Insights Into Christian Service John 2:1-11
I want to direct your attention to the word “servants” in verses 5 and 9. The servants are referred to in several more verses by the words “they,” “them,” or “you.” It is these unnamed servants that I want us to focus on this morning.
Though Jesus could have filled the waterpots merely by His word, He preferred to use the servants. Isn’t not that a blessing!
There was the want expressed, “they have no wine” that was followed by the way explained, “fill the waterpots with water.” Next came the will exercised, “they filled them up to the brim,” and this was followed by the wonder experienced, “the water...was made wine.”
Here is a miracle with a message. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan once said that every parable Jesus spoke was a miracle of instruction, and every miracle Jesus performed was a parable of instruction.
Here is a miracle filled with Insight Into Christian Service.
I. The anxieties that troubled these servants
Now in Palestine a wedding was a big thing. In fact, the biggest thing going in those days was a wedding.
The servants are troubled because the wine has run out. There is no more wine. Nothing could be more devastating at an eastern wedding than this.
A. They were troubled about the resources that were inadequate
These servant were struggling with what they are to do. For the provisions to fail was unacceptable, as well as inexcusable.
I don’t know if more came than was expected but the wine ran out.
What were these servants going to do? This was a crisis situation for these servants.
Everyone was looking to the servants to give them the wine, but the resources had run out.
B. They were trouble about the reproach that was inevitable
In Bible times, wedding feast could last up to a week, and it was considered a crime for a host or a host to allow the feast to run out of food or wine. In fact, one was liable to be sued in a court of law.
It could be costly both financially and socially to run out of food or wine.
No doubt the servants felt like quitting at this point in their service; they had given all they had, and there was nothing more for them to give.
However, Mary speaks to them in verse 5 some of the best advice known to man. Mary pointed the men to Jesus. Mary makes an announcement to the servants, and it revolved around the authority of God.
Mary directed the servants punctually to observe His orders, without disputing, or asking questions.
“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
II. The activities which tested these servants
“Fill the waterpots with water...draw out now and bear unto he governor of the feast ”
They were not given an easy task; they didn’t just take the waterpots to the faucet because there wasn’t any faucets. There must have been a spring or a well somewhere, and they had to carry water to fill those water-pots.
It is worth our attention to note that Jesus employed the use of the disciples. Jesus could have filled these pots by merely speaking the word. However, god loves to give us, His servants an opportunity to labor with Him. God chose to use the servants to share in His work. He, who is a Supernatural God, chooses to use natural men to accomplish His work.
A. Consider the apparent uselessness of the Saviour’s request
They needed wine not water. Why do they need water they must have reasoned.
What Jesus told them to do made no sense! If Jesus would have told them to go buy some wine, that would have made sense. However, that would have been walking by sight, and Jesus wanted them to walk by faith.
What they were told to do made no sense at all. What does filling waterpots with water have to do with the need of wine?
“DO WHAT?”
They were going to have to trust the Lord with this one.
The assignment of the servants revealed the secret of God’s activity. He was going to work through them.
B. Consider the absolute thoroughness of the servants’ response
“filled them up to the brim”
Whenever we get a command from God, it is always our wisdom to carry it out zealously.
A customer in a restaurant once asked the waitress suspiciously after seeing the menu, "Why do you call this ’enthusiastic stew?’"
The waitress explained, "The cook puts everything he has into it." This is exactly what these servants did.
The wisest thing you could ever do is to be obedient to the Word of God, to the work of God, and to the will of God.
“Draw out now” - There no conclusive evidence that Jesus turned the water in the water-pots into wine.
The command was, “Draw out now.”
“Draw out” is interesting . See 2:9; 4:7,15.
The servants had already been drawing water from the well, and it would be more logical to say that having drawn water from the well, they continue to draw from the well but now it is wine. The well continued to produce wine as long as need remained for wine.
The water within the waterpots remained water, and thus was ready for any demand made for it. Before the wedding was terminated, I am sure water would certainly be needed.
Why would Jesus command the servants to fill the waterpots? Let me suggest two reasons. First, so that the supplies of water would be available from the stone jars when only wine was coming from the well. Second, since faith is hardly faith until it has been tested and proved. The servants had to exercise faith before the miracle became a reality.
Let me also mention that the waterpots represented the old, the law of Moses. The well represented the new, that which Jesus had come to bring. Jesus fulfilled the old and brought in the new. Since the wine came from the well, it also signified that it was an unlimited supply and not limited to six waterpots of stone.
III. The adequacy which thrilled their souls
They were not going to run out again.
When we have done all we can to, it does not mean that God is not able to still so something. When we have done all we can do, it does not mean He has done all He can do. The servants’s had exhausted their ability, but they had not expended his ability.
In the servant’s accomplishment we see the secret of the ability of God.
A. The mystery that was baffling
We know from the words of the ruler of the feast that the wine they served at the beginning of the feast was the best they had on hand, but it was far inferior to what Jesus provided later. The ruler of the feast praised the bridegroom for what seemed to him to be wise planning.
The Lord always leave people better off that they wer when He found them.
The governor was amazed at the unnatural keeping of the best wine till last. What puzzled the "ruler of the feast" was no secret to these "servants."
The world offers the best at the first, and then the once you are hooked things start to get worse. The best is yet ahead for the child of God. Grace always operates contrary to nature, always leaving better things ahead for us.
B. The ministry that was blessed
1. God’s ability was accomplished miracles through these servants.
Christ was the One to work the miracle, yet the "servants" were the ones who seemed to be doing everything. They filled the waterpots; they drew out the wine; they bore it to the governor of the feast. There was no visible exhibition of putting forth of Divine power. Christ pronounced no magical formula: He did not even command the water to become wine. What was witnessed by the spectators was servants. Though the means used were human, the result was seen to be Divine.
2. God’s ability accomplished ministry through these servants.
These servants were used of God in bringing Him glory.
The Lord performed the miracles, but He used willing vessels to accomplish it. The servants were only God’s tools in bringing the miracle of the wine into the lives of the people who were gathered.
Conclusion
There is much ministry that God desires to do, and He desires to use willing and available servants who will do whatsoever He commands.
God is pleased to use human instrumentality in performing the wonders of His grace!
