When I wrote “Examining the Claims of Jesus,” a study guide for seekers on the 1st five chapters of John, I missed the main point of Jesus’ first miracle. I thought he was showing mercy, being kind to his mother and his friends who faced embarrassment because they had run out of wine. I pleaded with the publisher to let me rewrite it for future printings, and thankfully, they did. As Keller says in this week’s sermon:
“This is the greatest movement in the history of the world. These things are calculated. These things were thought through. He wasn’t just saying, “All right, Mom. Okay.” (Tim Keller)
Long before I became a Keller follower, I was a Philip Yancey follower, and he was the one who opened my eyes to the main point of the first miracle in “The Jesus I Never Knew,” explaining that those enormous water jars represented religion, rituals, and man’s way of cleansing — that was not how Jesus would cleanse us to make us “pure brides.”
“Perhaps with a twinkle in his eye, Jesus transformed those jugs, ponderous symbols of the old way, into wineskins, harbingers of the new. …The time for ritual cleansing had passed; the time for celebration had begun.” (Philip Yancey)
Jesus was showing us: out with religion, out with the ways of man to make us clean, and in was coming the power of the blood and the joy of the gospel. When Johnny Cash sings “He Turned The Water into Wine” at San Quentin — just watch their faces. How they need what Jesus offered them with this first miracle: cleansing and joy!
Jesus took the cup of wrath so we could have the cup of joy!
We’ll study the text first and then listen to the sermon. If you’d like to have a transcript of the sermon, you’ll see it below this link:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/lord-of-the-wine-6467/
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week?
Monday: Jesus and His Mother
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what?
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother?
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does?
While I personally disagreed with the emphasis The Chosen put on this miracle being about pleasing his mother, I did like this particular scene in it and thought they caught how Jesus knew this was the beginning of heading to the cross. To skip the part I don’t like and the message from Dallas, start t 1:45.
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)?
Tuesday: The Meaning of the Miracle
5. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why?
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars?
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ?
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not?
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently.
Glenn Scrivener, on this miracle, said many conservative Baptists would have thought Jesus would have turned the wine into water! But God is not legalistic about wine. I’ve been reading “Fool’s Talk” by Os Guinness, showing how God often uses the element of surprise to open our eyes. Guinness takes us to Jeremiah 35, where the Lord opens the eyes of proud legalistic Jews to their disobedience. He says what God asked the Rekabites to do was like Billy Graham inviting the most conservative of Baptists to his home for cocktails.
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2?
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6?
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14?
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle?
Wednesday: Lord of the Feast
Listen through his first point which he concludes with:
“Yes, I come to do self-denial. I come to suffer and I come to be humbled. And if you follow me, you will, too.” There’ll be plenty of self-denial and suffering and humbling, too. But these are just means to an end. Here’s the end: as Master of the banquet, as Lord of the Feast I come.
7. What stood out to you from this and why?
8. Why did Keller say that if you were going to fabricate a first miracle it wouldn’t be this?
Thursday: Your Bridegroom
Listen through his second point which he concludes with:
What does he come to offer? And the two things we see, if you understand him as master of the banquet and you understand him as the bridegroom, the real Lord of the Feast, and the real bridegroom of your heart.
9. What stood out to you from this and why?
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you — and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them.
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend?
Friday: Taste and See!
12. Finish the sermon and share what stands out to you and why.
13. Keller told an anecdote of a mature Christian dismissing an individual for leadership because he didn’t have enough joy. Thoughts?
14. Share a time when you absolutely experienced the joy of the Lord.
Saturday:
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
115 comments
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? The quote by Philip Yancey regarding the ceremonial jars and Jesus representing saying goodbye to the old ways of mend’s ritual cleansing and how Jesus now cleanses us to make us pure brides. A beautiful way to look at all Christ has done for us. The best is yet to come.
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week? This week my husband didn’t want me to go to a fall trip with friends so I said no. This morning he was working on a list of places he and I could go this fall. So unlike him, he goes very few places.
That is sweet, Judy, that you and your husband will take a trip together this fall! I love that you also said the best is yet to come. For the believer only, that buoys my spirit time and time again when all seems so dark and getting darker.
“The best is yet to come.” And the Good is here now also.
Judy — Loved you liked the Yancy quote. And good for you for supporting husband’s wishes!
I love that you honored your husband’s wishes, Judy, and he honored you by planning a trip for you together. What a sweet gift of love and respect to showed one another.
Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why? I’m reading from TPT and verse 4 says….. it will change nothing for you but it will change everything for me. It goes along with the Chosen clip about once you cut the stone it can’t be undone it sets in motion a series of choices
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what? On the 3rd day Jesus arose from the dead and I just read yesterday that the 3rd day of creation God said it is good twice and Jews consider the day twice blessed.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother? I have already listened to part of Tim Keller and he said it’s is the hour of Christ s death. I don’t know maybe He is warning her that things won’t be the same
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does? She is his mama and used to a certain pattern of behavior
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)? I liked the part of the stone being cut and it can’t be undone and things are set in motion. For that is what happened. Yes I have thought about it. I don’t have enough words to express all our Savior went through for us and how He deserves our worship and surrender
.
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
—The Johnny Cash story and song. Dee, I so appreciate the wide variety of musical styles you use on this blog. I grew up hearing Johnny Cash but never knew the story behind the song. He had a unique ministry of sorts with his music.
“Perhaps with a twinkle in his eye, Jesus transformed those jugs, ponderous symbols of the old way, into wineskins, harbingers of the new. …The time for ritual cleansing had passed; the time for celebration had begun.” (Philip Yancey)
—As I consider this Phillip Yancey quote my heart is encouraged to step into the time for celebrating. As I examine my life and habits as a believer and follower of Jesus I am realizing I still “try” to be better. To do better. And to keep rules. Like ritual cleansing. Not in an attempt to earn my salvation by any works because I do understand grace but old habits die hard and I have an enemy feeding lies into my ear. So as I grow in my walk with Jesus I want to live in greater measure in the joy of what Jesus has done for me the sinner and quit striving and just rest more in Him.
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week?
—This past week we were traveling on vacation and just got home late Friday night. I am amazed and appreciative of God’s love and care for us in traveling over 2,500 miles safely.
Safety during a 2500-mile trip is a big praise! Thank you, God for watching over Bev and her family.
Bev, I’m so glad God kept you for those long miles of travel. And thank you for the encouragement to just rest in Him for the work is done! Oh, such a balm for a weary striving heart. I do know that His is the work of salvation and His alone. I can contribute nothing to His work. Yet, I strive so hard to be pleasing to Him and to better myself spiritually, and it is frankly exhausting and seemingly futile much of the time. He who began the good work world complete it. Praise God! I can rest and allow Him to perfect His good work in me.
Oh Bev — that works righteousness is so our default mode. Glad He is freeing you.
Bev, Praising God for safe travels for your family. I love the reminder of resting more in Him and depending less on self striving.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? This video of Johnny Cash has always brought tears to my eyes. I come from a family of rapists, murderers and pedophiles, many serving time in prison. To see the reactions of the audience in this video gives me hope that there is redemption for my family. Many of my unbelieving family members are Johnny Cash fans and I always pray that seeing and hearing this will awaken something within them.
Dawn, no one is beyond the reach of our gracious God. Truly grateful for your heart for your family.
