COME AND SEE HIS POWER
John 2:1-11
Introduction
The greatest invitation in the world is this: ‘Come and See Jesus’. John 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We are looking at John’s Gospel and some of the things that he wants us to see in Jesus. John introduces us to the Savior with 7 signs - actions that point to who Jesus is.
The first sign is one that, in our modern context, might be a surprise: miracle at a wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water to wine. Only John tells us about this miracle. Cana is about four miles fromNazareth, and this is quite likely the wedding of a close family member. (Swindoll). This sign is chosen purposefully by John to demonstrate the power of Jesus. Remember his purpose: John 20:31 “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Read text.
What is John showing us about Jesus? He invites us to Come and See the Power of Jesus!
John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.
This powerful sign when Jesus turned water to wine tells us three things about Jesus.
1. Jesus Cares About Our Ordinary Lives.
Everything about this is so ordinary. It is an everyday setting, with his family, in an embarrassing situation; his mother being a little bossy. Mary is never named in John, just “mother of Jesus”. She only appears here and at the cross in John’s Gospel. The guests at the party never knew anything happened.
We should never think that Jesus is disinterested in the ordinary days of our lives.
Romans 12:1 MSG “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”
Lewis: “Jesus introduces the presence of God into the day-to-dayness of being human.”
Because Jesus cares about our ordinary lives, we can know that we never walk alone, He is always near. He wants to be part of all of our lives, not just the religious part!
2. Jesus is Compassionate Toward Our Struggles.
Mary presents an embarrassing problem to Jesus. Mary knows that Jesus is no ordinary party guest. The host (a family member? Friend?) has run out of wine. Weddings in those days were different than today. Marriages were arranged by the parents. The couple has been legally married for at least two months, and maybe up to a year. After that, the groom would take to the streets with his friends in a procession from his home to the bride’s in a grand parade accompanied by joy and singing. The groom took his bride home, where family and friends feasted for as long as a week. The grooms’s family was expected to provide enough food and drink for everyone. (Swindoll)
To run out of wine would have been damaging to the reputation of the host. (Bruce)
Jesus is not presented with a spiritual need, nor a life-necessity, nor a theologically important moment - it was just that someone needed compassionate help.
Jesus is compassionate about the cares, hurts, struggles, and pains of others. This is the Jesus we get to know in stories of the Gospels. A thirsty woman at a well, an anxious tax collector in a tree, a soldier with a sick son, an apostle whose mother in law was ill. Your concerns and cares are important to Him. The compassion of Jesus gives us strength to face all the trials of our lives.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
3. Jesus is Worthy of Our Confidence
Mary believes that He can do something about that problem. Mary confidently points others to pay attention to Him. “Do whatever he tells you.” It seems like she does this without his ever agreeing to help. Jesus’ response is to produce an overabundance of wine of outstanding quality! 150 gallons!
Miracles of Jesus are not just impressive, but important. They demonstrate his ability to manipulate the elements.
They demonstrate his willingness to act on behalf of others. They give hope to those who are hopeless and strength to the weak. They produce faith in those who experience them.
Is Jesus any less powerful today? I know we have probably all prayed for a miracle in some way or another and maybe we didn’t get what we desired. Don’t let that convince your heart that Jesus isn’t real, doesn’t care, or isn’t able … instead think of the times when Jesus did answer prayer, when there was healing, when he carried you through. Faith doesn’t always have an answer to every question, faith just points to someone who does.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Jesus is worthy of our confidence because in his perfect timing and wisdom he knows the best course ahead - even when we do not.
Conclusion
John 2:11 NLT “This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
Today let’s renew our faith in Jesus as we read this story that teaches us that Jesus cares about our ordinary lives, is compassionate toward our struggles, and is worthy of our confidence.
Near the end of his life, Jesus would pass around a cup of wine.
Matthew 26:27-28 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
The greatest invitation in the world is this: ‘Come and See Jesus’. Come see His Power!
John 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Listen to Him / Follow Him Today.
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Video of this message can be seen on the YouTube channel of Forsythe Church of Christ.
Audio can be heard on our podcast host, Podbeam.com.
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Discussion Questions for John 2:1-11
1. Karoline Lewis, in her commentary on John, wrote, “Jesus introduces the presence of God into the day-to-dayness of being human.” In what ways do we unconsciously think that Jesus is only interested in the religious areas of our lives?
2. When Mary tells Jesus that they have run out of wine, what do you imagine Mary expects Jesus to do? Did she expect a miracle?
3. What do you make of the discussion between mother and son, Mary and Jesus? How would you characterize it? What does it reveal about Mary? What does it reveal about Jesus?
4. In our 21st Century eyes, it may bother us that Jesus made such an enormous amount of excellent wine. How can one appreciate this miracle while also recognizing the warnings in Scripture about drunkeness?
5. In his book, King of Glory: 52 Reflections on the Gospel of John, Travis Bookout notes that in the Bible wine is often a symbol of God’s blessing, a gift to mankind (Psalm 104:14-15) as well as a symbol of the Messianic age (Mark 2:22; Amos 9:13-14). What about this miracle quietly announces these kind of thoughts /connections?
6. What was it about this miracle that caused the disciples to believe in Him (as noted in verse 11)? What did it reveal about his glory?
7. At the end of the wedding feast, very few individuals knew about the miracle in their midst. Why do you think Jesus didn’t make a bigger deal about his amazing work?
8. What else did you want to talk about today?
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Resources
Bookout, Travis. King of Glory: 52 Reflections on the Gospel of John. Cypress Publications, 2021.
Bruce, F. F. The Gospel of John: Introduction, Exposition and Notes. 1983.
Connelly, Douglas. John: The Way to True Life. InterVarsity Press.
Lewis, Karoline Me. Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries: John. Fortress Press, 2014.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, Volume 4. 2014.
