The Best Of The Best

The Best of the Best

Prairie Baptist Church – 11/29/09

A.M. Service

Text: John 2:1-10

Key verse: John 2:8 - And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.

Premise: As Jesus turned the water into the very best wine, what He does for us is even more spectacular; He gives us the best heaven has to offer.

The Introduction

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the evil that was going on. He decided to send an angel down to Earth to check it out. So he called one of His best angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time. When the angel returned he told God, yes it is bad on Earth, 95% is bad and 5% is good. Well, God thought for a moment and said "Maybe I had better send down a second angel, to get another point of view." So God called another angel and sent him to Earth for a time too. When the angel returned he went to God and told Him yes, the Earth was in decline, 95% was bad and 5% was good. God said this was not good. So He decided to E-mail the 5% that were good. He wanted to encourage them..............give them a little something to help them keep going. Do you know what that E-mail said? * * * * * * * * * You didn’t get one either, huh?

We constantly look for the best.

• We want the best doctor

• We want the best friends

• We want the best in our children

• We want the best education

Jesus is accustomed to give his very best to us and here we have a story that actually took place in Jesus life.

He is a guest at a wedding and it takes place in the small town Cana of Galilee.

Read John 2:1-10

Here we have a joyous occasion that could have turned into a disaster had not Jesus been there and intervened.

Body

1. The Best Occasion

A. On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage. The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no ’I’ in the word ‘marriage.’” The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband’s spelling." Marriage and weddings, especially, are a wonderful and joyous occasion.

B. It is interesting that Jesus begins His miracle ministry, not with some spectacular show before a large crowd, but behind the scenes, at a wedding.

C. Invitation to a marriage

i. A Jewish marriage feast could last 7 days

ii. It was an insult at its greatest to run out of anything, especially the wine

iii. Jesus and His disciples accepted the invitation as guest of this gathering

iv. Jesus loves an invitation – Rev. 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

v. We need to invite Jesus into our marriages and households

D. Invitation to a miracle

i. Concerning miracles, we always seem to think in large terms:

a. The parting of the Red Sea

b. The ten plagues of Egypt

c. Daniel in the lion’s den

d. Water from a rock

e. The healing of the blind, deaf, lame, demon possessed, or mute

f. The raising of the dead to life

ii. The turning of the water into wine is a rather small miracle, comparatively, but it illustrates so much in our lives:

a. Christ changes the bland to the best – 2nd Cor. 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

b. Christ fills the emptiness with fullness – John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

2. The Best Option

A. The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true: One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

B. Mary is presented with a number of options:

i. Tell the bridegroom he is out of wine and risk pressure on him

ii. Tell the master of ceremonies they are out of wine and risk embarrassing the bride and bridegroom.

iii. OR, tell Jesus.

C. Empty pots or new wine