The Wedding At Cana of Galilee

The Wedding At Cana of Galilee John 2.1-11 Very early in Jesus’ ministry, three days into it, He, Andrew, John, Peter, Nathaniel, Phillip were invited to a wedding. First Century weddings in Israel... Whole town, not a list of selected people. It was a party for all to celebrate 6 days Feasting Far East still that way I was asked to go to one, being told there would be 4,000 guests. You are getting the picture. The whole village of Cana and families from Nazareth were invited. Cana of Galilee is a small town. Estimates of 300 residents at the time of Christ. First time, second time from the Sea of Galilee on our way to Nazareth. Thanking me for stopping. Very meaningful. Our guide was a young Israeli woman. It was Purim. She took a train back each night to Tel Aviv to party with her friends. She was always in a hurry so she would not miss the train. Cana was a small village. Jesus did His first miracle in an out of the way place, for people who remain nameless. Since Jesus and Mary were there it probably was one of their relatives. There is more, much more, in this account. We see... 1. The Sanctity of Marriage. vs.1-2 Jesus, by being there, showed its sanctity. Second Chapter of John. Second Chapter of Genesis. Early in Creation. Early in Jesus’ Ministry Genesis 2.15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping,  He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones     and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’     for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. It is interesting that both Genesis and John open their books with the words... In the beginning... God... the Word Then the second chapter there is a wedding! A marriage. Marriage and the family is the cornerstone of societial order. The home is where discipline is learned. It is interesting to me how even among those far from God they realize this fact. Even when secular pagan godless weddings take place there is still a submission to these words in Scripture. Of course there is  2. The Miracle Unexplainable Emma, 15 years ago... I had a young theologian I worked with a few years ago. Her name is Emma. She was also my granddaughter. When she was  6 years old we watched a movie about Jesus based on the Gospel of Luke. It did not contain this miracle of course. She wanted to see this miracle so I put one with it in it. We walked home that evening and she asked me, "Poppa, how did Jesus turn that water into wine?" I answered, "I don't know Emma. That's part of it being a miracle." And we both wondered about the One Isaiah said would be called Wonderful. Miracles are happening. Several of you have been touched by the LORD in unexplainable ways. Some people cannot see. They are blinded by their stubborn refusal. Or they don’t forgive so they do not know forgiveness. Orphans and starving people/ children are being fed and the Gospel is going out. Photos 3. The Servants Knew.  vs.5-9 v.8-9 the servants knew John knew too- He is the only one of the Gospel writers to record this miracle. His Gospel has been called the Gospel from the Eagle's Eye's view. He was very close to Jesus. In the following few chapters John mentions things, interviews if you will, that Jesus had with Nicodemus in Jerusalem (c.3) and with the woman at the well in Samaria (c.4) that the other Gospel writers omit. John was there on the spot with Jesus. At night when Nicodemus came and in the middle of the heat of the day when the Samaritan woman came to Jacob's well in Sychar. The fact is... The closer to the LORD you get, the more you see the wonders He performs. v.8-9 The eagle’s eye view What I get to see. Please continue to pray. I know God is doing something extraordinary. I am not sure all He has planned but I know that it is good, very good. All we are doing here is continuing in the Word and praying. Pastor Fabian from Kenya called last night. He is pastoring a church that needs a building. They have gotten heavy rains recently. Pray for him and his flock. Each task is dignified when it is done for Jesus. The servants knew... the Banquet Master did not. The secrets of the kingdom... Mark 4.11 The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. -Jesus He spoke this to His disciples. Nicodemus was struggling to understand, seeking... The disciples didn't fully until after Jesus rose from the dead. Then they knew! We are on this side of the Resurrection. We have understanding, insight into the Word of God, the ways He works, His Hand upon us. The servants knew the power of God. The servants knew Jesus could work miracles.  The servants knew Jesus' character. * He was not into making a spectacle of Himself. * He cares about people. * He saves the best until last. Servants of God can look back on a vast array of Divine Moments when God stepped in and worked. I am using this in my life when I come up against things that make no sense or when I am praying and there is no answer coming. Habakkuk struggled in his prayers at one point in his life. The nation was going down the tubes. He had been praying. God had seemingly been silent. In Habakkuk 1.2 "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but You do not listen?"  Habakkuk found out that God was working even though it did not appear He was. Serving the LORD, wrestling through these issues, shows us God is working all things together for our good, for us because we are the called according to His Purpose. He is at work in your life and the things that concern you today. “O my lord, what are we going to do?” II Kings 6.15 Elisha v.