The Miracle Of Restored Joy

The Miracle of Restored Joy

John 2:1-11

A young couple very much in love were getting married in church. However, Sue the wife was very nervous about the big occasion and so the Pastor chose one verse that he felt would be a great encouragement to them. 1 John 4:18 which says “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” Rather unwisely the pastor asked the best man to read it and to say that the pastor had felt that this was a very apt verse for Sue and that he would be preaching on it late in the service. However, the best man was not a regular churchgoer and so he did not know the difference between John’s Gospel and the first letter of John. So he introduced his reading by saying that the pastor felt this was a very apt verse for Sue. But he read John 4:18, which says, “You have five husbands and the one you now have is not your husband.”

Things often go wrong, sometimes really wrong at weddings. And at one particular wedding in the Bible we read of a terrible problem that occurred.

Jesus was on a mission to save the world

The greatest mission in the history of mankind

This event takes place early on in Jesus’ ministry

Within the first week after His baptism

This was the beginning of His three year journey to the cross

Where His mission, His mission to save the world would finally culminate.

Yet He took time to attend a wedding and take part in it’s festivities.

The Miracle of Restored Joy is what we are going to focus on this morning

Sometimes is seems like we are running on empty

There are times when we lose our joy

The last week I talked about the power of secret sin and how that secret sin can not only affect yourself

But your family, and your church

And while we try and live with these secret sins, or habitual sins, or any sin

We often lose our joy

Well I brought some joy with me this morning

Joy detergent, Almond Joy, Joystick

What happens when you run out of Joy?

You have an empty bottle, all you have left is Almond, and you video game doesn’t work.

Life just isn’t as good when you run out of joy

Maybe you are here this morning and you’ve lost some of your joy

Something is bothering you, troubling you

You’ve got worry that just wont go away

You’ve been disappointed, hurt, or grieved

You’re running on empty, you’ve lost your joy.

We read here in John how Jesus restored joy to those who attended a marriage celebration in Cana.

Jesus can do the same for you this morning. John 2:1-11

2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. :3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

How can Jesus restore your Joy?

I. Be where Jesus is (2:1-2)

The third day, third day of what?

Third day of His ministry

Jesus had just called His first 5 disciples

Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and the unnamed disciple who was surely John who also witnessed this miracle.

So these 6 men, along with Jesus’ mother Mary were invited to this marriage celebration in Cana

The fact that they were all invited suggests that the wedding may have been for a relative or close friend since this wasn’t there home town, but probably 9 miles North of Nazareth