets accompanied by flaming torches. Their attendants walked with them keeping a canopy over their heads. The wedding party always took the longest route through the village. As a result, as many people as possible could wish them well. There was no such thing as a honeymoon! The couple kept open house for a week. They were treated like royalty. They dressed in fancy clothes and many times actually wore crowns on their heads. Whatever desire they spoke for, they received. It was like their word was law! The groom's family was expected to provide all the refreshments for this week of festivities.
Jesus’ First Miraculous Sign: John 2:1-11
“1Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 2Jesus and his followers were also invited. 3At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’
4Jesus answered, ‘Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work.’
5His mother said to the servants, ‘Do what he tells you.’ 6There were six large stone water pots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies. Each one held about twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the water pots with water.’ So they filled them to the top.
8Then he said to them, ‘Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast.’ So they did what he said. 9Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. 10He called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘People always serve the best wine first. Later when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now.’
11This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him” (John 2:1-11 ESV).
Let’s view this video by The Chosen on The Wedding at Cana.
In the video, Jesus illustrates the miracle of changing water into wine and God’s actions in transforming us.
God more aggressive in reconciling God with created humanity
We started this miniseries by exploring the three components of God’s story: the necessity of revelation, the indispensability of reconciliation, and the exhilaration of restoration. It had been hundreds of years that God has attempted God’s self-revelation and to usher in God’s reconciliation process. As God comes to the world in flesh, God becomes more aggressive in demonstrating reconciling the world unto God.
We now see God working out God’s story through the everyday reality of the wedding. God takes advantage of an everyday human problem to get a more serious commitment from you and me. Is God turning up the heat in your relationship? Is God asking you for more? Is God asking you for a deeper commitment? Is God asking you for more in your relationship with God?
Sometimes problems from internal restlessness is God saying God want more of you. An illustration is Jacob’s story. Jacob didn’t start the wrestling match. God took advantage of an everyday human problem in reconciliation to improve the relationship. We often try to quash restlessness with other things. However, after we try them, we still are not satisfied. Did you ever stop to think that maybe that is God aggressively reconciling?
Jesus will not carry out God’s mission alone, but needs convinced coworkers
Jesus, Divinity in the flesh, will not carry out the mission alone; Jesus needs convinced coworkers. The few disciples that Jesus had were not yet sure as to whom Jesus was. For them to be a part of God's reconciliation process they needed to see Jesus as more than a rabbi, but rather as God made flesh and dwelling among them.
John 2:11 in the New International Version translation reads: “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus preformed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” This miracle was not really for the masses of people, but rather it was for the coworkers. They would not be able to do what God had in mind for them to do until they were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Sometimes, God does incredible things for us so that we can be convinced and can then trust in God.
God chooses a problem as an opportunity to reveal God
For Mary and her friends, the problem was that there wasn't enough wine. For God, the problem was an opportunity to show disciples that the Lord of Glory was in their midst. God doesn’t cause problems. Most problems we cause, the devil causes, the fallen world causes, or nature causes.
For most of us the issue is how soon problems will go away. God uses problems to say something or do something for us. Regardless of the source, God use problems to direct, correct, and protect us.
God uses problems to direct us and change our direction
Sometimes we are headed in the wrong direction, and God wants to redirect our path. Often, we make plans, goals, objectives, and priorities. God will use problems to change those plans. This is affirmed by scripture in Proverbs. “A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways (Proverbs 20:30). Sometimes it takes a painful experience to redirect us. It seems that for some of us the only way we learn is through pain.
One of the benefits of problems is they never leave us the way they found us. We rarely change if we don't have pain or problem in our lives. For some of us it takes depression, weary, stress, guilt, anger, loneliness, fear, or resentment before we realize something is not right.
The question we need to ask is: Where is this problem trying to lead me?
God uses problems to correct, not to punish
There's a difference between correction and punishment. Punishment looks at the past; we did something wrong, and we're punished for it. Correction looks at the future: there's a better path, so let's do it different next time. God never punishes God’s children because Jesus took all the punishment on the cross. However, God does correct God’s children. God’s love demands that when certain aspects of our lives need to change, God doesn’t ignore it. An uncorrected child is an unloved child. Hebrews 12:8 (CEV translation) affirms this: “8 God corrects all his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him.”