And then there is Dawn, a precious daughter of God! “ and now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…” Romans 15:13
Wow Dawn — praying with you! His power can set anyone free.
So thankful that you know our Father, dear Dawn. I know you are a beacon of light to your family. “With man this is impossible, but not with God, all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
Oh Dawn, Miriam is so right. You are a precious daughter of God.
My paternal grandmother was one of 10 children. God reached down and saved her out of an ungodly family heritage. Since that time many of her prodigy have come to Christ and so did my Grandpa a few months before he died. Keep praying and trusting our faithful God to work.
I stand in agreement with all the sisters here in praying for your family. You are a blessing to me 😉♥️.
Dawn, there is always hope for redemption!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I love how you asked the publishing company to rewrite your study guide. You wanted it to be better than it was, and were humble that you thought you had gotten it wrong.
Thanks, Laura!
I was thinking the same thing, Laura. I’m glad that Dee got to give a revision.
Sometimes when I am Google searching high profile people in the ministry and there are quotes from years ago that are used to imply that these people are misleading everyone and don’t know the truth, I think about myself and how my views have drastically changed as the years have gone by and I get deeper into the scriptures and hopefully more mature. I’m embarrassed about my mindset and things that I said years ago that were very much rigid, legalistic, unmerciful and graceless.
I hope that my immaturity hasn’t negatively impacted anyone.
Dawn, same here. I have been the “older son”, still challenged to take on this persona at times, but grateful for grace abounding in Christ.
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I have often seen the first miracle by Jesus as evidence of His power over creation. I have misgivings with how The Chosen depicted it in the show either although it seemed creative and may have flown from a scripted narrative starting with a question from Mary in a different episode, “If not now, when?”
I love the quote from Yancey: “Perhaps with a twinkle in his eye, Jesus transformed those jugs, ponderous symbols of the old way, into wineskins, harbingers of the new.… The time for ritual cleansing had passed; the time for celebration had begun.”
This made me think that because Jesus came, my life should be a life of celebration. The freedom He bought for me with His blood should infuse joy in my life amidst the challenges I face because He has made everything new, there is no more condemnation for those who are in Him and He is always with me. I think of my friend, Donna, who has lived for almost 30 years with the complications of an accident. She exudes joy despite her condition. She has recently been diagnosed with a tumor in her bladder and while she is in a lot of pain lately, she continues to praise God and keep her joy-true evidence of her new life in Christ many years ago.
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week?
I am very grateful to God for using His Word to encourage my spirit. He brought me the same verse three consecutive days from 3 different sources! The first time was during the convention I attended, the second time was from a Gospel in Life email from Kathy Keller, and the third time was from a You Version devotional. It was like, “Lord, you sure are getting my attention!”
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
I have been down in the dumps thinking about the work (school, church, community) that needs to be done but it seems to me like help is nil to find. This verse reminded me just to press on and press into Jesus knowing that at the proper time, He will allow me to reap a harvest. He is the One who establishes the work of my hands! Psalm 90:17
Thank you, Bing, for the testimony of your joyful friend Donna. Thank you also for highlighting the verse about persevering until the harvest. I needed that. Praying you receive the help you need.
I smile at how He got your attention, Bing.
I love how our Father has given your friend, Donna, the spirit of joy in spite of health difficulties. And so sweet that you received that special verse, three times, Bing!
Dear friends, my friend Donna got a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Please pray for her and for her family. She is a second cousin to my husband, Richard.
Prayers for Bonnie and her husband to have wisdom, healing and peace.
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week?
God surprised me with His joy and strength yesterday when I had a party which I had organized for my mother’s 80th birthday. With the family and friends invited, there was a huge potential for tension and ugliness as had been at several other such gatherings and painful events over the many years. I was overwhelmed at times as I pondered what could happen. I prayed in my weakness just before the party that God would guard my own lips and heart. God gave me the unusual grace to lay aside my deep hurts inflicted over the years by many of the attendees and to greet them all individually with kindness and smiles and interest in their lives. At one point, someone sat down at the piano and several of us gathered around to sing some old hymns. My eyes were full of tears of joy as I imagined a day coming when all God’s children will gather around the throne of the Lamb and sing praises together. It won’t matter anymore the pain we inflicted on one another for the former things will be forgotten in the joy of our Lord forever. I found my heart longing deeply for that glad day and realized I had a foretaste of it yesterday as we sang. I found such joy in realizing that I serve a God who not only makes all things new in that happy home in the future, but He can bring Heaven down to earth even in the here and now. Praise God!
I loved and benefited from last week’s Keller sermon and so look forward to this week’s selection.
Missy, what joy you bring in sharing this truth with us!” I found such joy in realizing that I serve a God who not only makes all things new in that happy home in the future, but He can bring Heaven down to earth even in the here and now. Praise God!”
What a wonderful celebration and heartwarming testimony. I love how God used you and that you were able to sense His presence and our hope of glory.
Oh Miriam — I love this testimony from you and also appreciate how you are encouraging our sisters here.
Miriam, What a blessing to hear your testimony of God’s grace in you celebration time with family and friends
“I found such joy in realizing that I serve a God who not only makes all things new in that happy home in the future, but He can bring Heaven down to earth even in the here and now. Praise God!”
Thank you for sharing this beautiful testimony and the power of God to bring grace and peace to you, dear Missy. So thankful for the way He brought heaven to earth for you, your family and friends on this special day. How perfect with this week’s sermon!! Our God is truly Awesome!!
Monday: Jesus and His Mother
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?
Mary knew who can solve the dilemma, so she went to Jesus. And even though Jesus said His “hour” has not come, she knew that whatever Jesus ends up doing will be good. I also think it showed Mary’s confidence in her son.
I am not sure how to answer this question. I just have the thought that I can go to Jesus when I have a problem. Later, Peter would say, “Who else can we go to, you have the words of life!” Jehoshaphat in the OT, when confronted with a vast army prayed, “We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you.”
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what?
Not sure either. Yancey’s explanation perhaps ties up with “out with the old and in with the new”. Jesus promised on the 3rd day, He will rise. The new wine on the 3rd day signifies Jesus’ resurrection on the 3rd day, heralding everything new for those who are in Him.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “My hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother?
His hour to be revealed as the Messiah? Does this mean that we often circumvent God’s timing in our lives? His ways are higher than ours but they are always perfect in His time.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does?
I had to look up the meaning of the phrase. Non-sequitur is a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it. Often, it arises when the other person is not really listening. I had to laugh when I found out the meaning because I have done non-sequiturs many times!
Jesus already asked Mary why she wanted Him involved in the dilemma of the hour when His time has not come yet. And yet, she went ahead and told the servants to do what Jesus would instruct them to do.
Mary’s response is a normal mother’s response? Mothers know what their children are capable of? When Jesus was growing up, she watched Him, doing things that “she pondered in her heart”. She knew Jesus was God’s Son.
While I personally disagreed with the emphasis The Chosen put on this miracle being about pleasing his mother, I did like this particular scene in it and thought they caught how Jesus knew this was the beginning of heading to the cross. To skip the part I don’t like and the message from Dallas, start t 1:45.
1. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)?
