## He Turned The Water Into Wine

## John 2:1-11

Do you believe in miracles? Those who have a problem with miracles have a problem with God. If you accept what Genesis 1:1 says,"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.", then you should have no problem believing in God's power to do the miraculous.

A preacher was preaching about Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. Later at home his little son asked him a very straighfoward question. "Daddy, do you really believe that a fish could swallow a man and keep the man alive inside for three days and three nights?" The wise father replied, "Son, if God could make a man out of absolutely nothing to begin with, and if God could create the first sea creatures from absolutely nothing, don't you think He would have the power to make a fish that could swallow a man and keep him alive for three days and nights if He wanted to?" The little boy said, "Well , if you're going to bring God into it, that's different."

The writers of the four Gospels recorded for us thirty-five "miracles" or as some of them put it "signs" of Jesus Christ. In the 20th chapter of the gospel John, John says that he recorded particular miracles of Jesus in order to illustrate God's great salvation. He says that these miracles were written to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name.

(JOHN 20:30-31) "AND MANY OTHER SIGNS TRULY DID JESUS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: {31} BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME."

From this statement we learn that the miracles which Jesus performed have a deeper meaning than meeting just a physical need. The miracles of Jesus are great illustrations of His desire and ability to meet our spiritual needs. This morning we want to consider the very first of these miracles or signs. Note also the significance of the miracle. Jn. 2:1-11

I. Jesus Cares About Us (v.1-2)

A. Details about the Wedding

1. Jesus and His disciples invited

2. Some things we don't know about the wedding.

a. Don't know who was getting married.

b. Don't know any details about them.

3. Speculation concerning the marriage.

a. Probably some relative of Mary or Joseph.

b. Mary's prominence indicates a family wedding.

4. It is interesting to see how closely Jesus is associated with His disciples.

a. An invitation to Jesus included His disciples.

b. Others should know that Jesus goes where we go.

B. What did it mean to us?

1. Think about it, Jesus was ready to begin his public ministry, yet he took the time to attend a wedding.

2. I believe Christ's presence at this wedding reveals to us His heart.

3. It reminds us that He truly cares about ordinary people like you and me, and that He is concerned about the everyday issues of our lives.

(HEB 4:15) "FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN."

4. Regardless of who you are or what your circumstances are, Jesus cares about you. That's a fact.

II. Jesus Is Able To Meet Our Need

A. The Need at the Wedding.

1. They ran out of wine.

2. That may seem to be trivial to us, but in Jesus' time wedding celebrations very important.

3. Weddings are great places for problems.

B. Mary handles the problem.

1. She takes the problem to Jesus

2. This is a good example for us when problems come, we need to take them to the Lord.

3. Mary's instructions to the servants, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it"

4. We should always be ready to do what Jesus wants us to do.

C. Mary knew who Jesus Christ really was.

1. Perhaps she was anxious for Jesus Christ to do something to demonstrate to the people who He was.

2. That He was no ordinary son, but that He was the Son of God Himself.

3. Jesus responds to her with a gentle rebuke.

4. Note: v4

a. Jesus is not being disrespectful here.

b. Several times in the gospel of John, the Bible says his hour was not yet come.

c. But the night before the cross in prayer, according to John 17, He looks up to the Father and he says , Father, the hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified.

d. So Jesus is saying to his mother...it is not my miracles that people need to see, it is the sheding of my blood on the cross of Calvary.

e. It is not the miracle of Cana that saves you and me today and meets our greatest need, it is the miracle of Calvary.

III. What We Can Learn from this Miracle.

A. The Thirsty Crowd:

1. This is a picture of those who are without Christ in their lives.

a. They are looking for satisfaction in this world, but only Jesus can satisfy our souls!

b. The Word of God invites thirsty sinners to come to Christ.

c. "...If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (John 7:37)

B. The Empty Waterpots.

1. This is a picture of the human heart.

2. It is hard and empty, things may appear to look good on the outside, but inside there is only emptiness.

3. The Bible tells us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.

C. Filled with water.

1. Water is a picture of the Word of God.

2. The job of the servants was to fill the pots with water, not to try to change the water into wine!

3. If we will do our part, sharing the Word of God with those who are thirsting, He will do the miracle!

D. The Miracle: Water into wine!

1. When a sinner's heart has been filled with the Word of God, then Christ performs a great miracle.

2. The miracle of salvation takes a lost sinner, and fills him with joy as he becomes a part of the family of God.

3. The wine is a picture of that joy and gladness!

4. Note the example of Phillip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8:27-39

a. Phillip gave him the Word.

b. God performed the miracle of salvation.

c. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing!

THERE WAS AN INFIDEL IN A PUBLIC PLACE RIDICULING THE MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE. HE SAID WHOEVER HEARD OF JESUS TURNING WATER INTO WINE. A MAN KNOWN BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE SAID, SIR CAN I SAY SOMETHING. HE SAID, SAY ON. HE SAID SIR I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BIBLE AND I DON'T KNOW IF JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE OR NOT BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT A FEW WEEKS AGO JESUS SAVED ME AND IF YOU WILL COME OUT TO MY HOUSE TONIGHT I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE JESUS CHANGED WINE INTO FURNITURE AND CLOTHES AND GROCERIES.

There is the real miracle...the miracle of a change life. Have you allowed Jesus Christ to change your life? He wants to do so. He cares about us and He cares about our problems. He is the Problem Solver. Will you come to Him today? "BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME." JN. 20:31