Sometimes problems are educational, and God will use them to educate us. How many times have you heard people testify that certain problems were the best thing to ever happen to them?
Sometimes God wants to teach us about areas of weakness, blind spots, or needs that need to be worked on in our lives. Sometimes God teaches us about God’s love, God’s care, God’s justice, or God’s faithfulness in keeping God’s promises. Some lessons we only learned through failures; some people only learn the value of relationships after they've lost them.
The question we need to ask is: What is this problem trying to teach me?
God uses problems to protect us from greater harm, including hidden traps
Sometimes the pain of a problem protects us from something worse. There are times when a problem can prevent a greater harm from happening in our lives. It can be a blessing in disguise. There are times when God uses a problem to protect us from a hidden trap we may fall into. Psalm 91:3a affirms this: “God will save you from hidden traps.” One of the hardest lessons for us to learn is that often disappointments are God's appointments to protect us from greater harm.
The question we need to ask is: Is this problem protecting me from greater harm?
Big Picture: through problems revelation, reconciliation, and restoration
It is in the everyday occurrences of life that God reveals who God is. God continues revelation to, reconciliation of, and restoration of God’s created world. Even through the problems of our everyday existence, God works in each one of us restoring our proper relationship that Adam lost.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-In what ways can a miraculous sign encourage belief? Why is it important to involve others from our community in our celebrations to witness signs from God?
The Jewish wedding at Cana bound by tradition and culture with feasting and celebration for days
-How can we best include worshipping God in our celebrations, without tradition and cultural limitations? When has God impacted your celebrations when you did not intentionally include God?
Jesus’ First Miraculous Sign: John 2:1-11
-How has witnessing miracles of God resulted in restoration and transformation inside of how God created you?
God more aggressive in reconciling God with created humanity
-In what ways is God taking advantage of a human problem that you face to get a more serious commitment from you in relationship with God?
Jesus will not carry out God’s mission alone, but needs convinced coworkers
-As you put faith in Jesus as savior, what are your challenges in trusting that God’s love and justice will determine every outcome?
God chooses a problem as an opportunity to reveal God
-In what ways have you noticed God using problems in your life as an opportunity to reveal more about God?
God uses problems to direct us and change our direction
-If God is using a problem to change your direction in life, where is God trying to direct you?
God uses problems to correct, not to punish
-What is the difference between God correcting and God punishing? How is God using a problem to correct and teach you, not to punish you?
God uses problems to protect us from greater harm, including hidden traps
-In what ways do you notice God using a problem to protect you from greater harm?
We are continuing our miniseries, “The Divine Story of Jesus and You.” The scripture text for today is from John Chapter 2, which is Section 2.8 in your booklet, available for free at www.plusnothing.com. This scripture is called the wedding at Cana. Jewish weddings at the time of Jesus were bound by tradition and culture. The wedding ceremony would take place late in the evening after a time of feasting and celebration lasting for days. At this wedding, they had no more wine. Jesus, as Divinity, performed a miraculous sign and changed water into wine.
We started this miniseries by exploring the three components of God’s story: the necessity of revelation, the indispensability of reconciliation, and the exhilaration of restoration. We now see God working out God’s story through the everyday reality of the wedding. God becomes more aggressive about reconciling the world unto God. God takes advantage of an everyday human problem to get a more serious commitment from you and me. Jesus, Divinity in the flesh, will not carry out the mission alone; Jesus will need us as convinced coworkers. God chooses problems as an opportunity for self-revelation of God. Through the miracle of additional wine, the disciples put their faith in God. Their faith convinced them that God can be trusted. God uses problems to direct us and change our direction. God uses problems to correct and teach us, not to punish us. God uses problems to protect us from greater harm.
The Jewish wedding at Cana bound by tradition and culture with feasting and celebration for days
Weddings, especially Jewish weddings at the time of Jesus, are fraught with things that can go wrong. Because weddings were a big deal, there was a certain protocol that was to be followed. It didn't matter whether you were poor or rich; you were bound by tradition and culture. Weddings of virgin brides took place on a Wednesday. Weddings of widow brides took place on a Thursday.