What a poignant and thought-provoking scene! Jesus’ face showed varying emotions of determination (set His face like a flint), sadness (for the love He has for His erring children and the needfulness of his death)) and joy (set before Him-us!) Thaddeus’ narration added to the meaning as well: “Once the first cut has been made into the stone, it can’t be undone. It sets in motion a series of choices…that piece of granite undergoes transformation, and it will never be the same.”
When Jesus (Jonathan) put his hand inside the jar, and water turned into wine, you can see him smile- a sign of gratitude to the Father and perhaps a picture of the very hand that will be nailed to the cross. His sadness was evident as he might have envisioned the pain it would cost him.
Monday: Jesus and His Mother
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?
—I guess to be honest I end up with more questions than answers in my mind about the exchange between Jesus and his mother. I know there were cultural nuances to the situation that color what was happening like humiliation of the family for not having enough wine for the guests at the wedding. The response of Jesus sounds indifferent but I know that was never the case with Him. It would seem to me when Mary approached Jesus with the problem it was a practical problem and for her to solicit her oldest son’s help made sense. He had been invited and had brought a whole entourage with him.
I don’t think she was asking Him for a miracle because this was the first one he performed. I don’t think she had any reason to expect that. But I think there are some who would disagree.
Also from what I read in a traditional Jewish wedding the festivities with relatives and friends lasted for a whole week.
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what?
—Again I had questions as to “the third day” after what. In chapter one John takes us through 4 days of Jesus calling disciples to follow him then in verse one of chapter two he says “on the third day” so that would seem to have completed a week.
But in answer to the question I think the third day has significance in regard to the resurrection of Jesus and the joy that brought. And since wine in the Bible represents joy there is a definite parallel. Jesus’s first miracle brought joy and the greatest and most powerful miracle of all time was the resurrection of Christ which fulfilled all joy to the utmost.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother?
—As the Messiah, Jesus’s “hour” the culminating work of being the atoning sacrifice for the Sin of mankind was still in the future. Mary knew her son was the Messiah and I would think she like the disciples was expecting Him to step up and take charge of His role in leading the Jewish nation so it would seem he was reminding her she was being premature in her expectations of him.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does?
—Again I’m not sure she understood the true meaning of Jesus saying “my hour”. I think it came back to the practical need for more wine and Mary knew Jesus as her eldest son to be resourceful. I’m sure he had proved Himself to be a capable and caring son to her.
Some have speculated she was involved with the wedding and perhaps it was even family. That being the case it would have been natural for her to turn to him.
Also how a person views this exchange depends on a person’s perspective of whether Mary knew Jesus could do the miraculous. Which leads into the discussion of Jesus as fully God but yet fully man and what restrictions might have been on him in the flesh. We know for sure he was sinless and fully God the Son but in the flesh He had to be completely reliant on God his Father in all he said and did. Even the turning water to wine would not have been on his own initiative. But it was truly symbolic of the old religious way of cleansing for sin and the new wine celebration of joy to come.
Sorry for the rabbit trail but these questions are not easy ones. Maybe I am overthinking this and need to just listen to Keller. 😊
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)?
—oh Yes you can’t help but wonder. In this scene Jesus telling the Father he was ready is very poignant. He understood the plan from Eternity past but now in human flesh he would live it out. But I think of what we have learned here together that WE were the Joy set before him. On the other side of the Cross great and complete joy was waiting for Him.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why? How easy it was for Jesus and that it was at a celebration I’d listened to enough of Tim Keller message to know he tied the wedding as Christ is our bridegroom and we will have the celebration of a wedding feast.
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars? 6 is the number of days in creation
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ? Christ brought a new way. He said you don’t put new wine in old wine skins He was showing that His coming was a celebration and that they weren’t to get stuck in the rituals of the past.
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not? I guess I don’t think it’s strange because I ve known it was the first. Few people knew the need. It was a joyous occasion. He began ministry by changing ordinary water into something memorable. That s what He does. He changes our lives for the better
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently. Had first time PT appointment today and I asked that it go smoothly. It did and I like and trust the therapist.
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2? Go to Rekabites, invite them to side room of temple and give them wine to drink.
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6? After being given wine they responded that because of their forefather Jehonadab had given command they and their descendants must never drink wine
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14? To people of Judah he told of the descendants of Rekab obedience and them told them I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not obeyed me.
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle? He wants obedience and it’s possible to obey. Jesus surprises us and I don’t know how they are similar
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?
It was the “third” day….reminds me of 3 days in the belly of a whale, and three days in a tomb. Hmmmm….
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what?
hahaha, I just answered above and then read this question 😉. Great minds think alike!
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother?
He means the time to die. He might have said it to remind her that there is a methodical plan, where He preaches, chooses disciples, and so on. The plan shouldn’t be rushed.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does?
Firstly, I had to look up “non-sequitur!” Apparently it means something that does not follow. So, I’m guessing that it seems like it isn’t part of the conversation; it doesn’t fit. I would have to agree with that after reading it in 5 translations! But, I have already listened to the Keller sermon so I know it doesn’t mean that. I wish I could remember….he says something about her remembering the angel, the birth, and the knowledge that her “Son” was really not hers. Maybe she knows it’s inevitable, so why delay? It’s like she knows He will complete the task.
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)?
I really love The Chosen, so it is very hard for me to critique it. For example, I don’t see that He is doing it to “please His mother.” Perhaps it was an earlier scene, prior to this one? But even the 5 translations I read made it seem as if that is exactly what He was doing. I love the smile He has after it is finished. I also love the look that He and Mary have at the end. Of course they are privy to the future.
I understand He must have known His whole life about His purpose, but it’s hard for me to understand that a child would be able to comprehend His fate. He did have to learn with the rabbis, correct? Why did He have to do that if He already knew everything? He must have had some earthly-ness about Him. Like right before He changes the water to wine, He looks to heaven and seems unsure of Himself. When He tests the water He is amazed. It’s as if He surprised Himself.
5. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why?
Jesus tells the servants to take the wine to the the master of ceremonies (NLT) who proceeds to acknowledge the quality of it to the crowd. This makes the host look good to the guests. I think that is important because it shows a way that God wants us to treat others; to build them up.
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars?
They are large, made of stone, and used for ceremonial washing. They are “changed,” in that Christ used them, overriding their significance.
Monday
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?
What stood out to me is that Jesus responds, “woman” rather than “mother” in verse 4. I looked up the word woman in the Vines dictionary…” in the vocative case, used in addressing a “woman,” it is a term not of reproof or severity, but of endearment or respect, Mat 15:28; Jhn 2:4, where the Lord’s words to His mother at the wedding in Cana, are neither rebuff nor rebuke. The question is, lit., “What to Me and to thee?” and the word “woman,” the term of endearment, follows this. The meaning is “There is no obligation on Me or you, but love will supply the need.” She confides in Him, He responds to her faith. There was lovingkindness in both hearts.”
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what?
The last miracle in the life of Christ was raising from the dead on the third day.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother?
Again I quote from the Vines dictionary… “His next words about “His hour” suit this (what He said prior); they were not unfamiliar to her. Cana is in the path to Calvary; Calvary was not yet, but it made the beginning of signs possible.”
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does?
See above answers
Sharon, Thank you so much for your answer to A. Such an important point. The meaning is “There is no obligation on Me or you, but love will supply the need.” She confides in Him, He responds to her faith. There was lovingkindness in both hearts.”
