Water To Wine—declaring God's Anointed-6 Series

WATER To WINE—Declaring God's Anointed-VI—John 2:1-12

Need:

When we bypass Jesus’ glory, we bypass Jesus’ blessing. Our lives become meaningless & joyless...Our work laborious & pointless. Our relationships fleeting & distant.

Jesus turned water to wine in order to initiate/call attention to/set apart His public ministry.

Jesus is set apart as God’s Anointed.

Where is Jesus set apart as God’s Anointed?

8 stages for heralding upon which God’s Anointed is heralded.

Previously we have found that God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of....

1. INSIGNIFICANCE(:1)

2. PRESSURE(:1-3)

3. DESIRE(:4)

4. TRUST(:5)

5. SUPPLY(:6-8)

6. TRANSFORMATION, SUPERIORITY, & JOY(:9-10)

‘RESULT’...Subdivided into CONFIRMATION(:11) & ATTRACTION(:12)

7—God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of...

CONFIRMATION(:11)

Explanation:(:11)Faith/Glory/Manifestation/Sign/Outcome

:11—“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, & manifested His glory; & His disciples believed in Him.”

Changing water into wine was Jesus’ first “sign.” This initial “sign” predicated future signs.

Given that these are “signs,” they are not empty displays for impression’s sake, nor are they mere displays of compassion(Jesus never performed miracles apart from their aiding others), but they are specifically meant to point to/“manifest” Jesus’ “glory.”

Jesus manifested a particular “glory” which spoke of His character, motivation

This & other “signs” would be in answer to Jesus’ statement to Nathanael in 1:50-51.

Because of this “beginning of signs”, those who were already Jesus’ followers/disciples believed in him. They had believed enough to be His “disciples” before the sign, but the sign must have confirmed, cemented, expanded, & progressed their faith.

“Beginning”(See :10—prwton)—arch—1) Beginning, origin; 2) The person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader; 3) That by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause; 4) The extremity of a thing; 5) The first place, principality, rule, magistracy. Strong—(properly abstract)--A commencement, or concretely--Chief(in various applications of order, time, place, or rank).

“Signs”—shmeion—1) A sign, mark, token—1a) That by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others & is known, 1b) A sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. An unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature. Strong—An indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally.

“Did”—poiew—1)To make; 2) To do. Poiew - denotes “To do”, prassw - "to practice"; poiew to designate performance, prassw intended, earnest, habitual, performance; poiew to denote merely productive action, prassw definitely directed action; poiew to point to the action result, prassw to the scope & character of the result. Strong—To make or do(in a very wide application, more or less direct).

“Manifested”—fanerow—1) To make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. Fanerow is to manifest, as opposed to what is concealed & invisible. Fanerow is thought to describe an external manifestation, to the senses hence open to all, single or isolated. Strong—To render apparent(literally or figuratively).

“Glory”—doxa—1) Opinion, judgment, view; 2) Opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone; 3) Splendor, brightness—3a) Of the moon, sun, stars, 3b) Magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace, 3c) Majesty; 4) A most glorious condition, most exalted state. Strong—Glory(as very apparent), in a wide application(literal or figurative, objective or subjective).

“Disciples”(See :2)—mayhthv—1) A learner, pupil, disciple.

“Believed”—pisteuw—1) To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; 2) To entrust a thing to one, i.e. His fidelity. Strong—To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication-To entrust(especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ).

Argumentation:

Intention of Signs—manifestation of God’s glory, producing belief in Christ.

**Malachi 2:1-9—“And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it. Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,” Says the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him, one of life & peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace & equity, And turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the LORD of hosts. Therefore I also have made you contemptible & base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law.”