Our reading tonight, the focus of my sermon will be John Chapter 2. John Chapter 2. John's gospel was written in order to show us the signs that Jesus Christ did, which prove He is the Messiah. He turned water to wine. He raises the dead. He makes the blind see, which was something that we don't see any Old Testament prophet doing. And there was a reason for that. It was reserved. It was reserved to identify the Messiah. And when Messiah came, the blind saw, and the dead were raised. The word believe in the Greek Pistou appears almost 100 times in this gospel. almost 100 times. There's an emphasis there that we can't ignore. We need to believe, and we have every reason to, because of the signs given. Hear now the word of our Lord God, from John chapter 2 starting with verse 1. On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do it. Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, Draw some out now, and take it to the head waiter. So they took it to him. When the head waiter tasted the water, which had become wine, and did not know where it came from, but the servants who drew the water knew, The head waiter called the bridegroom and said to him, Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine. But you have kept the good wine until now. This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Beloved, I knew a man at one point who told me that he was taking his brand new family wife, two little girls, camping to Marine State Park in Butler. And when he told me that, I said, hey, that's great. That should be a great bonding time for your family. It's wonderful to do that, but be careful because there are coyotes in the area. And he said to me, no there aren't. And I said, sure there are, because that summer I had been up there almost once a week fishing and I'd seen the signs of the coyotes. I'd seen pictures from hunters who had gotten coyotes. And I described all that to him and he said, no, no, that's not true. My uncle lives up there and he would have told me if there were coyotes. So the next time I went up there, I stopped into one of the bait stores I like to go to, and they had one of those magazines that you get free of charge. It has all the outdoor news in it. I'm paging through it and I see a picture of a hunter with a coyote that he had shot. And they are right in front of the sign that says, welcome to Marine State Park. So I got the magazine and I took it with me. And when I saw this man again, I said, look. And he took it, and he stared at it, and he pondered it for what seemed like 30 seconds. And he closed it, and he put it in front of me, and he said, I still don't believe it. And he walked away. You have the signs that Jesus is the Christ. Now believe Him. We are at a wedding feast. The Mother of Jesus is there. Jesus and His disciples have been invited. Verses 1 and 2. On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. And the Mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Jesus had just begun putting his disciples together. And here, he's invited to a wedding. His public ministry had just begun, and things were getting started. Now, there are a lot of people I see, sadly, who think that our God is a cold God, who can't empathize with us. as we do these things, as we go through life, as we gather with others, as we love them and enjoy them. It's often thought that he just sits coldly above the clouds waiting for things to happen, waiting to punish us, and maybe at the end giving us a reward. But here we see something entirely different. We see that the Lord gathered with the people. He went to feasts. He went to banquets. He went to dinner parties, so much so that he got a reputation of being one who hangs with sinners. But they needed him. They needed him to be there. And this is the same Jesus that you serve. Now keep in mind, you'll hear some today attempt to excuse going anywhere they please by saying, well Jesus hung with sinners. But, Jesus didn't go into the Roman baths with the sinners. Jesus didn't hang out at the bars with sinners. Jesus didn't go into the strip joints with sinners. And, by the way, don't be fooled. When you see the commercials that we all know should not even be on television and they call it a gentlemen's club, that's a lie. You're not going to find any gentlemen there. You won't. And some, well, I've got to go there. Jesus did this with sinners. No, he didn't go there. Look at the invitation. It was a wedding feast. He went to family gatherings. He went to important things in these people's lives. He went into their homes. They knew who he was. Maybe not fully, but they knew he was something special. And they invited him in anyway. And he went. Because that's how you reach people. You've got to be there where they are. And when you're there, you get special opportunities. Just by being around them long enough, sooner or later, you're going to realize that you've got an opportunity. A great time to reach people is when something goes wrong. And in this case, at this wedding feast, something went wrong. And Mary brought the problem to Jesus' attention. verses 3-5 tell us, when the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do it. Now, the mother of Jesus She said to him, they have no wine. This was an important feature at the feast. This was something that helped keep everything going. And it was considered quite disrespectful to run out of wine for your guests. It was embarrassing. It was insulting and it would have hurt the family. And you see, because we see that the servants listened to Mary, We know that most believe that this had to be a relative of hers. That she was invited, Jesus and his disciples were invited, and the servants listened to her. As we see in verse 5, his mother said to the servants, whatever he says to you, do it. She's able to give orders in this place. So it's someone she cares about and doesn't want to see embarrassed. And she knows her son is special. She knows that this Jesus can act But he says to her, woman, what does this have to do with us? My hour has not yet come. And many people struggle over the fact that he says woman here. It's a small