Authority Acknowledged

AUTHORITY ACKNOWLEDGED

John 2:1-16

People are curious about many things. Some are trivial and others are quite profound. Many questions we raise do not have clearly defined answers and we often wind up with a multitude of opinions that are likely to be in conflict. Many of life’s profound questions are answered to various degrees in the Bible. For example, one of the more profound questions that we might encounter is

Why did God create the universe? We find great insight to the answer to this question in Psalms 19:1 where we find that creation is a statement of God’s glory.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1 (NASB95)

The list of such questions is practically unending. For example:

Why did God create mankind and establish a relationship with man?

Why did God speak through prophets, through angels, and why did He send Jesus?

The answers to these questions are seen in the familiar passage that begins the book of Hebrews written to the early church. The first four verses give us a good start on the answers. Reading the rest is the chapter is recommended.

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4 (NASB95)

Why were the Gospel accounts written?

The simplest answer to that question is this: To reveal Who God is in the person of Jesus Christ. In John Chapter 1 we see Jesus being referred to as the Word of God. Words are used to communicate. Jesus is God’s ultimate communication of Himself to the world. We could go on to say that John showed the deity of Christ, and Matthew showed Him as King. Mark showed Him as a Servant and Luke revealed His humanity. The actions which Jesus took during His earthly ministry were part of that revelation. God’s revelation of Himself to mankind throughout history has been progressive – He reveals more and more of Himself as time goes on. In the same way Jesus was careful during His time on the earth to reveal Who He is in “deliberate and progressive” steps. Let’s see how this revelation unfolded in the second chapter of John where we find that Jesus began to show evidence of His authority. As we see His authority revealed, how do we show evidence that we acknowledge that authority and that He is Lord in our lives?

Obey Jesus – 2:1-5

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:1-5 (NASB95)

As Christians we are to join in the community activities as a means of being where we can minister to others. The family sponsoring the wedding may have been poor and was not able to buy enough wine. Mary was concerned and passed her concern onto Jesus.

The purpose for which Jesus came to live among us was not to provide wine for weddings. He did not come to multiply bread and fish to feed five thousand. He did not come to walk on water. Though He did these things, His main purpose was to die as a sacrifice for sin and in doing so to reveal the glory and truth of God. Jesus was just beginning His ministry and knew the potential power miracles could have in sparking a wave of politically driven fervor to elevate the “miracle worker” to some sort of earthly high office. Many times Jesus told those close to Him “My time is not yet come.” Immediately before His arrest and crucifixion He changed this statement to “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”

Mary’s faith in Jesus to do something to meet the need of these people was not going to go unanswered. Genuine faith pleases God and He responds to it. Mary’s advice to the servants at the wedding needs to be heeded by all who would follow Jesus. That advice was “whatever He tells you to do, do it!”