JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY AT A WEDDING (Outline)
January 23, 2011 -
Epiphany 3 -
JOHN 2:1-11
INTRO: Jesus’ public ministry in the flesh on earth lasted about three years. The gospels give us a detailed look at some important events in Jesus’ earthly life. We learn of Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and ascension. In these humble events Jesus revealed his glory by carrying out the will of his heavenly Father. Jesus was the Son of God. Scripture shows us the true man, Jesus, never acted on his own. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and… he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him" (ACTS 10:38). God was with his Son.
JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY AT A WEDDING.
I. By his presence. II. With his present.
I. JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY BY HIS PRESENCE (ATTENDANCE)
A. Verse 1a. “On the third day” was the third day following Jesus’ calling his early disciples (1:35ff).
1. Verses 1b, 2. Jesus’ mother and disciples had received invitations. They attended the event.
2. Cana was a town less than 10 miles from Nazareth. Cana was a small, unimportant village.
B. Verse 3. Running out of wine was social disaster. Why was there not enough wine?
1. A wedding celebration often last a week, seven days. During 7 days many guests came.
2. It was hard to prepare for an unknown number. They freely drank of the wine provided.
C. Verse 4. Mary turns to her son Jesus for help. She knows that Jesus would have the answer.
1. The Greek says: What, me and you?” Jesus work was to be about his Father’s business.
2. “Dear woman” was the same term Jesus would use on the cross at his death (John 19:26).
3. On the cross Jesus’ time would truly come for full payment of all the sins of all mankind.
D. Verse 5. Mary tells the servants to listen to Jesus’ words. She knows his presence is important.
E. God is present with us in his word. Jesus makes his presence known among us in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The presence of the Lord God Almighty moves us to worship God with awe and respect. The perfectness of God also reminds each of us of our imperfect lives. Jesus is sinless. We are sinful. Our sinfulness makes us unworthy before God. "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" (PSALM 130:1-3). Jesus’ glory overshadows our imperfectness.
F. What is the glory of God? All too often we might think like humans rather than like God. All too many look for God’s glory in only the great and powerful things of this world. Time and again we need to adjust our human thinking to become more like God’s. "After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper"(1 KINGS 19:11b, 12). Jesus reveals God’s great glory to us in his word. Jesus is God’s word that became flesh. Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem was God’s glory come to live among us. Jesus lives in us. This is God’s glory quietly living in our hearts. God’s gentle whisper reveals his great glory. Jesus calls the disciples. They follow (Matthew 4:12-23, Gospel).
G. From time to time you and I want to strike out on our own. We may even turn away from God. Our sinful nature wants us to do whatever we want right now. Jesus describes our willful rebellion as traveling down the wide, broad path of destruction. We may turn away from God for a time. God never forgets or ever abandons us. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’"(HEBREWS 13:5). Jesus calls and calls. Jesus searches and searches. Jesus nudges us back onto the straight and narrow path of life.
JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY AT A WEDDING by his presence.
II. JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY WITH HIS PRESENT (MIRACLE).
A. Verse 6. The Jews were very concerned about ceremonial washing. They needed lots of water.
1. Verse 7. Jesus spoke. The servants listened. It took time to fill the jars with water.
2. Verse 8. Jesus spoke again. The servants listened and obeyed. Such was Jesus’ presence.
B. Verse 9. The water was now wine. There was no great show in doing this miracle. It happened.
1. We do not know when the water became wine. Jesus spoke and it was done.
2. Verse 10. The people drank freely. Wine and water were offered. Jesus provided the best.
C. Verse 11a. Jesus revealed God’s glory in this little northern town of Cana. It was not for a big show.
1. Verse 11b. Jesus showed his glory for his disciples. They already believed.
2. The faith of the disciples was now strengthened even more. Signs were done for believers.
D. Jesus does miraculous signs that those who believe would have a stronger faith. This does not help those who still scoff at or even reject God’s great power and glory. Today’s learned people put their trust in their own knowledge. Everything has to have a reasonable explanation. Miracles do not fit in such limited thinking. Unexplained things are rejected. God’s glory is denied. Only the fool would say in his heart that there is no God. Mankind only has to look around and see God’s great glory. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (ROMANS 1:20).
E. Jesus’ present at this wedding was not the wine. Jesus’ gift was the present of God’s glory that strengthened the faith of the disciples. As believers we possess the precious gift of seeing God’s great glory. God’s greatest gift of glory to us is his free grace. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast" (EPHESIANS 2:8, 9). Grace is like any other gift. God’s gift is free, unearned, and undeserved.
F. God’s grace is the gift of the glory of Jesus for us who once sat in darkness. Rejoice in the life and light of the knowledge of salvation. So many still wander wondering what next? Jesus has changed our lives by being our payment for sin. Our lives are changed forever. This is God’s glory for us and for the entire world. "Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (TITUS 2:14). None of us have to go very far to find people who act just the opposite of believers. As believers we are “eager to do what is good”. True, we fall short of the goal. We will still continue to strive to do what is right in God’s sight. This means being “eager to do what is good”. Humble lives reveal God’s glory.
CONC: In and with great humility Jesus reveals his glory. Jesus does not do this miracle in Jerusalem. Instead Jesus attends a wedding in the small town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ presence (attendance) at this wedding changed the hearts of people. Jesus’ present of the wine further strengthened the faith of the disciples. Jesus’ words and actions always pointed to his heavenly Father. The light of the gospel planted in our hearts will also want to shine brightly in this dark, wicked world. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (MATTHEW 5:16). JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY AT A WEDDING. Others see Jesus’ glory because of his presence at the wedding. The disciples believe Jesus’ glory by his present of the wine. May others see the presence of Jesus in our lives. May our lives reflect the present of Jesus’ glory. May others also then praise our heavenly Father and his glory, never our glory. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 3 rdgs.:
ISAIAH 9:1-4;
1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17;
MATTHEW 4:12-23;
(PSALM 27)
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat)/12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun)
/ 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Hays (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: 10:55am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM, www.kqnkradio.com
