NOT ENOUGH, THERE JUST ISN’T ENOUGH --- COLD STONE WATER POTS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. We walk in some perilous times. Trust God! Nothing will catch Him
by surprise.
B. There are many laws of nature. What goes up, must come down.
If you sow today, don’t expect to reap tomorrow.
You reap in proportion to what you sow.
You reap what you sow.
C. WE ALSO KNOW A VERY CLEAR LAW:
THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND...
WHEN YOU RUN OUT --- YOU ARE EMPTY.
D. IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES A WEDDING WAS CELEBRATED FOR 7 DAYS.
During these 7 days the families came together and got to know one another. The family tree was discussed.
E. My dad always said:
DON’T SHAKE THE FAMILY TREE TOO HARD --- NUTS WILL FALL OUT.
John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
II. IT WAS A GOOD THING THIS GROOM AND BRIDE HAD INVITED JESUS AND MARY
TO THEIR WEDDING.
A. By Jesus attending the wedding He shows his approval on the marriage and the family.
B. I am not sure if the Bride’s side or the Groom’s side invited Jesus, but which ever side did sure saved the FACE AND REPUTATION OF THEIR FAMILY.
C. It is always good to invite Jesus.
Don’t ever be caught in a place that Jesus would not go!
III. THE YOUNG COUPLE RUNS INTO A SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE THE HONEYMOON
IS OVER --- THE TALK OF THE TOWN WILL BE HOW BAD THIS WEDDING WAS!
A. This will be a SOCIAL MOCKERY that this young couple will never live down.
B. WHY? WHY DID THEY RUN OUT OF WINE?
Was this POOR PLANNING?
Did more guest than they expected show up?
C. Did some of the NUTS SHOW UP?
D. DID THE CAPACITY OF THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO EAT AND DRINK EXCEED
THE EXPECTATIONS? Did everybody not eat before they came?
IV. MARY --- JESUS’S MOTHER WAS VERY OBSERVANT --- MARY WHISPERS IN
HER SONS EAR --- JESUS THIS IS SO EMBARASSING THEY ARE RUNNING
OUT --- THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH...
John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him,
They have no wine.
A. This might have been some of Mary’s family?
Whatever the case --- Mary had compassion WHEN SHE SAW THEY DIDN’T
HAVE ENOUGH.
B. Mary didn’t go speak to the Bride or the Groom?
Mary didn’t go speak to the GOVERNOR?
C. Mary talked to THE SON OF GOD --- JESUS!
V. MARY HAD SOME KIND OF SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION AS SHE HAD A SWEET
CONFIDENCE IN HER SON --- IT WAS MORE THAN WHEN SHE REALIZED THERE
WAS NOT ENOUGH... MARY GIVES SOUND ADVICE ---
A. THERE WAS 6 STONE WATER POTS. THESE WATER POTS WERE USED IN
CEREMONIAL JEWISH RITUAL CLEANSING.
In seven days the wedding party had not only drained the wine vat, they had drained the water pots.
B. Mary not only saw the need --- MARY BROUGHT THE NEED TO JESUS’ ATTENTION BY VERBALIZING IT TO JESUS.
Mary doesn’t talk any more to Jesus ...
VI. THE EMPTY STONE WATER POTS SILENTLY TESTIFY OF THE OLD, HARD,
RIGID LAW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE LAW’S REQUIREMENTS WOULD
LAUNCH A NEW FREEDOM AND JOY IN THE CAMP OF NOT ENOUGH!
John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, DO IT!
A. SEEMS THERE WAS ALOT OF EMPTY THINGS AROUND...
THERE WERE 6 EMPTY WATER POTS...
B. The water pots that held 150 to 180 gallons of water ... were empty?
Were the servants lazy? Had they not noticed the water pots?
C. MARY SIMPLY TRUSTED JESUS ENOUGH, TO COMMAND THOSE IDLE
SERVANTS --- WE HAVE A NEAR SOCIAL DISASTER ON OUR HANDS...
D. WHATSOEVER JESUS SAYS: DO IT...
E. LONG BEFORE NIKE LAID CLAIM TO JUST DO IT ---
MARY SETS A MIRACLE IN ACTION BY VERBALIZING TWO WORDS:
DO IT!
