A Sufficient Resource for a Limited Supply /
Jesus provides what is missing in our lives
John 2:1-11
Dr. William S. Epps, Senior Pastor
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Jesus provides what is missing in our lives.
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9When 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, 10And 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. 11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. John 2:1-11
Introduction
This is the first miracle in the gospel of John. It shares what happens in the life of the world and people when Jesus is a part of their living.
Jesus attends a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. There are three components to this miracle story. There is the setting (a wedding); there is a need (they run out of wine) and there is a response (Jesus performing a miracle).
We all want and would like for life to be a festive occasion celebrating together with good times, fun, fellowship and family lovingly in relationship. Weddings remind us of people coming together to share in the joy of expressing love, devotion and commitment. Jesus’ coming into the world as the life and the light reminds us that he has come that “we might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
Consider what it means that Jesus came that we might have life
and have it more abundantly.
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Firstly, invite the Lord to be a part of your life.
In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6
God knows that we need direction to get through the series of crises we are facing.
Notice how the scenario evolves. The festive occasion is threatened as a need arises. They have run out of what they need to make the occasion enjoyable and happy. Wine is symbolic. In the ancient Near East, with its scarcity of water, wine was a necessity rather than a luxury, so it came to symbolize sustenance and life. Due to its close relationship to the ongoing life of the community, in association with grain and oil, wine is also representative of the covenant blessings God promised to Israel for obedience, and which He would withhold for disobedience. Finally, wine also represents joy, celebration, and festivity, expressing the abundant blessings of God.
As I consider the reality of our lives, we all begin wanting to have a festive life full of all the joy and love that is possible. The wedding of life and liberty. The wedding of friends and families. The wedding of potential and possibility. The wedding of faith and hope. Instead of life being enjoyable, it becomes a reminder of what is missing. What is missing is what we need to make it all better. After all, that is why Jesus come into the world. Jesus coming into the world as the life and the light reminds us that He has come that, “we might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
We are experiencing a limited supply of what we need as people to create the festive possibilities of being in relationship with each other in harmony and peace. Just as those at the wedding feast ran out of what would symbolically make for a happy occasion, we run out of what we need to make of our lives what we would like. We run out of what is necessary to make life festive, grand and productive. We run out of compassion for one another. We run out of commitment to form a more perfect union. We run out of the ability to communicate with one another. We run out of the love required to create a beloved community where everyone is treated equitably and justly. We run out of a moral sense of right and wrong, making wrong right and right wrong. We run out of integrity and become hypocritical, selfish individuals devoid of truth and righteousness. We just run out of all that is necessary to make of life, living and liberty what each has the possibility of becoming.
Conversations are politicized with bitter, contentious rhetoric that is demeaning. Dialogue is divisive and denigrating. Irresistible force meets unmovable wall in a stalemate without resolutions to come together. We live with a
them-against-us mentality, devoid of the civility and decency required to remedy what’s missing.
There is always a need to replace what has been exhausted and used up. It seems we are always running out of what we need to make life happy, enjoyable, delightful and fulfilled. We run out of the perquisite resources that make of life what we want it to be.
We run out of understanding with negative implications for our future. While wisdom is the principal thing; we are admonished with all our getting get understanding. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
Consider what it means to run out of what you need to
make life enjoyable, delightful, and festive.
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Tuesday, January 18, 2022 |
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Secondly, when you have invited those who know the Lord, they will petition the Lord on your behalf.
Mary and her family including Jesus were present at the wedding when they ran out of what they needed to continue the festivities. We are not told who the host was.
All we presume is that Mary and Jesus were invited because of an association with the host for the occasion of the couple getting married. When you invite Jesus into your life someone will bring to the Lord’s awareness that there is a need, an impending need that requires attention. Mary tells Jesus that they have run out of wine. We are not told whether she knew it would be an embarrassment to the host and wanted to save him of such. All we know is that she informed Jesus of the need for the occasion. However, mentioning this to Jesus, she was convinced that he would do something despite the seemingly dismissive response, “what concern is that to you and to me?” which is a common Semitic expression that implies a sense of disengagement, not active hostility. Mary says to those present in
How many times have there been those who have prayed on your behalf - sometimes without you even knowing? We are reminded to Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:3
Our ancestors of another day would say, remember those I am duty bound
to pray for.