I loved that from Sharon as well, Patti.
Thanks for sharing the meaning of the word, woman, Sharon. I like that and the passage was more clear to me. It really tied up with what Tim Keller was saying.
Tuesday: The Meaning of the Miracle
4. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why?
That the 6 stone water jars held 20-30 gallons so that means Jesus turned 120-180 jars of water to wine! That is a lot of wine! He asked the servants to fill the jars with water, but He could have just miraculously filled them with wine without asking them to do that. This is teaching me that He is indeed Lord over all things, I can participate in the miracle-filling, drawing, and giving wine to others (hence we can be a part of His work), and that His gift is always the best. I don’t drink wine due to a severe reaction when I was young and inadvertently sipped a drink or two at an official party for adults and we were not supervised and just running around lol. Rabbit trailing
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars?
Not sure. Six is close to the number 7 which often is associated with perfection. There were 6 days of creation and on the 7th day God rested but I cannot correlate these with each other. I am tempted to look this up online but I will let others share first. smile
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ?
Water was turned into wine and there was a celebration as an overflow of Jesus’ generosity. His first miracle was at a wedding and when He comes again, there would be another wedding, the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride!
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not?
I have not really given much thought to this miracle in the past as a strange one. I guess I just thought of it as part of the narrative of Jesus’ life.
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently.
I ask for rain for my little patch of garden. And He has brought rain at different times.
Yesterday, I asked him to let me find my library card and He let me find it!
Glenn Scrivener, on this miracle, said many conservative Baptists would have thought Jesus would have turned the wine into water! But God is not legalistic about wine. I’ve been reading “Fool’s Talk” by Os Guinness, showing how God often uses the element of surprise to open our eyes. Guinness takes us to Jeremiah 35, where the Lord opens the eyes of proud legalistic Jews to their disobedience. He says what God asked the Rekabites to do was like Billy Graham inviting the most conservative of Baptists to his home for cocktails.
5. Turn to Jeremiah 35
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2?
To go to the side rooms of the house of the Lord and to drink wine Jeremiah set before them.
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6?
They said no as their forefather instructed them not to do so.
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14?
He has spoken to His people but they have not heeded and obeyed Him.
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle?
The change in me comes from letting God do it rather than from my efforts. I can strive to make a change in myself, but the real miracle of transformation can only come from God. When I let God fill me, transformation happens.
I sometimes think people read too much into numbers, but since 6 represents man, I’d agree with Yancy that the water jars were man’s way of cleansing and the blood, or wine, God’s way of cleansing.
Thanks, Dee. Agree about reading too much into numbers. This study has been enlightening in many ways. I remember you mentioning Keller’s experience of spending time with a verse after their professor (?) asked them to do so. I tried it afterward and wow! Was I in for a pleasant surprise of conversation with God! 30 minutes passed and I was not done yet! Rabbit trailing again!
Tuesday: The Meaning of the Miracle
5. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why?
—The size of the jars amazed me. They held 20 to 30 gallons each and because they were empty the servants were instructed to fill them. That would have been a rather big task. It was a lot of water and resulted in a lot of wine. It was something that could not go unnoticed. No wonder “the servants who had drawn the water knew”
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars?
—I don’t off the top of my head but now I am curious. 😊
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ?
—Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water which it says they did to the brim. Then he had them draw some out and take it to the head of the wedding feast to taste it. The master of the feast was amazed at what good wine it was and had no idea where it had come from. But the servants knew.
—It would seem a wedding feast and celebration illustrates so many comparisons to Christ as the Bridegroom and the church as his Bride and is rich with symbolism. Also it was at a time and place where many of the people gathered for the wedding celebration were those in Jesus’s life that mattered. It was not a random act.
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not?
—No, partly because it was as I alluded to above in a friendly setting. It seems to me an appropriate place for Jesus to first reveal his power as God. Turning water into wine spoke to the joy of the occasion.
And because Jesus as God was part of the Creation in my mind changing water into wine was a creative act. Also Jesus was not in any way seeking notoriety but He always was benefiting others by his miracles. What he did was for the good of those involved. It revealed the generous and gracious nature of God.
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently.
—Yes, It is my habit to ask for little things because I believe He truly cares about the details in our lives and I have a running conversation with Him most of the time. Some are personal physical needs and
other requests are things that are lost like phones and keys. Both happened recently. My neighbor lost her phone and after I had helped her search car and house by calling it but with no luck. The next morning she still couldn’t find it. So I sent out a text to our small group telling them God knew where her phone was and we asked Him to show her where it was. Within a half hour she found it on a shelf in a closet. Everyone was praising God for that one.
God was so good to answer our prayers.
We don’t pray for close parking spots though because my husband says we need the exercise. 😀
Glenn Scrivener, on this miracle, said many conservative Baptists would have thought Jesus would have turned the wine into water! But God is not legalistic about wine. I’ve been reading “Fool’s Talk” by Os Guinness, showing how God often uses the element of surprise to open our eyes. Guinness takes us to Jeremiah 35, where the Lord opens the eyes of proud legalistic Jews to their disobedience. He says what God asked the Rekabites to do was like Billy Graham inviting the most conservative of Baptists to his home for cocktails.
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2?
—to bring them to the house of the Lord into one of the chambers and offer them wine.
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6?
—They refused to drink the wine because their ancestor had instructed their family to never drink wine.
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14?
—He rebukes Judah and the people of Jerusalem for not listening to God’s instructions to them in contrast to the Rechabites who had followed the instructions completely their ancestor Rechab had given them.
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle?
—I’m sorry but the comparison on this one is lost on me. Maybe I am just tired tonight but I can’t quite put this together?? Again I think I need to get started on the Keller sermon for more enlightenment.
You aren’t lost — I got ahead — next week’s sermon will explain the connection!
Dee, this sermon is excellent! Sensory experience language-you are invited to experience God.
I totally agree, Bing!!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? Dee, I love this that you learned from Yancy’s writing: explaining that those enormous water jars represented religion, rituals, and man’s way of cleansing — that was not how Jesus would cleanse us to make us “pure brides.” There is so much in this story that I had not really grasped this deeply. I am loving the sermon by Keller. And I love the looks on the faces and in the eyes of the men in prison as they hear Johnny Cash sing this song. I wonder in my heart how their hearts were changed.
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week? I have experienced some sweet things from our Father. My dear neighbors, Subha and Ram, came over and pressured washed my little patio. They had borrowed a little table for their daughter’s Graduation party and they saw I was getting ready to clean the little patio. They told me “do not say ‘no’, we want to do this.” 🙂 They are such precious neighbors and friends.
Patti, how precious are your neighbors! Such a kiss from our Bridegroom!
Love this kiss from the King, Patti.
God bless Subha and Ram! 💕
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading? That Mary would have said anything to Jesus about the party running out of wine. Why? He has no responsibility or obligation to be concerned about the wedding menu.
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what? I never noticed the 3rd day before. Jesus rose on the third day. This wedding event is a symbol of what is to come.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” The time when he will be sacrificed as an atonement for our sins. Why do you think He says this to his mother? Maybe to test her and her belief in what the angel had told her before his conception.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does? It seems as though Jesus is saying that it’s not his problem and Mary tells the servants to do whatever he says, which would mean do nothing. My only guess is that she is being prompted by the spirit and maybe even she doesn’t know why she responded that way.
