(Day 5)
This lesson appears in the book: The Holy Land Companion Guide Biblical Sermons & Lessons to guide you through the Holy. By: Pastor and Christian Author Jessica Linhart available @ Amazon.com: Jessica Linhart: books, biography, latest update
Today, we are traveling to Cana! Cana is about 3.5 miles from Nazareth. BThis was the scene of Christ’s earliest miracle. At a wedding Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1). After the marriage, Jesus “went down” to Capernaum (John 2:12), and returned at the request of the centurion (John 4:46, 51).
John 2:1-11 (King James Version) “2 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 waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots 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.
I love reading about Jesus and his miracles, because my faith grows. If we did not have the book of John in the Bible, this is one miracle that we would not know about. John refers to a miracle as a sign, because they are signs that Jesus is the Messiah and the true son of God.
In verse one, we find that the wedding took place in a providence called Cana. The distance between Nazareth and Ancient Cana are very close in proximity. So, it’s not weird at all that Messiah and his family were at this wedding.
In verse three, a problem has occurred! This problem has to do with hospitality. We see that Jesus is God the creator. The scripture of John 1:3 informs us that he is the creator of all, and it says the following:
John 1:3 (King James Version ) “3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Weddings, in ancient days were the go to community event. It was public covenant and it did matter. It was focused on the bride and groom, but it was also to unite the extended family. This covenant was made before God, and before people; which makes it value to God! Sometimes, today weddings are just seen as pretty ceremonies united uniting couples, but they are also known to be temporary. This is one reason why the divorce rate is so high in America. According to scripture divorce is frowned upon. They were only three avenues for divorce. One being spousal of use, the second being adultery, and the third if the two parties aren’t evenly yoked and one wants to leave instead of committing to God. Our Lord and Savior honored marriage by doing his first public miracle at this wedding ceremony.
Marriage is a condition of life ordained by God. Marriages authenticated openly among the brethren is the highest and the noblest among all human relationships. No other human relationship is as significant. In the Old Testament, we are taught, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The Holy Ghost also wants us to know today that some people go into the marriage with a wrong idea of happiness. It isn’t your spouse’s job to make you happy all the time. Both of you need to work to cultivate happiness in your marriage. So take time to talk, to laugh, to have fun. “Rejoice with the wife [or husband] of thy youth” (Proverbs 5:18) and “live joyfully with the [spouse] whom thou lovest all the days of [thy] life” (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
It was the most important event to attend and here we see that someone did not plan effectively! This sort of weight would have been unbearable for the bride and groom. They probably would’ve got the reputation of being cheap or non-caring for the rest of their lives. Today, Hospitality is a means we can use to display the gospel. For example, when using hospitality in your home it portrays the love you have in your heart for others. It is a way we can show what God has done and is doing in our lives. When we welcome others to our home, we have the opportunity to invite them to taste and see how good the Lord is.
Running out of anything when you are entertaining is an embarrassment and more so during the time Jesus walked. I’m not so sure that this miracle was a need, or if it was a want, but I am thankful that God always supplies our needs and gives us some of what we want too.
So, Mother Mary had compassion on the two being married, and she must’ve known Jesus was special by this point, because she wanted him to solve the problem. She simply stated the problem, and then probably gave the mom look. Jesus, being obedient, and having compassion for others obliged. A special note here is that she did not ask Jesus to perform a miracle, she simply stated the problem, and Jesus chose to create a miracle. Miracles don’t occur just because we ask for them or because we think that they should be done. Miracles occur because it’s in the will of God.
In verse five, these are the last recorded words that we hear Mother Mary state in Scripture. That’s epic! So, her last words, then and for us today are as follows: do what he tells you to do! Are we doing that today? Are we following the direction of the Holy Ghost? Are you actively obedient to God!?
Now, John tells us that there are six stone pots. These were not just any pots, but they were for ritual washing. This washing was done to make the Jews ceremonially clean. They wash themselves before they ate, and they washed everything in the temple.
Jesus came to reveal that they’re religious ceremonies, and our religious traditions is not enough to make it right with God. We can now turn to our Bibles too Romans 3:20.
(King James Version) “20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Therefore, no person can be justified by their works. They can only be made right through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of the law is to make us aware of our sins. The law itself, and keeping the law is not going to make you acceptable, justified, or righteous before God.
Now, I see this distinguishing sign a little bit different! So, for good biblical students, like you, God is using the Holy Spirit to help us put together the pieces! Jesus is the game changer! He came to fulfill the law, and now we’re under grace. We can follow all the laws, and we can scrub, and do all the hard things to fulfill the law, but it will not save you!
Now in verse seven, Jesus gives instructions to put water in the stone pots and fill them to the brim. Somehow, not stated here, but the water became wine.
Then, Scripture gives us an understanding of what would happen in these ancient wedding ceremonies, and that is the fact that the master of the feast would sample the wine. I know if I am in charge of a celebration and I’m making a pot of soup; I’m going to sample it. I want to make sure what I’m serving is the best I can do.
It was a common practice that Jews diluted their wine. Therefore, it was really hard to get inebriated on the wine. The goal was not to get drunk. The goal was to be happy and joyous in the celebration. Some people use this scripture to justify their alcohol habit, but the Jewish people knew it was a sin to get drunk! The Bible says for us to be clean on the inside and outside, therefore; drunkenness is not an option.
1 Peter 5:8:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Ephesians 5:18
Paul writes:
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Scripture further states: no drunkard will enter into the gate to Heaven.
First, Corinthians 6:10 “nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God”
As we read and think about this passage; one would question, why did Jesus turn the water into wine? Well, scripture actually helps us with part of that answer. Because the last verse that we are reading today, verse 11 informs us. that Jesus did this, because he wanted to give the disciples and us a sign. A sign is a distinguishing mark. This set Jesus apart from the normal Jew. Jesus was entering his public ministry. This sign represented his deity. This sign manifested his glory! It demonstrated his authority over the material world. Furthermore, this act helped establish the faith of the disciples, because they recognized him as the Messiah.
For my final thoughts for today, the Holy Ghost wants us to think about the following: if God stoop down to intervene in this situation; how much more will he do for you and I?
- If the matter concerns you, it concerns, God!
God loves and cares about you that much! I’m not always saying that he’s going to swoop in and Intervine; like He did here, but he knows all about it!
- Let’s not miss the fact, that no situation is ever too big, or is ever too small for God! Nothing should stop us from bringing everything to God in prayer.
- Don’t ever think, or be too shamed to come to the Lord, because your problem was created from your own miscalculation!
- The sooner we come to the Lord, the sooner things will get better! good grief!
- Christ died on the cross for you! – So, what else would he do for you?