thing. He meant no insult to his mother. He's just speaking to her. Woman, what does this have to do with us? He's not some thug. Woman, or anything like that. Woman, what does this have to do with us? The bridegroom was supposed to see to it that everything was taken care of. What did that have to do with Jesus? This Jesus was able to do anything. And his mother knew it. He was not surprised that this happened. He doesn't get surprised. If you found yourself in a situation where you maybe had no money, no fuel for the car, maybe you had no car, no food. place to sleep. This same Jesus is the one to whom you should turn and let him know that. And it isn't as if he doesn't already know. But when he hears from you, he has mercy. He loves you. You who belong to him are well cared for by the shepherd. And you will see that. This is the same Jesus who said, Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. This same Jesus. So how did he respond to the need of the moment, even though it was not his time? Mercy. He responded with mercy. Jesus turned the water, usually reserved for purification by washing, into real wine. Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, Draw some out now and take it to the head waiter. So they took it to him. When the head waiter tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it came from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew, The head waiter called the bridegroom and said to him, Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine. But you have kept the good wine until now. The stone pots for washing. Each home had to have those ready. There were times of purification when the Jews had to wash themselves ceremonially in order to be clean. So they had them. They were ready. But there was more to this purification than they even knew. And there's a great deal of debate about whether or not Jesus turned this water into real wine. Some say it was just something akin to freshly crushed grapes, grape juice in fact. However, look at the words. What does the head waiter say? When the head waiter tasted the water which had become wine, He called the bridegroom and said to him, every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine, but you have kept the good wine until now. Now put yourself in their shoes. If you are drinking water, what difference does it make between glass number one and glass number ten? If you're drinking grape juice, What difference does it make between glass number 1 and glass number 10? If you are drinking wine, don't make it to glass number 10, let me say that first. But, as you go along, there's a significant difference. These people at these parties became influenced when they drank enough wine. And when they reached that point, most men knew, okay, Now I can stop giving them my good stuff and I can give them the cheap stuff and they won't even notice because they had been drinking. It's real wine. It's real wine. Have you ever thought that God would only answer your prayers with the bare bones of what you've asked for? These men were amazed at the quality of this wine. From his comment, We can see that this wine that Jesus made from water was even better than what was originally served. This is the miracle that Christ did. He gave more than what was asked for. How amazing is that? You pray for a number two pencil. Watch out because you may get a calligraphy pen. You pray for a car that will just get you somewhere. You may get a sedan fully equipped. You might. This is the same Jesus about whom the Apostle Paul said, can and will do more than we ask or imagine. Remember the love in this Jesus. He's not just a store clerk. Excuse me, can you tell me where the napkins are? Right there, here's a napkin. No! This is your God who loves you, and lavishes that love on you, and gives you better than what you asked. This is that same Jesus. Now it's not likely that anyone at this wedding really understood what Christ was accomplishing. That is, Jesus presenting himself as the new Moses, but greater. The new Moses by position of leadership, but greater because he outranked Moses. Exodus 7 tells us, God commanded Pharaoh, let my people go. Jesus was about to take his people. There would be no request made. He was taking them, and there was none who could hold them back. And this was one of the signs that he was going to do this. Moses, the lawgiver, as a part of the plagues against Egypt to free Israel, God through him turned the Nile to blood. Again, some will say, well, it just turned red. But the scriptures tell us more. The creatures living in the Nile died and it stank. The river didn't run red with blood, the river was blood. The water was turned to blood. Christ, bringing the fulfillment of grace, takes Moses' place by the evidence of water, to wine, a cup of which would be part of the Lord's Supper, another moment in which Jesus changed the old to the new, Passover to the Lord's Supper. See the many involvements here? Jesus knew that they would remember the blood, the blood that helped. It was one step toward the freedom of Israel from Egypt. And what does he say at the Lord's supper? This is my blood shed for you. And slowly all the pieces start to come together. Slowly they start to realize, this one is greater than Moses. Slowly they start to realize, what? Water to wine, water to blood, blood to wine, pointing to Jesus Christ. You'll take part in that next week, next Lord's Day. You'll raise that cup. You'll drink that cup. Remember those connections. He is greater. And so many tried to hold on to the old. They wanted to obey the law and prove themselves worthy. Have you ever tried to be justified by doing good things yourself? Did you think that if I just memorize this many verses, I'll be righteous? If I do this many good things for this many people, I'll be okay. No. No. Because Jesus has already made it clear there is none good except God alone. And it's on His grace that you have to fall for your righteousness, not your doing of good things or obeying the law. You must do as these disciples did. The disciples, upon seeing this, had their faith strengthened. and those who