The wedding ceremony would take place late in the evening after a time of feasting and celebration lasting for days. The father of the bride would take his daughter on his arm, and with the wedding party in tow, they would parade through the streets of the village, so that everyone could come out and congratulate the bride. Finally, the wedding party would arrive at the home of the groom. The wedding actually took place in the front door of the groom's house.
After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom walked through the streets accompanied by flaming torches. Their attendants walked with them keeping a canopy over their heads. The wedding party always took the longest route through the village. As a result, as many people as possible could wish them well. There was no such thing as a honeymoon! The couple kept open house for a week. They were treated like royalty. They dressed in fancy clothes and many times actually wore crowns on their heads. Whatever desire they spoke for, they received. It was like their word was law! The groom's family was expected to provide all the refreshments for this week of festivities.
Jesus’ First Miraculous Sign: John 2:1-11
“1Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 2Jesus and his followers were also invited. 3At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’
4Jesus answered, ‘Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work.’
5His mother said to the servants, ‘Do what he tells you.’ 6There were six large stone water pots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies. Each one held about twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the water pots with water.’ So they filled them to the top.
8Then he said to them, ‘Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast.’ So they did what he said. 9Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. 10He called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘People always serve the best wine first. Later when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now.’
11This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him” (John 2:1-11 ESV).
Let’s view this video by The Chosen on The Wedding at Cana.
In the video, Jesus illustrates the miracle of changing water into wine and God’s actions in transforming us.
God more aggressive in reconciling God with created humanity
We started this miniseries by exploring the three components of God’s story: the necessity of revelation, the indispensability of reconciliation, and the exhilaration of restoration. It had been hundreds of years that God has attempted God’s self-revelation and to usher in God’s reconciliation process. As God comes to the world in flesh, God becomes more aggressive in demonstrating reconciling the world unto God.
We now see God working out God’s story through the everyday reality of the wedding. God takes advantage of an everyday human problem to get a more serious commitment from you and me. Is God turning up the heat in your relationship? Is God asking you for more? Is God asking you for a deeper commitment? Is God asking you for more in your relationship with God?
Sometimes problems from internal restlessness is God saying God want more of you. An illustration is Jacob’s story. Jacob didn’t start the wrestling match. God took advantage of an everyday human problem in reconciliation to improve the relationship. We often try to quash restlessness with other things. However, after we try them, we still are not satisfied. Did you ever stop to think that maybe that is God aggressively reconciling?
Jesus will not carry out God’s mission alone, but needs convinced coworkers
Jesus, Divinity in the flesh, will not carry out the mission alone; Jesus needs convinced coworkers. The few disciples that Jesus had were not yet sure as to whom Jesus was. For them to be a part of God's reconciliation process they needed to see Jesus as more than a rabbi, but rather as God made flesh and dwelling among them.
John 2:11 in the New International Version translation reads: “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus preformed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” This miracle was not really for the masses of people, but rather it was for the coworkers. They would not be able to do what God had in mind for them to do until they were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Sometimes, God does incredible things for us so that we can be convinced and can then trust in God.
God chooses a problem as an opportunity to reveal God
For Mary and her friends, the problem was that there wasn't enough wine. For God, the problem was an opportunity to show disciples that the Lord of Glory was in their midst. God doesn’t cause problems. Most problems we cause, the devil causes, the fallen world causes, or nature causes.
For most of us the issue is how soon problems will go away. God uses problems to say something or do something for us. Regardless of the source, God use problems to direct, correct, and protect us.
God uses problems to direct us and change our direction
Sometimes we are headed in the wrong direction, and God wants to redirect our path. Often, we make plans, goals, objectives, and priorities. God will use problems to change those plans. This is affirmed by scripture in Proverbs. “A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways (Proverbs 20:30). Sometimes it takes a painful experience to redirect us. It seems that for some of us the only way we learn is through pain.
One of the benefits of problems is they never leave us the way they found us. We rarely change if we don't have pain or problem in our lives. For some of us it takes depression, weary, stress, guilt, anger, loneliness, fear, or resentment before we realize something is not right.
The question we need to ask is: Where is this problem trying to lead me?
