Bible Study - Miracle - Glory Tevealed - October 2, 2011

Bible Study - Miracle – Glory Revealed – October 2, 2011

This is lesson one (1) in our new series entitled “It’s a Miracle.”

Our scripture is John 1:14, 18 and 2:1-11.

Our other lessons for October will be:
Forgiveness Offered – Luke 5:17-26, 29-32.
Hope Discovered – Luke 7:1-17.
Wholeness – Mark 5:1-3; 6:13a, 15-20.
Satisfaction Found – John 6:5-13, 35-40

Our first lesson is on JESUS’ revealing HIS glory by turning water into wine. Miracles are wonderful but must be kept in perspective. JESUS performed miracles to confirm that HE was the promised Son of GOD, the Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament had stated very clearly all that would identify the Messiah.

We just completed the study, “Balanced Spiritual Growth” and miracles is listed as a gift of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of a miracle is never to bring glory to the person through whom the miracle occurs but it is always to point to CHRIST and confirm HIS Messiah-ship. Being human our minds jump to, “Gee, I would like to witness a miracle.” You are a miracle and living in a miracle, the human body.
Just consider the odds of you existing as a human. Consider your ancestral line and if one critical ancestor’s life had been cut short you would not exist. Consider the odds of out of millions of sperm and that one egg in your mother’s womb that produced you. You are special and produced for a purpose in accordance to GOD’S timing, based upon your willingness to become a member of HIS family through the miracle of rebirth through CHRIST. You are no accident and you were not created for time but for eternity.

When we think of miracles, we tend to think of extraordinary things happening, like a mountain jumping into the sea on your command. Turning water into wine, the first recorded miracle of JESUS, seems self-serving. It served a social purpose at the request of HIS mother. What does it tell us as Christians? Let’s explore.

Turning water into wine at a social event seems trivial compared to the many other needs. The point is that it was important to JESUS’ mother. So what does that mean? It means that as the children of GOD, Christians can ask CHRIST to do what might seem trivial. Some Christians hesitate to ask CHRIST for things that seem trivial. But they can always ask but it is HIS decision whether or not HE will provide. HE always listens.

Let’s consider the setting. JESUS, His mother and HIS disciples were at a wedding which was a festive event. The wedding ceremony had been performed and the celebration began with plenty of food and wine. No, it was not grape juice, it was fermented and contained alcohol. This celebration lasted several days.

Let’s back up and review the Jewish wedding custom. First, the fathers of the couple would agree on the marriage of the couple. This was a formal contract and the couple was considered husband and wife when the marriage contract was agreed to but the marriage would not be consummated for a year or more.

The couple would not live together during this betrothal period, nor have sexual relations. The husband would prepare a home for his bride and when it was completed and at the proper time and unannounced, he would go to the home of the bride’s father to claim her as his own. He would take her to their new home. Family and friends would stop what they were doing and form a procession and follow the groom with his bride to the wedding ceremony. After the wedding ceremony, the celebration began and would last for several days.

Do you recall that JESUS used the example of the groom coming to receive HIS bride, the living church, to illustrate HIS second coming? HE has gone to prepare a place for Christians and HE will return to claim all who have not already gone to be with HIM in physical death. It is recorded in Matthew 25:1-13. The message is for Christians to stay ready because they do not know the hour the bride groom will come.

This brings us back to the occasion recorded in our scripture. JESUS was attending the celebration of marriage, a festive occasion.

Let’s read John 2:1-5:
The First Sign: Turning Water into Wine
1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me,[1]• woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour[2] has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants.

JESUS’ mother, JESUS and HIS disciple were attending a wedding. The host ran out of wine and Mary brought the matter to the attention of JESUS. On the surface it seems that JESUS remarks were curt, like “You are not the hostess, so why are you concerned?” In the Greek it reads, “What to ME and to you, woman?” In essence, JESUS was cutting the apron strings by referring to HIS mother as “woman” rather than “mother.” This was not to show disrespect but a change in the authority over HIS life. HE would be guided by GOD. Yet, JESUS was obedient to HIS mother’s request out of respect and the need that needed to be taken care of.

Mary’s response was one of faith, “Do what HE tells you.”

Does this mean Christians can approach JESUS and request help with matters that seem trivial? Absolutely!!! Let your requests be known to HIM. HE will respond but it may be no, wait, or it is done.

Let’s read John 2:6-10:
6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons.[3]7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.”[4] And they did. 9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

JESUS saw six (6) stone water jars which were for washing the feet of the guests since the roads were dusty and for the purification of their hands and eating utensils. This cleaning ritual was required by Jewish laws and tradition but not the Mosaic Law. These were large jars holding 20 to 30 gallons of water.

Some water had been taken from the jars to pour over the guest’s feet and the purification process; therefore, they needed to be topped off with water. Why do you think JESUS wanted the servants to top off all of the jars with water? I think HE wanted them to know that without a doubt, they all contained water. HE knew that a miracle was going to take place, which would reveal HIS true identity as The SON of GOD. Only GOD can turn water into wine and when HE does, HE changes something of less value to something of greater value to meet the need. This is what CHRIST does when people accept CHRIST as their Savior and make HIM the LORD of their lives. HE makes something of great value out of their lives when they allow HIM to lead and guide them. All the water had to do was to be water, JESUS did the rest.