believed gained even more belief. Verse 11, This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Now we aren't told what happens to the servants, even though they saw and they knew who had turned water to wine. But his disciples, those who already believed saw this, believed and because of it, believed more deeply. They were strengthened in their faith by seeing what their Lord had done. Have you ever felt small? Like God couldn't use you for something? You look at others and you think, well, I can understand how he could use that person, but me? He couldn't use me. You're looking at the flesh. Remember what God did. He took a stuttering murderer and used him to lead his people to freedom. Moses. Remember, he told God, he complained, I'm feeble of speech. And that's why he had his brother Aaron speak for him. God permitted that. Why was he away from Egypt in the first place? because he had murdered the Egyptian who was beating the Israel. And yet this is the man God used. We have more examples. We have David, who committed adultery and murder. Saul, who became Paul and wrote so much of the New Testament, was responsible for a number of murders of believers in Jesus Christ. And yet this great enemy, God turned around. made his own and glorified himself with. Don't say that God can't use you, because see it's not about you. It's not a great tool that allows a potter to create beautiful things. A great potter takes the tool and makes beautiful things. Are you yielding to him as a tool in his hand? If you are, expect beautiful things, not because of you, but because of the one who holds you, doing his work. If you're not yielding to him, decide tonight that you will, that you've seen the signs, that this is the real Jesus, and you'll believe. God has condescended to give you all the signs, or some say, attesting miracles, those miracles that attest to His true identity, that you could ever need for belief, even though you should have already believed. You should have already believed. Verse 11, This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed Him. What did He say? to the rich man when they were in Abram's bosom, who wanted to come back into this life, to tell his brothers, no you must believe so that they wouldn't die and be sent to perdition. They have Moses and the prophets. If they don't believe them, they wouldn't believe even if someone rose from the dead. Beloved, you have Moses and the prophets. Do you believe? And how, how patient, how merciful our Lord God, to take on a body of flesh and do all these signs, even though we should have already believed. But he took that extra step, and he proved it. So when you're afraid to witness to an unbeliever, because you feel like they'll laugh at you and mock you... Signs. Eyewitnesses. Proven. Those who don't believe, don't believe because they don't want to believe. Not because it isn't true. You have the truth. Stand on it. No matter what the unbeliever says, yes it's true, God is real. Why? I know God. You can say that if you belong to him. And it is true. He's done the signs to prove who he is. This is who he is. The Messiah, the one to be worshipped. God has gone to great lengths to reassure you of his identity. In this life, have you ever felt hopeless. Have you felt like you just can't get there? Like you just can't make it. You feel close, but the world keeps pressing in on you. And you're trying to accomplish so many great things. Maybe you're shooting for better grades. Maybe you're shooting for a better job. Maybe you're just trying to hold on to that little thing that you have. That's the kind of improper pressure that kills people. As Paul said, I count it all rubbish. Now he doesn't mean you go live in a monastery and hide from the world. He means put all those things in their proper place. Work hard. Work as if working for the Lord as we are commanded. But don't pin your hopes on that thing for which you work. Pin your hopes on Jesus Christ, who has done the work for you. And when that thing that you hope for doesn't come, or is taken away, you still stand. Because your hopes weren't pinned in that thing anyway. Improper pressure is the kind of pressure that kills people. overwork, stress, heart attack, suicide. This same Jesus already died for you so that you don't have to. Don't be like my friend. I showed him all the pictures. I showed him all the proof. I showed him all the signs necessary To know, yes, the coyotes are in the park and you must guard your family. But he couldn't let go of the old, his uncle. Because the old was good. And he failed to grasp the new, my words and the picture. Despite all the evidence to the contrary. And so he walked his family into danger. is the old. Jesus Christ and His covenant of grace with you is the new. You have the signs that this Jesus is the promised Messiah. Now believe Him. Join with me in prayer. Heavenly Father, there exists in all of us a desire to be our own God. As you wear away at that part of us, making it smaller and smaller until one day it is finally gone, we still fight with that desire to prove ourselves to you, of all people, to you, How does the ant prove itself to the elephant? And yet, we seek to prove ourselves to perfect, almighty, all-knowing, omnipresent God. How foolish. Lord, we repent of that before you, even in this moment, and pray that you would help us to completely repent of that quickly, that we would not trust in the flesh, but would instead trust in your spirit. As you turned water to wine, so the ordinary things of our lives become extraordinary in your hands. The things that we devote to you, which should be all the things that we have and are, our skills, our possessions, our emotions, everything, are transformed by your touch and used for amazing purposes. Help us to, instead of holding to the gifts, hold to the giver, instead of holding to the law, hold to the one who created the law and satisfied it. Take us from this place, Lord, with an appreciation of grace, taking pressure off our shoulders, casting all our anxiety on you because you care for us. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.