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Now knowing that it has to be more significance than just a miracle performed because he was obedient to his mother and she asked him to, I am looking forward to hearing the sermon and finding out the deeper meaning. Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)? Yes quite frequently.
Yes, quite frequently. 🙂
5C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ?
Jesus turned water into wine so the wedding could continue. He was asked to help by His mother, Mary. I know that only a few people actually knew what happened. The servants, Mary, maybe some of His disciples (?), and Jesus. Maybe it was the first to insure the ones who knew, were amazed and fully confident in Him? I’m not sure. TK says it was perfect as the first miracle because it showed the change from being so ritualistic to being changed into a true follower of Christ.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not?
Not really. It could have been anything. This was a “safe” one. No glitz, no glory for all to know. I keep thinking that this was in Galilee, where people might have accepted Him. He was rejected by his own “kind,” in Nazareth. Someone mentioned it might have been a family wedding. I wonder about that though, because of the whole intimate rejection of Him as Christ in His own family 🤷🏻♀️.
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently.
I ask for all things! Little count too 😉. I ask for patience, guidance, etc.
I have asked for clarity in grading papers, so as to get it all completed in time.
Little things count too! 🙂
Laura, as a teacher myself, I love this-“I have asked for clarity in grading papers, so as to get it all completed in time.”
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why?a lot! When Jesus told Mary His time hasn’t come. Perhaps Jesus was letting his mother know this relates to his death and resurrection. The marriage and the wine.
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what? Yes. It represents His resurrection. The old way of access to God vs. the new way of access to God. Works by man which had to be repeated over and over, never finished, versus the work of Jesus via His death, burial and resurrection which means it is finished, once and for all. Not just getting to have access to God temporarily through a priest until a sacrifice is made again, but in full for eternity through Jesus Christ. That the old man can now become new in Christ.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother? His death and resurrection. For some reason this verse in the Song of Songs just came to mind, Song of Songs 8: 4 Don’t awaken Love before its time. Not sure if it’s related, but if it is, it’s big! I need to ponder more!
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does? I’m not sure. I do know Mary has always had a posture of submission to and reverence of God. I think she might not understand what He is saying and so instead of questioning Him she submits even though she doesn’t understand, or she does know He can fix this and is walking in faith.
Love the “don’t awaken love before its time!”
Rebecca, your answer to C gave me goosebumps! “His death and resurrection. For some reason this verse in the Song of Songs just came to mind, Song of Songs 8: 4 Don’t awaken Love before its time. Not sure if it’s related, but if it is, it’s big! I need to ponder more!” Share after you ponder, please.
Amen to Dee and Bing. What a beautiful verse to come to your mind, Rebecca!
Wednesday: Lord of the Feast
Listen through his first point which he concludes with:
“Yes, I come to do self-denial. I come to suffer and I come to be humbled. And if you follow me, you will, too.” There’ll be plenty of self-denial and suffering and humbling, too. But these are just means to an end. Here’s the end: as Master of the banquet, as Lord of the Feast I come.
7. What stood out to you from this and why?
—the first thing that stood out to me was from verse 11. “He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.”
This was a crucial first step in Jesus demonstrating openly Who He really was and a crucial step in the the lives of his disciples to believe and put their faith in Him. As Keller says it was not just a miracle but a miraculous sign. I am growing to love this miracle and the story surrounding it because it is reveals the gracious, giving heart of God played out through the human Jesus. I do like the way The Chosen plays out the story with subtle tones as it is told in that Christ didn’t come making his first miracle dramatic and in a crowd stopping demonstration. But nonetheless it revealed His glory to those who mattered and they believed.
8. Why did Keller say that if you were going to fabricate a first miracle it wouldn’t be this?
— Because of the fact it isn’t typical of any leader of a great movement when they make their first public presentation. Generally speaking they always carefully craft it and make sure everyone knows what they are about and what they are doing. This really was all about Who he was and Keller says this passage shows us that. “…he reveals himself to be the true master of the banquet, the real Lord of the Feast.”
. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you upon the first reading and why? I love that we are doing these great sermons by Keller. There are so many things in this scripture that I am seeing differently. The “third day” has taken on new meaning for me and I love that Keller pointed out that this first miracle is not just a miracle, but a miraculous sign. This statement really spoke to me: “It is an acted out picture to be shown by Jesus, to be all that He is and that Christianity is.” A biography of the events of His life in a parable.
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day?” If so, what? I do see the significance of the third day. It represents how He is to become our bridegroom. It is His wedding gift to us, to take our sins upon Himself, and go to the cross for us and all that we have done. It represents the gift of Him wanting to be, not only our King, our Shepherd, our Father, but our Bridegroom.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says “my hour?” Why do you think He says this to his mother? I was helped so much in seeing this more clearly through this sermon! Jesus is looking to the future, knowing that the only way He can produce wine for His wedding or unite with His bride (us) is going through the hour of His own death. It also corresponds with Jesus’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The cup He had to drink was God’s wrath for our sins; God turning away from His own Son because all sin was upon Him in that moment on the Cross and that anguish of this caused Jesus to sweat drops of blood, as He prayed.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur.” Why do you think she responds as she does? When Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says to do, she seems to be understanding his thought process…maybe….she is just leaving it in the hands of Jesus.
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed (for us!)? I think this is why Jesus was called a man of sorrows. He knew why He was sent from the Father God, yet He knew what it would entail to complete God’s plan for believers.
I do love that you included the clip from The Chosen. It shows the seriousness in which Jesus approaches the issue of the wine. It was not like “magic”; it was a communication with the Father and it a solemn demonstration of things to come. Yet, it was part of the pattern of His life. He brought joy and new life to the wedding, as He brought joy and new life to us, His believers.
I always remember how Paige talked about Gethsemane and Jesus asking “Is there any other way?” And the Father said, “Yes — if you don’t want Paige.”
That touches my Spirit. Thank you. Prayers for your morning class tomorrow.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I love the insights from Yancey and Keller about Jesus’ first miracle. Yes, running out of wine was equivalent to a social disaster at a wedding, but Jesus did so much more than help the host “save face”. I like Yancey’s description of those “ponderous symbols of the old way” in referring to the jugs. Ritual cleansing was out – the new wine of joy was in!
2. How have you experienced the wisdom, power, or mercy of the Lord this week?
I was a guest at my son and his wife’s home, visiting them and their newborn son (my third grandson). This is their first baby. I needed wisdom as to when to speak, when to stay silent, to remember not to offer advice when it is not asked for, and to remember how I felt when I had a new baby…so full of questions! And I had a lot to learn, too, as so much has changed with the way they do things now!
Great example of wisdom, Susan. Esp with daughter-in-law!
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2?
To invite them into the Lords temple. He was told to take them into an inner room and give them some wine.
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6?
They would not drink the wine. They said their ancestors forbade it.
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14?
He wanted the Rekabites to go to the Israelites and tell them how they follow their ancestors, implying that the Israelites don’t follow God as well.
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle?
The ceremonial urns represent the old ways, following the rules. The fact that Jesus used them represented the new way to live, as followers of Him.
The Rekabites followed the rules of their ancestors; they were also ritualistic. Because they were faithful, God gave them new life with Him.
5. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why? One thing I thought of this time that I never have before is the comment that usually the good wine is served first and the poorer wine last. At the last supper Jesus said about the wine, “This is my blood which is shed for you.” His blood was better than the better than the first blood (animal sacrifices) that was shed.
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars? Six represents mankind and his falling short of perfection.
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ? Jesus told the servants to fill the six jars with water, dip out the water and take it to the master of the feast who was surprised to find that it was better wine than they had been serving at first.
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not? Up until now I could never figure out why this would be the first miracle, it seemed so pointless. When Jesus said that his hour had not yet come, I couldn’t figure out why He went ahead and did the miracle anyway. How could He say His hour hadn’t come when obviously it had! Or did He start His ministry prematurely because Mary asked Him to? Now I’m beginning to suspect that He is speaking symbolically of His crucifixion.
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently. I do. It is usually for getting to work on time when the traffic is bad, finding my debit card
Like your little things examples. 🙂
7. What stood out to you from this and why?
I think it’s interesting that the word that explains who Jesus is and what His plan is, is only mentioned once in the New Testament. That must mean it is important and for us to pay attention to it. It’s a term that means the “master of ceremonies.” Not only does He save the party, it’s his “calling card,” in that He is showing the people that He will be directing the show from now on.
8. Why did Keller say that if you were going to fabricate a first miracle it wouldn’t be this?
Most people, who are wanting to “kick off” a movement, would make sure to begin with some impressive action. The reason for this being the first, and so demur, must be that it truly happened. People actually saw this occur. You would never use this in a biography of Jesus, because it was so small and inconsequential.
From Laura –
Not only does He save the party, it’s his “calling card,” in that He is showing the people that He will be directing the show from now on.
Thursday: Your Bridegroom
Listen through his second point which he concludes with:
What does he come to offer? And the two things we see, if you understand him as master of the banquet and you understand him as the bridegroom, the real Lord of the Feast, and the real bridegroom of your heart.
9. What stood out to you from this and why?
—In this section I found Keller’s thoughts on hell very interesting. He quoted someone as saying “If you don’t understand hell, you’ll never understand God’s love.”
I understand Keller’s admission of being very upset by the idea of hell. But a minister’s sermon pointed out the experience of hell is being rejected by God and that is what Jesus was facing at this wedding as he began the march to his “hour”. Keller’s comment was “…to be cut off from God is far worse… But Jesus Christ, since his relationship with God was infinitely greater than ours, therefore, his hell would have been infinitely greater than all of ours put together.” He experienced the hell of rejection and separation from God his Father but demonstrated the powerful love of God to us by his death so that we could become his bride. So we could be embraced in his perfect and complete love. Completely accepted! That is a powerful love!
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you — and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them.
—I think the tragedy of such thinking that he has described here is the lie from Satan that Christianity is about rule following and is restrictive especially in today’s culture which says “do your own thing”. But in reality Christianity is all about the Person of Jesus Christ and having a relationship with Him that actually sets people free. The challenge is to “know” Him as the Lord of the Feast who gives us wine ( joy). The choice wine, the best wine!
For far too many years I struggled with the rules of legalism and ended up not feeling accepted. But now I am blessed to have come to a place of enjoying the wine He offers.
I can share my experience and the truth from God’s Word of Who he really is and what He is really like.
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend?
—This is something I am just beginning to understand. I’ve always seen myself as part of the “church” Christ’s Bride. But I hadn’t thought if myself in terms of personally or individually. But rather just part of a greater whole. But I think I am beginning to understand just as my relationship to Him in this life on earth is personal that at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Jesus) when He as the Bridegroom will come to each of us and personally embrace us. Wiping away all tears and celebrating with each of us. I will actually get to experience one on one, literally face to face with Him. He will tell me he loves me and I will know and be known. I can’t explain how deeply that thought touches my heart.
Love this, Bev: He as the Bridegroom will come to each of us and personally embrace us. Wiping away all tears and celebrating with each of us. I will actually get to experience one on one, literally face to face with Him. He will tell me he loves me and I will know and be known. I can’t explain how deeply that thought touches my heart.
“Wiping away all tears and celebrating with each of us. I will actually get to experience one on one, literally face to face with Him. He will tell me he loves me and I will know and be known. I can’t explain how deeply that thought touches my heart. “
you made me cry here…how beautiful.
Bev — I loved this – -thanks for reminding me:
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them.
5. Read John 2:6-12
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why? Jesus wanted the headwaiter to taste the wine first. The headwaiter called to the bridegroom that usually the good wine is served first, yet this family has kept the best wine for last. Jesus demonstrating the He is the best wine; His blood was given for His bride, those who love and follow Him. The best is yet to come.
B. Do you see any significance insixstone water jars? The six jars represent incomplete; seven is the number of completeness. The custom of purification of the Jews was incomplete, yet the purification of our sins through the blood of Jesus is perfect and complete.
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ? It is the pattern for the rest of the life of Jesus, that culminates in His crucifixion (wedding) that will give the gift of His blood for His bride (those who believe in Him).
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not? I have always seen it as a joyous moment miracle, but had not thought of it in such depth in the past. He is showing the future of His own life, but no one realizes the full meaning of this sign. I love that Keller points out that He offers us HIS wine, so that we may taste God and know joy. The is the first hint of the purpose of His ministry: “When His time does come.”
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things?” If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “Yes” to a little thing recently. Yes, I often am praying these days, just to get through a normal day and that the Lord will be my day planner! I had a number of errands to do and had to leave my husband at home alone. The Lord blessed me over and over, with being able to get in and out of several stores, light traffic, protecting me from someone, who almost backed into my car, and, like Dawn, I briefly misplaced my credit card. The Lord truly gives me new mercies every morning. Praising Him!
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2? Bring them into the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink!
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6? They would not drink the wine, according to a vow they had taken… the old ways were their ways.
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14? The Lord God had spoken to them again and again, but they would not listen to Him. They are continuing to follow the old ways….I am with Bev, not sure about this….
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle? This reminds me of your book “The Jesus Who Surprises”! Jesus always does things a different way than we was expected. He certainly does in my life! He way is always better!
Patti, So grateful how the Lord ordered your time running errands and protected you from your car getting hit. And found your credit card. He is so good. 💕
From Patti: Asking the Lord to be her day planner!
Wednesday: Lord of the Feast
Listen through his first point which he concludes with:
“Yes, I come to do self-denial. I come to suffer and I come to be humbled. And if you follow me, you will, too.” There’ll be plenty of self-denial and suffering and humbling, too. But these are just means to an end. Here’s the end: as Master of the banquet, as Lord of the Feast I come.
6. What stood out to you from this and why?
“This is not just a miracle; it is a miraculous sign. …You would never invent for your inaugural sign a miraculous solution to a mere social embarrassment… if I was inventing a life of Jesus, I would want to make sure that the first miracle was extremely quintessential. You want something more dramatic He wants to show he is the Master of the banquet, Lord of the Feast.”
Jesus has the perfect way of upending my seemingly wisest interpretation of His metaphors. It is incredible how He reveals Himself on all occasions in the Bible and with such humility but confidence in who He is. I saw this story more as the power of God and the end to itself and stopped short of the true meaning rather than the means to show His glory. I am starting to see His majesty and beauty in the pages of the Bible. Thank you, Dee, for sharing this study with Tim Keller.