Give your life to HIM and allow HIM to make your life into a life of great value and meaningful purpose.

JESUS instructed the servants to draw some liquid out of the jars and take it to the chief servant to sample. The chief servant tasted the wine and judged it as the best wine of the celebration. He complemented the groom in saving his best wine until last, which was very unusual. Most grooms had the best wine served first and then switched to a poorer quality wine after his guests got drunk and did not know what they were drinking.

Let’s read John 2:11:
11 Jesus performed this first sign[5] in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

JESUS turned water into wine, which established HIS authority over physical matter. The Apostle John used the word sign. What does a sign do? When you are traveling in an area you do not know, a sign is a welcomed sight. It points to something. It gives direction and often comfort. This miracle pointed to JESUS, which John understood more fully in retrospect.

We need to keep in mind that the Apostle John wrote this about 70 years after the resurrection of CHRIST. This sign got JESUS’ disciples attention but they would not fully comprehend what this meant until after HIS death, resurrection, ascension and being indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The same is with us today. The longer we journey with JESUS, the more we get to really know HIM.

Let’s consider another aspect of this miracle. There were six (6) jars. The number six (6) according to the Jewish tradition was an incomplete number. The number seven (7) was a number signifying completion. Only JESUS can make the incomplete complete.

The scripture refers to humans as jars of clay in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7:
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness”[2]—He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Clay Jars
7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

Our lives were once filled with the water of searching for something of value. When we allow JESUS to fill our lives, HE will change them into something of great value; the indwelling of HIS presence. Wine was used for healing. When we allow JESUS to fill our lives, HE brings Spiritual healing. All true Christians are a miracle because HE has changed them and is transforming them, through the renewing of their minds into the image of CHRIST.

Notice that the miracle of JESUS turning water into wine in verse 11 resulted in HIS disciple’s faith in HIM deepening. When we are in right relationship with CHRIST, as we journey with HIM and see HIM perform miracles, our faith is strengthened. CHRIST is still in the business of performing miracles according to GOD’S plan and purpose. As we walk with HIM, we will witness them. Miracles astound us but they often fade. Then we want CHRIST to do another miracle. Miracles are signs to point and reveal GOD. We must be careful not to seek the miracle in place of fullness of CHRIST.

The Gospel according to John has two (2) levels of meaning - (1) the literal meaning (2) the symbolic meaning.

Some Bible scholars view the changing of water into wine as CHRIST replacing Judaism with its ceremonies, tradition and rituals with the saving power of CHRIST, through grace.

Let’s keep in mind that the Apostle John wrote this gospel after he understood the Old Testament scriptures regarding the promised Messiah, experienced the physical presence of CHRIST and experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. John had a full understanding of GOD’S purpose for the world through CHRIST, as our next scripture will reveal.

Let’s read John 1:14 and 18:
14 The Word became flesh[13]and took up residence[14] among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the • One and Only Son[15] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John referred to CHRIST as “The Word.” This brings the Old Testament and the New Testament together. CHRIST, GOD’S ONLY SON, chose to leave HIS Glory in heaven to come to earth and live as a human. CHRIST’S love for the human race compelled HIM to subject Himself to all that humans experience and to give HIS life to set all who would believe in HIM free from the bondage of sin and its consequences, eternal death. HE came to earth to reveal HIS Glory.

As prophesied in the Old Testament, CHRIST became flesh and lived upon earth as a human to reveal the love of GOD to a world lost in sin with no way to escape. GOD is true to HIS Word. That is why Christians are to study GOD’S Word, the Bible. CHRIST is unique because HE was and still is the ONE and ONLY SON of GOD. HIS life reflected the love of GOD for all mankind. CHRIST represented grace and truth.
As you may recall, JESUS’ disciples wanted to see the FATHER and JESUS had this to say in John 14:8-11:
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Let’s read John 1:18:
18 No one has ever seen God.[16]The One and Only Son[17]— the One who is at the Father’s side[18]— He has revealed Him.

The Apostle John made it clear that no one has seen GOD but CHRIST revealed HIM. There was no question in John’s mind and through his association, experience and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that CHRIST was the true promised Messiah, GOD incarnate in the flesh.

It is interesting that the use of the word “SON” to the Jews meant likeness to the FATHER and not the FATHER’S offspring.

Who is JESUS to you? Is HE a prophet, a good man who lived upon earth and died or is HE the true SON of GOD WHO died for your sins to set you free for the consequences of sin, which is eternal death?

The Apostle John walked with JESUS as HIS disciple. He saw HIM die upon the cross. But most of all he witnessed HIS resurrection, ascension and the indwelling and empowering of the promised Holy Spirit. He knew that CHRIST was truth and the true SON of GOD.

If you have not done so, ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart right now. If you ask, HE will. Then thank HIM for saving your life and ask HIM to help you live for HIM each moment of each day. Blessings.