Water into Wine

John 2:1-11

Today’s gospel is the wonderful story of Jesus turning water into wine. But the focus of this reading isn't so much on wine as it is on the announcement that Jesus is the Messiah. There are Old Testament passages that proclaim that when the Messianic Kingdom comes, there will be an abundance of food and drink. The Messiah will bring in a new fullness and grace. Jesus now appears, and in this first miracle He makes more wine than a wedding party would possibly drink.

It is a sign, a fulfillment, of the fullness that God is about.

This same Messiah, comes for us and calls us into new life.

May we live...are we living..... in the abundance....and out of the abundance..... of Jesus Christ.

I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee:... 3^rd day – in the gospel story, that’s when you’re possibly in for a surprise.

When the wine was gone: that is nothing less than a disaster.

“My hour has not yet come.”: Jesus, who knew His hour would come, doesn’t think it is now. The hour for what??? vs 11 helps us ...What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory– the hour/time for Jesus to reveal His glory.

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”: I love this verse because it reminds us of an eternal truth: Moms very often, know better. “Actually, my boy, I think your hour has come.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons: You might remember that the Jewish Law, Biblical Law, can be divided into ritual, ceremonial, and moral laws. The ritual and ceremonial laws are done away with or ‘fulfilled’ in Jesus and we no longer have to keep them, ..........the MORAL law still stands.

There’s a sense here in which Jesus is saying, "You don’t need this ceremonial stuff anymore, this religious stuff." You see, once these jars were filled with wine, they could no longer be used for cleaning. He was getting rid of one thing for something better.

I wonder if Jesus wants to take some of the stuff you and I have brought in this morning, our water… and replace it… with something better.

I wonder if He wants to take our water, YOUR water… and change it… into wine.

I wonder if He wants to take some of the things that drain us… and change them into things that fill us… to the brim.

What are some the things that fill us but at the same time… empty us?

Sin – I don’t have to say too much about our sin.

Sorrows – Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time for joy and a time for sorrow and we all know this because we’ve all experience this.

Needs – we all have needs.

Sickness – many of us here this morning are sick – chronically/actively, terminally.

Prayers – I would hope we are all ‘full’ of prayers. You only have to read Psalms to see prayers that empty a person. ‘All night how I cry out to you oh Lord. When will you answer me?’

Future – our tomorrow’s which can be such a burden that Jesus says, ‘Don’t worry about tomorrow’.

Fill the jars with water, says Jesus.

What are your jars full of this morning – a bit of sin, some sickness, needs, prayers, sorrows, the future – not the tastiest of things are they?

[There will now be a time of ministry in the Holy Spirit, which can't be put into words]

Now take some out and taste it, says Jesus.

Work with me now, please… as I invite you to the banquet… and to bring your water with you.

Pour in your… sin… take out your FOGIVENESSS...... How does that taste?

Pour in your… prayers… take out your GOD'S ANSWERS TO LIFE. How does that taste?

Pour in your… sorrows… take out GOD’S COMFORT. How does that taste?

Pour in your… sicknesses… take out your HEALING IN JESUS’ NAME. How does that taste?

Pour in your… needs… take out GOD’S SUPPLY. How does that taste?

Pour in your… future (which always starts tomorrow)… take out ETERNAL LIFE (which starts now). How does that taste?

A time of song and ministry will follow