(Excerpt from Profound Truths from the Gospel of John, 2021)
A Story with Profound Truths from the Gospel of John
In each story, we will start with a summary of the story. Then we will identify some profound truths and sometimes include some interesting insights. If you are not familiar with the story you will find the entire relevant passage after the profound truths and interesting insights and we will conclude with some Discussion Questions. Notice Jesus is the main character in each story.
The Story
The scene is a wedding in Jana and among the guests were Jesus, His mother, and His disciples. A problem arose when the celebration ran out of wine. Mary somehow became concerned and told Jesus that there was no more wine. Remember Jesus was a guest so we wonder why would this be a concern for Him.
Allow me to take some liberties in speculation. Mary knew who Jesus was. She had been there at the conception. She was there at the birth when the shepherds came and later the wise men showed up. She would remember the incident in the temple when Jesus was twelve and Jesus has said that He was about His Father’s business.
but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often (Luke 2:19 NLT).
For Mary, an opportunity had arrived to show who her son really was. I can help but think she was proud of her Son. She was the only mother who had raised a perfect Son.
Can you just hear the tone in her voice as she told the servant to do what He tells you? Even though Jesus had told her that His time had not yet come, He still complied with her request.
The servants followed Jesus’ instructions and filled the six stone bottles with water and when they drew out from the bottles it was wine.
Profound Truth: Jesus is the Creator and the Creation is subject to His wishes.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him (John 1:3).
for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together (Colossians 1:16-17 NLT).
It seems to me that since Jesus was involved in the creation of all things that would include changing water into wine. For the Creator of all things, it would be an easy thing to do.
Interesting insight: The master of the banquet didn’t know where the wine came from but the servants knew. As far as we know the other guests didn’t know and the wedding party didn’t know. The servants were on the low end of the social ladder. I think it is special that they were privileged to know about Jesus and what He was doing. Remember the shepherds at His birth? They too were on the low end of the social ladder, yet they are the ones who the angels declared the announcement of His birth. The Lord is not a respecter of persons.
Interesting insight: The wine was the choice wine, not the cheap wine. The custom was to serve the best wine first and after the guests were somewhat drunk bring out the cheap stuff. When the Lord creates, He does it best.
The Passage
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so, they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 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. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him (John 2:1-11).
Discussion Question
- Had you thought of Jesus being in social settings? Can you thing of some other social settings where Jesus participated?
- Speculate on what it might have been for Mary to have her Son, Jesus, perform as God.
- Imagine and describe the nature of the power of Creation that Jesus as God manifests.
- Can you think of other examples of Jesus revealing Himself and showing His works to people considered on the low end of society? Name them.
- What is the significance of the wine that Jesus created being the best?
- What is your favorite part of the story?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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