7. Why did Keller say that if you were going to fabricate a first miracle it wouldn’t be this?
One would need to be more dramatic and quintessential rather than low-key and not merely “invent a miraculous solution to a mere social embarrassment”.
“I am starting to see His majesty and beauty in the pages of the Bible. Thank you, Dee, for sharing this study with Tim Keller.”
I agree 😊
Amen! I agree with both of you! 🙂
9. What stood out to you from this and why? The tie in with Moses miracle water to blood and Jesus is seeing water to wine but it’s the blood of the new covenant Jesus is sitting in the midst of all this joy, sipping the coming sorrow. The custom of ceremonial washing is changing We are now washed and cleansed by His blood.
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you — and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them. That we need a relationship with Christ and understanding that He came to give fullness of life and so we can have His joy.
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend? Jesus my Bridegroom someone to adore and set my heart upon. My shepherd and Father someone to guide me. My Friend someone I can talk to can also be my Bridegroom
So good from Judy:
The tie in with Moses miracle water to blood and Jesus is seeing water to wine but it’s the blood of the new covenant Jesus is sitting in the midst of all this joy, sipping the coming sorrow. The custom of ceremonial washing is changing We are now washed and cleansed by His blood.
Thursday: Your Bridegroom
Listen through his second point which he concludes with:
What does he come to offer? And the two things we see, if you understand him as master of the banquet and you understand him as the bridegroom, the real Lord of the Feast, and the real bridegroom of your heart.
He came to offer festival joy. His calling card is 150 gallons of wine. He came to show us who He is and what He came to do. You are thinking of your own wedding; Jesus was thinking of His own wedding and what it would take to have that wedding. What wine it would take to provide for the wedding?
2 things he offers He is the real Lord of the feast and the real bridegroom of our heart
9. What stood out to you from this and why?
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you — and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them.
It is a temptation to think that God is a killjoy. I once thought He was. That He was only about His rules. Instead of looking at His laws as His ways of caring for me, I felt bound. Understanding the freedom we have in Christ, experiencing His unconditional love, and looking to joy eternal now has given me a godly perspective towards the temporal nature of earthly things. Jesus came to give us true joy. “Seek ye first the kingdom of god, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJ
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend?
I am still truly learning to relate to Jesus as my Bridegroom. I think of my own wedding vows with Richard in 1988-“to have and to hold, in sickness and in health…till death do us part”. There will be a parting with my earthly bridegroom, Richard. But not with Jesus, my heavenly Bridegroom. Nothing can separate me from His love. On planet earth, there is a breaking of wedding vows, but my Jesus will never break His vows with me. His embrace will never let go (kept in Jesus). His love for me is all seasons!
No parting from my heavenly bridegroom! Yes.
I think of Laura (smile) and her interpretative dance of “Lord of the Dance” when I picture Jesus and the disciples at the wedding feast. I am going to FB later and watch it on our FB group page. This is Gaither’s rendition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsRE37jpUOw
I love this, Bing! : I think of Laura (smile) and her interpretative dance of “Lord of the Dance” when I picture Jesus and the disciples at the wedding feast
Awwww….love you Bing! ♥️
Friday: Taste and See!
12. Finish the sermon and share what stands out to you and why.
—Arghhhhh! I can’t begin to relate back here all that has stood out to me in the rest of this sermon or I would just have to copy and paste all of it here. But here is some of it. 😊
Keller quotes Edwards saying “….the Bible pushes you beyond knowing about the goodness and the power and the holiness of God, to tasting the goodness and the power and the holiness of God.”
Keller’s first point is sensation.
Understanding the sensory side of the miracle has me experiencing the sense of being ravished, feeling delight and enjoying the sweetness and as Keller said “The love of God for me, outshines what people are saying about me, and therefore, I’m not afraid. And the wisdom of God out-tastes my own wisdom, and therefore, I’m no longer anxious. And the mercy of God out-tastes what other people are saying about me, and therefore, I’m not ashamed. Jesus offers you wine, a feast, powerful sensation, a senses filling experience of God, not just a set of beliefs,”
I love the taste of the wine God offers us. The joy He brings to my life as I have tasted and experienced Him.
That was the first point but the second point is reception and this one runs deep with me and with all of us I am sure. Keller says it is complete reception. And then as he goes on to elaborate about how Jesus is in reality the Bridegroom to me, to us. Keller paints a beautiful picture of weddings and the groom’s reaction to a bride as she comes to him in marriage. He points out the glory of this situation and said this miraculous sign reveals his glory. It’s all Jesus and I get to be the recipient of all he offers me if I come with nothing and submit to Him for everything He brings me as my Groom.
I’ll stop with this last quote.
“Jesus Christ, if he comes into your life, every little problem is never too small for his detailed care. If a God with that omnipotent power comes into your life, invite him into your life. A God with that omnipotent power comes into your life with that omniscient and omnipresent love and concern for you. What in the world are you afraid of? Go to him with little things.”
13. Keller told an anecdote of a mature Christian dismissing an individual for leadership because he didn’t have enough joy. Thoughts?
—Keller asked “Do you not know that even though I know life can be really hard, you have power over your joy?” And in regards to the man who was not joyful enough he said “we should take some responsibility for the level of joy in our lives”.
I don’t necessarily like using the word happy in place of joy but it is the same principle as in the statement Happiness is a choice. I would say the level of joy in my life is the result of my choices. And if I choose Jesus. It will result in joy. Joy in the glory of what He has done for me as I taste Him and find that he is good and that I am completely received by Him.
14. Share a time when you absolutely experienced the joy of the Lord.
—This morning. I got an email from my closest friend Lynda whose mentally and physically handicapped adult son has been through very hard things regarding his care. My sweet friend who is unable to care for her son has cried many tears at the feet of Jesus regarding Richie’s needs. She has sacrificed financially as well to cover expenses that state funds should have been meeting but the bureaucracy was failing to get in place for the current care givers. Also much funding has been cut for the most needy in our society. But for God!! As his guardian Lynda put in a request for additional funding under the direction of the case worker with little hope of receiving anything. The case worker even said they will probably deny it but you can appeal. Well but for God! The funding has been approved more than quadruple what he has been receiving and will fully cover the cost of his care giver and some much needed equipment he needs. God has done exceedingly abundantly above what we could have even thought of. We prayed and He has answered graciously. Along with that the new care giver really loves and cares for him so well and his needs are not easy.
Lynda reminded me of some things I had specifically said and prayed for that I believed God would do and I’m feeling like I’ve tasted some very good wine this morning. (Tears of joy!)
3. Read John 2:1-5
A. What stands out to you from the first reading and why?
Just that Jesus’ mother, Jesus, and His disciples were all invited to a wedding. It’s a reminder of His humanity. Just like us, there were times to work hard, to eat, sleep, pray, and to enjoy a celebration and have fun. I loved how The Chosen portrayed that wedding scene, with Jesus and all His friends laughing, eating, drinking, and yes – dancing. Jesus is not only accessed when we are in church. He is present in our everyday activities and celebrations, too.