VII. WHEN I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH, JESUS IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME TYPE
OF EFFORT TO LAUNCH FAITH INTO ACTION...
A. THOSE IDLE SERVANTS JUST STANDING AROUND WOULD HAVE TO COME AND
DO WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM --- TO BRING ABOUT THE MIRACLE.
B. I ponder what 1/2 filled water pots might have accomplished?
John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water.
And they filled them up to the brim.
C. What does filling empty ceremonial water pots have to do with the
FIRST MIRACLE?
VIII. NOW WE HAVE 150 TO 180 GALLONS OF WATER?
This is still going to an ill faded wedding?
John 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
IX. WHAT TURNS THE WATER IN THE RITUAL WATER POTS TO WINE?
A. The pitcher of water becomes NEW WINE at the Governor’s glass.
John 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made
wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water
knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
B. My opinion is the man pouring the water into the Governor’s Glass
runs back and looks in the first pot... IT IS WINE
The second pot --- IT IS WINE.
THE THIRD POT --- IT IS WINE!
All the way to the SIXTH POT --- THERE IS NO WATER IT IS WINE...
C. THERE IS ENOUGH ---
THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH...
D. Jesus knew! Jesus was not caught by SURPRISE WHEN THERE WAS
NOT ENOUGH.
X. JESUS’ REAL LESSON WAS THAT FROM THE COLD INDIFFERENT RITUAL
WATER POTS WAS COMING A NEW WINE --- A NEW HOPE --- THE WEDDING THAT COULD HAVE STARTED A MARRIAGE NIGHTMARE ENDS WITH AN AMAZED GOVERNOR...
A. Every wedding this Governor had ever attended, HAD THE BEST FIRST!
JESUS MADE THE REVELATION THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME...
B. Jesus had to show that the potential was not in the water pot?
The potential is not in the water?
THE POTENTIAL AMONG US IS KNOWING AND OBEYING JESUS!
C. Out of the lifeless, hopeless, mean cruel religion of the past,
COMES A NEW TASTE --- THE CHALLENGE IS TO RISE ABOVE THE
CEREMONIAL WATER --- BE BAPTIZED AND FIND THE NEW...
XI. JESUS AS HE PREPARES FOR THE CROSS TAKES HIS BEST STUDENTS
INTO A ROOM AND CHANGES THE PASS OVER’S BITTER MEAL INTO
BROKEN BREAD AND A CUP OF WINE...
A. The old Passover applied BLOOD ON THE DOOR POST!
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT COVENANT IS NOT APPLIED TO
THE DOOR, BUT IS TAKEN WITHIN ---
B. BLOOD IS OUR SYMBOL OF LIFE! WINE IS A SYMBOL OF BLOOD.
The bread --- His broken body!
The cup of wine --- His blood which was freely shared on the cross.
C. Jesus’ blood brings LIFE --- ABUNDANT LIFE.
D. CHECK OUT THE NEW TESTAMENT:
WHENEVER THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH --- JESUS COMES ON THE SCENE.
XII. AS THE OLD STONE WATER POTS HAVE PASSED AWAY, THE CEREMONIAL
GIVES WAY TO ISSUE GOD WILL MAKE A WAY FOR HIS PEOPLE.
JESUS’ MINISTRY STARTS AT A WEDDING FEAST AND HIS COMING WILL BE
AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
A. We do not always know and understand the SPIRITUAL REASONING
BEHIND THE FACTS...
Jesus washes the feet... PETER RESISTED JESUS’ ACT OF LOVE AND SERVANTHOOD.
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
B. JESUS WAITS FOR US!
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
C. THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB DATE IS SET.
MEET ME AT THE SUPPER.
Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean
and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto
the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the
true sayings of God.
D. We are in perilous times. Hard, rough times are ahead.
Jesus has always HAD A PLAN OF DELIVERANCE, JUST DO IT!
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
CONCLUSION:
WHATEVER LIES AHEAD, JESUS HAS A PLAN.
TRUST THE PLAN.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on?
