(How To Find Joy In Times Of Need)
The story of the wedding in Cana is well loved among us when we were still kids, because of the fact that Jesus saves the day during the wedding. Back when we were small, it all seemed "magical" how Jesus turned water into wine.
Now as we have a better understanding of who Jesus really is and what role he has in our lives, we all agree that there is nothing magical about the wedding in Cana. It is simply the awesome nature and characteristic of our Lord working and made manifest in an otherwise
normal and ordinary event in one's life.
As what happened in the story when the wine had ran out, what are we to do when we reach rock
bottom? How do we find joy in times of need?
- INVITE JESUS INTO OUR LIVES (JOHN 2:1-2, NKJV)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
The chapter begins with the words “On the third day…”
Here John was pointing out that three days had passed from the time that Jesus called Philip and Nathanael until this wedding took place. From the banks of the Jordan which was the setting of chapter 1, Jesus and His disciples journeyed about 20 miles to Cana. Cana from the Greek word Κανα (kan-ah') transliterates an old Hebrew ḳānāh, “place of reeds.” This ancient name survives in Khirbet Ḳānā, a ruined site with rockhewn tombs, cisterns and a pool, on the northern edge of Sahl el-Baṭṭauf, the plain of Asochis. Nearby are marshy stretches where reeds still abound: the name therefore is entirely appropriate. The small village of Cana was very near Nazareth which is t
he hometown of Jesus, about nine miles or about a three hour walk. With this geographical context in mind, we can assume that Jesus would have repeatedly spent the
night in Cana when travelling back and forth between Capernaum and Nazareth during the first thirty years of His life.
Thus, He most likely either has friends or relatives in this town.
As we read on in this verse we come to know that his mother was also in attendance. Some Bible scholars believe that the wedding was perhaps for a relative or a close family friend of Mary as she was also assisting during the celebration. Nevertheless, Jesus was invited as well and he brought along his
disciples.
Here we see evidence of how Jesus lived so normally amongst human beings during the time He was on earth. Here is our Savior who was on a mission to save our world, and he took time to attend a wedding. Jesus sets us an example that even if we think that we have other important things to do in our lives with no time for socialization, we never know if taking part in these occasions is also part of our mission.
Just as Jesus values attending these kind of occasions because they involved dealing with people, we can have the same kind of thinking. Our mission can also be accomplished in joyous times of celebration. Jesus encourages us to bring balance into our lives by bringing Him not only in times of work but also in times of celebrations.
Another point that we can see here is by Christ’s attendance at the weddi
ng, he sanctified or blessed the ceremony itself. How often do we see that Jesus’ intention is to bless every part, every aspect of
our daily lives.
Whether it is a time of celebration or a time of tribulation, Jesus wants us to invite him. Question is, do we even care to extend that invitation to our Savior? When we are at the peak of happiness, is the headiness of joy so thick that we forget to thank God? And what happens when we are in the valley of trials, are we still hard-pressed on doing things on our own even if we find ourselves sinking deeper into the dark?
- ESTABLISH FULL TRUST IN THE LORD (JOHN 2:3-4, NKJV)
And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
Jewish marriages are arranged just like what is typical in middle eastern culture. When two families settle on the marriage details, a betrothal contract is drawn up specifying the dowry and other financial considerations. Then a multi-day marriage feast will be announced to friends
and relatives. It could last as long as seven days. The feast included speeches, dancing, prayers, music, and of course food. The contract often included the details of what would happen at the wedding as well as what would be provided at the feast. So it is not surprising that Jesus’ mother was concerned when the wine ran out.
It is considered an insult to turn down a wedding invitation. But on the part of the people who have organized the event, running out of wine was a huge embarrassment not to mention that it broke the strong unwritten laws of hospitality.
Mary the mother of Jesus was probably not asking Jesus to do a miracle when she told him of the situation. As a mother telling her adult son, she was simply hoping that Jesus would help solve this problem. And because Mary was already a widow that time, she probably got used to asking Jesus for help in certain situations. Let's think of this as a mother-son conversation. But Jesus answer to his mother was kind of vague and hard to understand.
Contrary to what we think, when Jesus used the word woman to refer to his mother, he actually was being respectful. The word woman in Greek is γυνή (goo-nay'), it's the same word that Jesus used on the cross when He said, "Woman, behold thy son," and committed her to John. In modern day English it could be translated to the word “lady”. It was a term of respect, but it was not the same as mother. We may be wondering why Jesus did not call Mary as mother anymore. Remember, by this time Jesus had already started His public ministry, His mission of why He came into this world. When He called her lady, in effect He was saying to her, I'm God. Now Jesus was not only Mary’s son, He’s also her Lord and Savior.
