Introduction: Involve Jesus
The book of John is clearly written to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God. It serves to defend His deity with the intent that its audience would believe in Him as the Son of God and, through that belief, attain salvation.
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” – John 20:30-31.
This text details seven miracles known as signs, with each miracle resulting in someone coming to faith. To believe in the context of this book means to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Additionally, we encounter seven powerful “I am” declarations made by Jesus:
– I am the good shepherd – John 10:11
– I am the door – John 10:7
– I am the resurrection and the life – John 11:25
– I am the way, the Truth, and the Life – John 14:6
– I am the true vine – John 15:1
– I am the bread of life – John 6:35
– I am the light of the world – John 8:12
It is also critical to highlight that there are seven witnesses to Jesus’ deity throughout this book.
The First Sign of His Deity – John 2:1-11
The first recorded miracle is the transformation of water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. Throughout the book of John, it is noticeable that Jesus frequently participated in feasts and attended social gatherings. While the author does not specify Jesus’ age at this time, the fact that He already had disciples suggests He was in the early stages of His ministry. We will explore this miracle under the title “Invite, Involve, and Obey Him.”
Invite Jesus
The Bible is meticulous in its details, and in this instance, the author emphasizes that Jesus did not simply gate-crash at the wedding; rather, He was formally invited along with His disciples. The narrative explicitly states, “and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding,” highlighting the significance of this inclusion. To extend an invitation can be interpreted as a gesture of calling someone to join and partake in a shared experience.
Jesus’s presence at the event was not merely coincidental, as His mother, Mary, was in attendance. It is clear that He had a legitimate invitation to the celebration. We can relate the act of inviting Jesus to Revelation 3:20, which states, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.” He does not forcefully enter; instead, He waits for an invitation.
The Apostle John, the writer of this gospel, however, chooses not to disclose the identity of the host or the specific details surrounding the couple’s wedding. This deliberate omission invites readers to reflect on the broader significance of Jesus’ participation in such communal celebrations.
It was during the wedding celebration that an unexpected need arose: they ran out of wine! In Jewish culture, wine is a vital part of a wedding, symbolizing joy and the covenant of marriage. Imagine a wedding today without enough food for the guests—what an embarrassing situation that would be.
Involve Jesus:
One of God’s attributes is omniscience (All-knowing), and we can trust that Jesus was aware of the wine shortage even before Mary approached Him. Yet, He chose not to ‘involve himself’ with the matter. Mary’s action in seeking His help can be seen as an act of intercession.
The author intriguingly doesn’t reveal how Mary knew about the wine shortage, as even the master of ceremonies seemed unaware. When Mary tells Jesus, “They have no more wine,” it’s not just a statement of fact but a heartfelt expression of her expectation that He would take action.
However, approaching Jesus was not easy for Mary. His response initially felt dismissive: “Woman, what does this have to do with me?” It might have sounded like indifference, leaving her feeling uncertain. This reaction is familiar to many of us—when we turn to the Lord in prayer, we sometimes sense silence in response to our pleas. The journey of involving Jesus is often fraught with challenges, leading many to abandon their hopes along the way. Yet, Mary did not allow His cool demeanour to deter her; she remained steadfast in her faith, commanding the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Obey Jesus:
Jesus may not have explicitly assured Mary that He would act, but she boldly demonstrated her faith by telling the servants to do whatever He instructed. The term “whatever” is crucial here; it underscores total openness and trust. This command could encompass anything, regardless of how improbable it might have seemed to the servants.
In Jewish culture, making wine is a demanding process. It requires harvesting grapes, pressing them, and fermenting the juice in wineskins. This meticulous process can take anywhere from a week to almost a month.
The servants were called to a high level of obedience that transcended their ordinary reasoning. They filled the water jars to the brim and then served the water (which turned into wine) to the master of the ceremony—actions that were certainly out of the ordinary.
In verse 10, it seems that neither the master of ceremonies nor the bridegroom realized the miracle that had just happened. Thanks to Mary’s heartfelt request, Jesus stepped in and worked a wonderful miracle to save the day!
Then, in verse 11, we see the impact of this miracle on the disciples. They came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. It’s such a beautiful moment of faith!
Jesus must not only be invited; He must be actively invlved in our lives. When we involve Him, He demands complete obedience to whatever He commands.
Rev. Simon Karani