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... The highest calling on this earth is to be a servant of God. These servants at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee became that in a moment. Jesus called them, gave them a specific task and they did it. He is calling people to be His servants today. We need to dwell on that for a few moments. God calls us to serve Him. He does wonders. We know it was not us. We give Him the glory. If you looked at this scene in 30 A.D. in Cana of Galilee, Israel you would look at the Banquet Master. That is who was overseeing and directing this wedding feast. He was kind of the Maitre' D of the 1st Century. It is interesting how so often we look at the person in charge. The activity among the servants and Jesus and His Disciples were where things were really happening. That is the way Jesus works! You would not have even heard of that little out of the way place called Cana of Galilee if it were not for Jesus.  He goes where needs are to help. Helen Wilk’s prophecy Rudy Migliore… invited me. After, “I think more was happening at your table than was happening on the dayas!” God often shows up with His servants, quietly. It is still so today. Go to the horrific disaster in Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico to today caused by the flesh floods. You will find relief efforts by Nazarene Compassion Ministries, Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team with its chaplains among other Christian groups and churches. Go to Bangladesh where Pastor Liton is feeding the orphans and leading them to Jesus. I was questioned this week about children coming to Jesus. I wanted to ask, “What are you doing to help?” I know they were doing nothing. If I did when they said, “Nothing.” Then I like my way better. Photos Go to any natural disaster world wide and it will be the same. Who is still sending food into Haiti, 11 years after the earthquake? Small mission groups like the one Diddi leads that To Haiti With Love merged with. Mission Haiti: Helping Kids Go to the local food pantry and it is run by the church or people from the church. All over the country today people who do not drive were picked up and brought to church by others. All these things manned by people who felt Jesus speak to them about serving. V.5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." The Definition of a Servant is Just That! v.5 "Do whatever He tells you." Great advice! Godly counsel! Mary did not know what Jesus would do. She knew if anyone could help He could! Often we do not know what the LORD will tell us to do. Serving the LORD means doing whatever He tells us to do. The  directions Jesus gives us are very simple. "Fill the jars with water." "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." Go here. Go there. Speak to this person. Write this person a note. Jesus' followers follow Him and His Directions. Servants Get To See Things Others Don't. v.9 Special Moments as God works. God could do miracles in the sky. He chooses rather to work through our hands, the hands of His servants. In the most menial tasks like filling water jars He appears and does wonders. We watch Him move. Years ago when we had Thanksgiving Dinners we would see the LORD open hearts.  Each task is dignified when it is done for Jesus. The servants knew... the Banquet Master did not. us. Servants Can Look Back on God's Hand Upon Things. These servants never forgot what happened that day.  They never saw anything like this before! When God works in our lives those moments stand out. In John 14.11 Jesus is giving His Last Will and Testament to His Disciples before He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to be arrested and the next day be crucified. He is speaking to them about things they have never heard Him say before.  He states, "Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." Servants of God can look back on a vast array of Divine Moments when God stepped in and worked. Psalm 100.2 Serve the LORD with gladness... The most content people are those! Filled to overflowing with joy. The Servants Knew The power of Jesus Christ. The compassion of the Savior The joy of obedience Him! Finally a little math... When Jesus works He does the immeasurable or close to it. v.10-11 6 stone water pots/jars Let's say 3 were 20 gallons and 3 were 30. That would have been 150 gallons of wine or 600 bottles! There probably weren't that many people in Cana at the time! This was the first! The worldwould not have room for the books that would have to be written. Acts 1.1-2 All that Jesus began to do He is at work today. The kingdom of God is like a wedding banquet! Abundance, joy, adventure God bless each of you this LORD’s Day! Come and Dine 1. Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:
Oh, ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! * * Refrain:
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.” * 2. The disciples came to land,
Thus obeying Christ’s command,
For the Master called unto them, “Come and dine”;
There they found their heart’s desire,
Bread and fish upon the fire;
Thus He satisfies the hungry every time. 3. Soon the Lamb will take His bride
To be ever at His side,
All the host of heaven will assembled be;
Oh, ’twill be a glorious sight,
All the saints in spotless white;
And with Jesus they will feast eternally. Better and Better It keeps getting better and better until we arrive at the best