John 2:4 (NKJV)
Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
The words sound so harsh and distant. What does your concern have to do with Me? From the Greek text τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί (ti emoi kai soi) is a Jewish expression that translates to "what to me and to you". In effect Jesus was saying to Mary that though he was her son, she does not have any relationship to what He will do or how He will act in this matter. He was telling her, “It's Mine to do as God. And when the hour comes I'll do it.”
When Jesus implied that His hour has not yet come, He was not pertaining to His suffering and death. What he meant was that it wasn’t the right time for Him to work miracles in public so early in His ministry as it might provoke His enemies to go after Him. Though Jesus was still willing to help out and perform this miracle, he did so in a private manner wherein only a few people were witnesses.
Here we see how Mary is so trusting of her son, she may not know how or what Jesus can do to help, but she trusted him to do what was right.
The same for us, we encounter situations in our lives that we don't quite understand, we don't even know how we will get out of it. But we trust in the One who knows all things and knows the best for us.
3. SUBMIT TO GOD'S WAY OF DOING THINGS (JOHN 2:5, NKJV)
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
Mary told the servants to do what Jesus asks them to do. Jesus was prepared to help, not according to Mary’s plan, but according to what fits the purpose of God.
When we bring our problems and our concerns to God, it often happens that we already have a preconceived notion of how God should take care of it. But we know our God, he is not like us. Often enough, his ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts. He may be saying, “Not yet! This is not the best time. “I will accomplish it another way.” God is in the business of answering our prayers. Sometimes the answer is, “No” and other times the answer is, “I will do it another way.” We should take a hint from Mary and allow God to deal with the problem as he sees best for us.
FIND EXCITEMENT FROM GOD (JOHN 2:6-10, NKJV)
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
These containers of water were used for ceremonial washings of the feet, hands, utensils. The number six according to some Bible scholars is symbolic of human effort or a number less than the completion. It was ultimately a sign pointing toward Jesus as the completion. The miracle of transformation into wine reminds us of the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and the transformation and transfiguration of the old into the new, the abundance of this "good wine" is the new promise, the new life brought out of the old by this transforming power.
As “Logos”or the Word, Jesus only has to say "the word" and it is immediately done. Just imagine what the word of God can do. It can literally transform our lives! From water into wine, from a crisis into abundance, His word alone is enough to bring us joy and satisfaction.
And as the water pots are filled to the brim, it shows us that if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, joy floods our hearts and our cup overflows.
People look to other things but God when they want excitement in our lives. Being holy doesn’t mean lifeless and boring. Just as the wine Jesus made was the best, so life in Him is better that life on our own. It would be exciting to see what God can make of our lives, what his plan is for us. Just as the water that He turned to wine, God can take our lives and turn it into something great for His glory. Why wait when until everything else runs out before trying God? Why save the best for last?
CONCLUSION (JOHN 2:11-12, NKJV)
This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
If we remember the purpose of why John wrote this Gospel, it is to prove beyond any doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. John tells us in verse 11 that Jesus gave this first sign through which he revealed his glory. Jesus is the very expression of the Father, Hebrews 1:3 says that He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. Jesus wants the people to know, in the presence of his family and friends in his very own hometown that He is God. This sign or miracle is just a foretaste of what is still to come, it is but a glimpse of what Jesus was going to do and why.
We may notice that John refers to this a sign. What does a sign do? It points us into the right direction of course. And this sign was like a thumbnail to a bigger picture and a compass to make sure that we keep going in the right direction. What an awesome way for Jesus to start his ministry, and we all know that it has an even grander ending
with the sacrifice he made on the cross.
No miracle is without any result. We are not informed whether the servants who brought the wine to the headmaster were transformed by the miracle that they witnessed. But we know that Jesus’ new disciples believed. When they first started to follow Jesus, some of them probably were just curious as to who Jesus really was, especially with all the talk that He was the Messiah. So when they saw with their own eyes, they believed in him.
What about us, we were not there to witness the miracle for ourselves. But now as we read about it again, does it endear Jesus more to us? Was our faith strengthened? Did it give us hope and comfort that our God supplies our every need? Do we need to worry when we know that our God is a miracle worker? The same God who turned water into wine can turn death into life.
Colossians 2:17 (NIV)
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
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