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The texts for this lesson is John 2:1–11

Key Point

  • God pours out His miraculous love for me by showing me that Jesus is true God, able to care for my every need now and forever.
  • Law: When I find myself in need, prayer is usually the last thing that I think to do.
  • Gospel: God, on the other hand, loves to hear my prayers, and He always takes care of my needs in a better and greater way than I could possibly imagine. He surprises me with His lavish love, especially in His Son, Jesus, who showed He is true God, able to care for all my needs, including forgiving my sins.

Context

  • Thus far, the Gospel of John has taught us that Jesus is the eternal Word, true God, and the Creator of all things. John tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). John’s Gospel then tells how John the Baptist proclaimed Christ as the one who would take away the sins of the world by dying for them, and he also alludes to His Baptism. After this, it relates the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. The first thing these disciples do after being called by Jesus is attend a wedding at Cana in Galilee.

Commentary

  • The apostle John calls the turning of water into wine at Cana the first of Jesus’ signs by which He manifested His glory (2:11). The word for “first” is the same that John uses for “beginning” in the first verse of his Gospel. The repeat of the term in 2:11 emphasizes that the changing of water into wine at Cana reveals Jesus as the Creator of the universe.
    The seven signs in John’s Gospel (2:1–11; 4:46–54; 5:1–18; 6:5–14, 16–24; 9:1–7; and 11:1–45) all confess Jesus as the Creator of the universe. John identifies these miracles as signs for that very reason. Each one proves that Jesus is who He says He is and that He has the authority He claims for Himself.
    Beyond the fact of the miracle’s significance, the account of the wedding at Cana tells us a great deal about the nature of prayer. The basic problem arises when the feast is still going and they run out of wine. When Jesus’ mother realizes this, she tells Jesus about the problem in a clear and straightforward manner: “They have no wine” (2:3).
    Jesus’ reply is a matter of great debate. Some see it as a rebuke of Mary; others do not. Mary’s response is helpful. She says to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you” (v. 5). Jesus’ reply does not affect His mother’s confidence that He will take care of the problem. She does not appear to take it as a rebuke. She tells the servants to listen to Jesus; He’ll do whatever’s best.
    In this way, Mary provides us with a wonderful example of prayer. She brings her request to Jesus and completely trusts Him to do whatever is best. She knows who He is, and she knows He is capable of taking care of the problem.
    For His part, Jesus answers Mary’s prayer without drawing a lot of attention to Himself. Jesus’ concern is that He does not want to rush the cross. Jesus has a three-year ministry of proclamation and healing to perform before His hour (the cross)
    comes. But even though His “hour has not yet come” (v. 4), He provides wine in abundance. But only the servants and His disciples know that He has done it.
    Another striking feature of this text is that Jesus is not concerned about what the people will do with the gift He gives. He makes well over a hundred gallons of wine, and the people have already drunk all the wine that the master of the feast had served.
    When Jesus gives, He gives in abundance. He does not give less because He fears we might abuse the gift. He is the great giver of all things, and when He gives, He gives more than we could imagine.

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