The Source of Real Life
Intro:
1. Paul Harvey: “You first tell a moon shiner about a man who turned water into wine; & then you have his ear for the rest of the story.”
2. Your life can be like water: simple & without much taste or spice - or your life can be like wine which has taste, spice & enjoyment.
3. Real life: which has meaning, purpose, fulfillment & joy, comes only through a relationship with the Lord. He is the only source of real life!
John 2:1-11
I. v1-5 - The Wine Came from Jesus - Not from His Mother!
A. v3 - She made the request - “They have no wine!”
1. ILL: Keeping the punch bowl filled at my in-laws’ 50th anniversary.
2. The implication of this statement was that she believed Jesus could do something to relieve the embarrassment that would soon become apparent.
a. She knew Jesus would be in character to do something to help out.
b. She knew He had compassion for others.
B. v4 - Jesus made the rebuke - “Why do you involve me - My time has not yet come.”
1. Mary, like many of us, believed that Jesus might not be aware of the situation - but God is all knowing!
2. In the KJV: “Woman, what have I to do with thee?”
a. When I first read that, I though it was harsh & disrespectful!
b. It seemed to me to be out of character for the humble, respectful, Son of God.
c. But this was a mild rebuke, “Mom. I’m in full control. I can handle it!”
3. How often are your prayers to inform God of something He might not be aware of?
C. v5 - Mary, even though rebuked, continues to express her faith.
D. Meaningful life comes from the will of the Lord Himself - not from His mother or anyone else!
II. v6-8 - The Wine Came from Jesus - Not from the Water Pots!
A. v6 - The water pots were for ceremonial cleansing & represented the Jewish ritualistic system.
1. Used for washing the body & clothes (Lev 15:8).
2. Washing could be for several reasons: childbirth (Lev 12:2), leprosy (Lev 14), contact with a corpse (Num 19) or to become a Nazirite (Num 6:9-12).
3. Women would go through a ceremonial washing after their period each month.
B. Where did the water come from?
1. v7 - The Lord demanded that the water pots be filled to the brim so everyone could see that the pots were not the source of the wine!
2. v8 - When He said, “Now draw some out . . .” He wasn’t referring to the pots, but to the original source of the water - the well!
3. Take (φέρω) is in the present tense = continue taking the wine to the MC!
C. Meaningful life comes from the will of the Lord Himself - not from the rituals & ceremonies of religion!
III. v9-10 - The Wine Came from Jesus - Not from the Bridegroom!
A. The wine, indeed, was superior - the best the Master of Ceremonies had ever tasted.
1. v9 - The MC thought it was supplied by the bridegroom - men’s efforts!
2. v10 - The best life you can live on your own efforts offers no comparison to the life your Lord can offer you!
B. Meaningful life comes from the will of the Lord Himself - not from your own efforts!
What will you do with the real source of life?