God uses problems to correct, not to punish
There's a difference between correction and punishment. Punishment looks at the past; we did something wrong, and we're punished for it. Correction looks at the future: there's a better path, so let's do it different next time. God never punishes God’s children because Jesus took all the punishment on the cross. However, God does correct God’s children. God’s love demands that when certain aspects of our lives need to change, God doesn’t ignore it. An uncorrected child is an unloved child. Hebrews 12:8 (CEV translation) affirms this: “8 God corrects all his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him.”
Sometimes problems are educational, and God will use them to educate us. How many times have you heard people testify that certain problems were the best thing to ever happen to them?
Sometimes God wants to teach us about areas of weakness, blind spots, or needs that need to be worked on in our lives. Sometimes God teaches us about God’s love, God’s care, God’s justice, or God’s faithfulness in keeping God’s promises. Some lessons we only learned through failures; some people only learn the value of relationships after they've lost them.
The question we need to ask is: What is this problem trying to teach me?
God uses problems to protect us from greater harm, including hidden traps
Sometimes the pain of a problem protects us from something worse. There are times when a problem can prevent a greater harm from happening in our lives. It can be a blessing in disguise. There are times when God uses a problem to protect us from a hidden trap we may fall into. Psalm 91:3a affirms this: “God will save you from hidden traps.” One of the hardest lessons for us to learn is that often disappointments are God's appointments to protect us from greater harm.
The question we need to ask is: Is this problem protecting me from greater harm?
Big Picture: through problems revelation, reconciliation, and restoration
It is in the everyday occurrences of life that God reveals who God is. God continues revelation to, reconciliation of, and restoration of God’s created world. Even through the problems of our everyday existence, God works in each one of us restoring our proper relationship that Adam lost.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-In what ways can a miraculous sign encourage belief? Why is it important to involve others from our community in our celebrations to witness signs from God?
The Jewish wedding at Cana bound by tradition and culture with feasting and celebration for days
-How can we best include worshipping God in our celebrations, without tradition and cultural limitations? When has God impacted your celebrations when you did not intentionally include God?
Jesus’ First Miraculous Sign: John 2:1-11
-How has witnessing miracles of God resulted in restoration and transformation inside of how God created you?
God more aggressive in reconciling God with created humanity
-In what ways is God taking advantage of a human problem that you face to get a more serious commitment from you in relationship with God?
Jesus will not carry out God’s mission alone, but needs convinced coworkers
-As you put faith in Jesus as savior, what are your challenges in trusting that God’s love and justice will determine every outcome?
God chooses a problem as an opportunity to reveal God
-In what ways have you noticed God using problems in your life as an opportunity to reveal more about God?
God uses problems to direct us and change our direction
-If God is using a problem to change your direction in life, where is God trying to direct you?
God uses problems to correct, not to punish
-What is the difference between God correcting and God punishing? How is God using a problem to correct and teach you, not to punish you?
God uses problems to protect us from greater harm, including hidden traps
-In what ways do you notice God using a problem to protect you from greater harm?
Sermon Resources
Posted in The Divine Story of Jesus and You
Posted in wedding, John 2, revelation, reconciliation, restoration, transform, coworkers, faith, trust, feast, celebrate, miracle, wine, problem, direct, correct, punish, protect, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 20:30
Posted in wedding, John 2, revelation, reconciliation, restoration, transform, coworkers, faith, trust, feast, celebrate, miracle, wine, problem, direct, correct, punish, protect, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 20:30
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The Divine Story of Jesus and You: The WeddingThe Divine Story of Jesus and You: You Must Be Born AgainThe Divine Story of Jesus and You: Do You Want To Be Made Well?The Divine Story of Jesus and You: How to be a Love Agent in troubled timesThe Divine Story of Jesus and You: The Great Blessings of Acceptance
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Finding God in Our Feelings: Facing Shame (Lite)Finding God in our Feelings: Facing Shame (Expanded)Finding God In Our Feelings: Facing Grief (Expanded)Finding God in our Feelings: Facing Anger & What lies beneathFinding God in Our Feelings - Facing LonelinessFinding God in Our Feelings - Embracing JoyFinding God in Our Feelings - Embracing Joy (Lite)
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