Somebody prayed for me, / had me on their mind,
took the time to pray for me.
I’m so glad they prayed, I’m so glad they prayed,
I’m so glad they prayed for me.
The people prayed for me,
had me on their mind, took the time to pray for me.
I’m so glad they prayed, I’m so glad they prayed,
I’m so glad they prayed for me.
My Jesus prayed for me,
had me on his mind, took the time to pray for me.
I’m so glad he prayed, I’m so glad he prayed,
I’m so glad he prayed for me.
We are praying for public safety due to Covid-19 and its variants. Protect yourself, loved ones, and your community by doing your part as your pray.
Consider what it means that people pray for you.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2022 |
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Thirdly, do what the Lord says.
Get this. There were six water pots of stone which could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water apiece. Jesus asked them to fill the water pots with water. I imagine there were those in ear shot distance saying, we don’t need water, we need wine. There are always those who may question how what is needed is going to be provided.
In doing what the Lord says no one could see how the remedy occurred. All they know is that between the pouring in of the water and the taking out to sample a change occurred. Imagine between the pouring in and the taking out a change occurs. Between obeying and following the Lord instructions something miraculous occurs, the change that you want to see in what was missing is now replaced. You can’t quite explain it. All you know is that in practicing what the Lord said the desired result was achieved.
Consider what it means to do what the Lord says in order to remedy what is missing in your life to make it fulfilled and festive.
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Thursday, January 20, 2022 |
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Now get this. Not only was what they were missing replaced, but it was more in quantity and better in quality. They had six water pots that would hold twenty to thirty gallons apiece, filled to the brim which would be 120 to 180 gallons. And the quality was better.
Our Lord and Savior reminds us you can commit your way to the Lord and trust the Lord for the outcome. Do what the Lord says. You can have a better quantity of life and a better quality of life when you do what the Lord says.
Nike sportswear has a swoosh which looks like a check and a slogan that says, “just do it.” The name Nike is from the Greek winged goddess of victory – victory in war and in peaceful competition. I like the implication of that logo and slogan. Imagine applying it to what Jesus says to do. Do what the Lord says and you can check victory as the outcome.
Scripture is full of instances in which following what the Lord says leads to a victorious outcome. The seminal event in the Old Testament is the liberation of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Children of Israel down at the Red Sea, the wilderness to their rear, the red sea in front, mountains to the right and left of them. They were told to go forward. The Lord never brings you into a situation in which retreat is necessary or advancement is impossible. We are told that a way was made out of no way.
Consider what it means that when you do what the Lord says, what you
receive is better in quantity and quality than that with which you began.
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Historically, we have had those moments in our history when it seemed as though we were not going to make it, but we kept believing and trusting in the Lord and a way was made out of what appeared to be no way at all. We celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., whose life reminds us that the Lord makes a way when you do what the He instructs you to do with your life.
Individually consider an experience in which you followed the directives of the Lord and what you were missing was replenished. Doubt replaced with determination, failure replaced with fulfillment, hurt replaced with help, trials replaced with triumph.
Consider what it means for us historically and individually that
following what the Lord says brings a victorious outcome.
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Saturday, January 22, 2022 |
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Conclusion
"Why Not Trust God Again"
Kurt Carr
When life seems cruel and so unfair, with each new day it seems
a greater problem's waiting there.
For each step forward I take, seems I get pushed two steps behind.
Don't think I'm gonna make it sometimes,
don't think my nerves can take it this time,
as I'm about to call it quits the solution comes to mind.
Why not trust God again; I know that He can do it if I pray again,
believe again, my God will work it for my good again.
I know that He will see me through it all if I trust in God again.
Is there a mountain standing in your way?
Is there a loved one you're worried about today (worried about today)?
(Ooh) Is there a blessing you desire that seems intangible?
Instead of giving up the fight, / just cling to faith with all your might,
the One that's seen you through before is still able (able, able, able),
He's still able (able, able, able). 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to take Him at His word.
Why not trust God again;
I know that He can do it if I pray again, believe again,
I know that God will work it for my good again.
I know that He will see me through it all...if I trust in God again.
I will, I will, I will trust in God again.
Consider what it means to trust God again as you have trusted God before.
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Why Not Trust God Again
Kurt Carr
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2412 Griffith Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Phone: (213) 748-0318
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