Series: Light And Life [#4]
A BALANCED LIFE
John 2:1-11
Introduction:
Isn’t it amazing how God works? I had been preparing a sermon about the dangers of tradition versus truth. I was going to tell each of you how the Bible doesn’t forbid drinking alcohol and says to not get drunk. I was going to talk about the reason people in the US under 21 years old are not to drink alcohol, (because the laws of the land say so). At midnight, the sermon title changed; every point changed; and I began to listen to the sermon God has been trying to give me all week.
This sermon is about living a balanced life. So often, people think that when they become a Christian, that life ends- That you can no longer have fun. Your entire life is just about being this super spiritual person regardless of how it affects anyone else. As we study Jesus’ 1st miracle that He performed during His earthly ministry; I want us to see how to live a balanced life as a Christian.
John 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
To have a balanced life…
1. Be social.
I surprised myself as I typed this. This Wedding was taking place on the last day of Jesus’ 1st week of His earthly ministry. Jesus and His disciples had been invited to this Wedding and they went. In the Jewish tradition, after the Wedding was a celebration. Their celebration was much more than the types of Wedding Receptions we have. This celebration would last for days.
It may be hard for some of you to believe this; but Jesus had a social life. After this Wedding was a party and He was there and stayed for the celebration. If it is ok for Jesus to spend time with His friends and family; it is ok for us to do the same. Jesus being at this Wedding showed His approval of people being married. It is also a reminder that Jesus should be invited to every Wedding that occurs. Jesus must be a part of your marriage for it to survive.
John 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
To have a balanced life…
2. Be family minded.
Throughout the 3 years of Jesus’ earthly ministry, His mother was around. We read about His mother, brothers, and sisters; but we don’t read anything about Joseph. That is most likely because Joseph died sometime between when Jesus was 12 and 30. Because Jesus was the oldest, that made Him the head of the family. I have not really thought about this until recently; but Jesus was with His family and taking care of them until He was 30 years old. That shows the importance of family.
Now, Mary was at this Wedding and it seems that she was a part of the celebration or was at least trying to spare the hosts the embarrassment of running out of wine. It was actually a fineable offense to run out of food or drinks at a Wedding Feast. Verse 4 almost seems like Jesus and His mother are having an argument; but the use of the term “Woman” was actually the proper way to address His mother. Jesus said the same thing from the cross when He told John to take care of His mother.
Jesus was also reminding Mary that she did not understand God’s timing. I can imagine that she had often thought about the time when Jesus would begin to fulfill the prophecy that was given to her when she was pregnant with Jesus. She knew who Jesus was and that He could take care of this situation.
John 2:5-8 (NIV)
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so.
To have a balanced life…
3. Be obedient to Jesus.
Verse 5 tells us everything we need to know- “Do whatever he tells you.” The servants did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They filled the 6 stone jars with water to the brim. Then they drew some out and took it to the master of the banquet. This may not sound strange to us; but these 6 jars were used for people to clean their hands and arms. This water was dirty and not for drinking; yet the servants not only filled them up completely; but they even took some of it to the master to drink. Taking dirty water to the master to drink could create some real issues for these servants.
The point that we need to see here is that we need to do things exactly like Jesus tells us to do them; even if it makes no sense. Jesus could have changed the water to wine without having these other steps taken; but He was using these servants to be a part of the miracle that He was performing. Jesus does miraculous things through us when we are obedient to Him.
John 2:9-10 (NIV)
9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
To have a balanced life…
4. Expect miracles.
The master had no idea of the situation. If he would have known that they were out of wine, he would have been in panic mode; but instead he tasted the wine and couldn’t believe the high quality of the wine. Everyone knew that you started off with the best wine; because after a while, the quality didn’t really matter.
The servants, Mary, and the disciples knew what had happened. Jesus saved the best for last. When Jesus changes things and people; He does it the best. At the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we see Him telling the disciples that the Passover wine that they were drinking represented His blood that He would be spilling for us.
When we find ourselves in situations that we cannot solve; we need to remember that we serve a God of miracles. There are miracles performed all of the time; but we do not recognize them because we do not expect them. If God can create this world by speaking it into existence and He can save worthless sinners like me; there is nothing too big for God.
John 2:11 (NIV)
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
To have a balanced life…
5. Put your faith in Jesus.
These disciples that were with Him had just started following Him and they already believed in who He was. Over the next 3 years, their faith became stronger and stronger in Jesus. They began to realize that not only was nothing impossible for Jesus; but nothing was impossible for them through the power of Jesus.
Conclusion:
Just like the jars of dirty water, God can change us into something pure and beautiful for His glory. Christians, the best is yet to come.