B. Do you see any significance that the first miracle took place on “the third day”? If so, what?
I’m not sure; in John 1:29 “the next day” John the Baptist saw Jesus coming and called out that He was the Lamb of God. In John 1:35, it starts with “the next day” and John again calls Jesus by this title. Then in 2:1 it opens with “on the third day”. Jesus was raised on the third day. Whether this is simply John being chronological with the events he’s writing about, or whether we’re to read into this, I am not sure.
C. What does Jesus always mean when He says, “my hour”? Why do you think He says this to His mother?
“My hour” refers to the time of His death. I’m thinking that as Jesus grew into adulthood, He and his parents had conversations. Wouldn’t they have shared the things that happened to them before his birth? The angel visiting Mary, Joseph’s dream? They likely talked together about what His calling and purpose was to be. So when Jesus said this to Mary, I believe she understood what He was referring to. She was asking Him to do a miracle, which as of yet, He had not done. So for Him to do this would mean the beginning of the progression of events which would lead up to His death.
D. Keller says Mary’s response seems like a “non-sequitur”. Why do you think she responds as she does?
I had to look-up the definition of non sequitur: a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement. Jesus’ statement to Mary seems harsh and seems to be a “no” to her request. Yet she tells the servants to do whatever He tells you to do. Maybe she is just trusting her son to do as he sees best, knowing that he will do what is right at that moment. She leaves it in his hands.
“She leaves it in his hands.” So good, Susan.
4. What are your thoughts on the above? Have you wondered what it must have been like for Jesus to know, all His earthly life, where He was headed? (for us)
I have to admit that for much of my Christian life, the miracle of the wine, while definitely showing His power over everything, was kind of a yawn for me. It didn’t seem as dramatic as the healing of a leper or a paralytic. I love how The Chosen portrayed it, and I think they got it right. To have Jesus send everyone out of the room, wanting to be alone with His Father, to pause to think carefully about what He was about to do, and it’s meaning, how He says, “I’m ready, Father.” How it flashes back to Nathanael describing how you make the first cut in the stone, and the process of transformation. How He sees his own reflection in the clear water before turning it into wine. I love it all. I think it helped me to see, for the first time, what this miracle signified.
I loved it too, Susan! To have Jesus send everyone out of the room, wanting to be alone with His Father, to pause to think carefully about what He was about to do, and it’s meaning, how He says, “I’m ready, Father.” How it flashes back to Nathanael describing how you make the first cut in the stone, and the process of transformation. How He sees his own reflection in the clear water before turning it into wine
5. Read John 2:6-12.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading and why?
I wonder if some of those servants believed in Jesus too, after knowing how He turned the water that they had poured into those pots into wine.
B. Do you see any significance in six stone water jars?
There may be a significance to the number of pots, but I don’t know what it is. It may be that John was simply reporting the details, that there were 6 pots.
C. What happened and why do you think this was the first miracle of the Christ?
There were six stone waterpots used for the Jewish custom of purification. Jesus instructed the servants to fill them up with water. Then He told them to draw some out and take it to the headwaiter. The water had changed into wine, and the headwaiter said he’d never seen a ceremony where the best wine was saved until later; ususally, the best wine was served first, and when everyone had drunk a lot, then the poorer quality wine was served. I am not sure why this was Jesus’ first miracle. Maybe it was just the opportune moment for Him to do something….it showed His power over creation, it showed His concern for others, it was a sign representing a greater truth, it helped His disciples believe in Him.
D. Does this seem like a strange first miracle to you? Why or why not?
I don’t know. In the OT, we see God has power to change things, like turning the Nile into blood. He created a strange kind of food, manna, for his people in the wilderness. He has control over nature, like parting the Red Sea. So while not a miracle of physical healing, it showed Jesus having the same power as God the Father over nature/creation.
E. Do you ask the Lord for “little things”? If so, what do you typically ask Him for during the day? Share a time He said “yes” to a little thing recently.
I sometimes ask for patience, for the strength to keep going if I’m really getting tired (like at work), for safety or protection walking to my car if it’s dark after my shift. I’ll ask for the ability to keep my mouth shut. Yesterday when leaving work, I was a bit irritated with one of the nurses who I’d given report to, and when I was leaving, I was muttering to myself and almost said a really bad word – but then I said “No, Lord – I don’t want to say that!” Even if only to myself with no one else to hear.
6. Turn to Jeremiah 35.
A. What invitation does God tell Jeremiah to give to the Rekabites in verses 1-2?
He tells Jeremiah to bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
B. How do they respond in verses 5-6?
When Jeremiah set wine before them and told them to drink it, they refused, saying that Jonadab, the son of Rechab, their father, commanded them not to drink wine; not they nor their sons.
C. What is the Lord’s rebuke in verse 14?
It seems that the Lord is rebuking the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, not the Rekabites, because God said that they (His people) did not receive instruction by listening to His words, while in contrast, the words of Jonadab the son of Rechab about not drinking wine, have been observed, and so the Rekabites do not drink wine, having obeyed their father’s command. God says to His people, “I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not listened to Me.”
D. What is God’s point, and how is it similar to the point of the 1st miracle?
God point: The Rekabites obey the words of their father; why don’t My people listen to Me? God’s people don’t listen, even though God sent prophets to them again and again. How does this correlate to the miracle? Maybe in that the Israelites were all about following so many rules, like their rules for washing and purifying themselves, but they didn’t really obey God in the ways that He wanted them to obey. In the OT, God often expressed being tired of all their rituals and ceremonies, while they oppressed the poor and didn’t care for the widows and orphans nor practice justice. It was all about outward show. If the story in Jeremiah was about a people group who obeyed by refusing to drink the wine, then maybe the metaphor could be in this miracle that obeying God means drinking the wine.
I do think since six represents man that the water jars were man’s way of making himself clean and the wine, or the blood, was God’s way. But not positive! 🙂
7. What stood out to you from this and why?
Keller said, “this is not just a miracle, but a miraculous sign”. It’s a picture of what Christianity is all about. For a first miracle, it seems not very dramatic. Jesus does not raise the dead or walk on water for His first miracle. He deals with a party about to go sour. Why did Jesus do this miracle first? How does it reveal his glory?
This miracle shows us who Jesus was. After changing the water into wine, Jesus tells the servants to take it to the “master of the banquet”. This is the person who is the “toastmaster”, the one who was hired to preside over the party and coordinate all the activities. Jesus saves this man’s reputation. In doing so, Jesus reveals Himself to be the real Lord of the feast.
Why is creating so many gallons of the most delicious wine to keep the party going His very first miracle? Because Jesus is saying, “I come as Lord of the Feast.”
8. Why did Keller say that if you were going to fabricate a first miracle it wouldn’t be this?
If you were making-up something about Jesus, you wouldn’t invent a tale of a miraculous solution to a mere social embarrassment. Any leader of a new group, when going public, is going to do something really big, and make it known what the group is all about. This miracle seems like not a big deal at all.
9. What stood out to you from this and why?
Lord of the Feast is not only about a future feast with the finest food and drink for His people, but also the day when every tear will be wiped away, there will be no more death, and there will be joy.
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you – and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Well, I can be one of those people of a more serious nature. I can take prayer and worship and spiritual practices very seriously. I’m probably not a “bubbly” personality. Jesus, as Lord of the Feast, comes to make the world “run with wine”. This is not a matter of sinning in order to show God’s grace (as in let’s drink, party hard, do whatever….this isn’t about what our culture defines as a good time). But I could visualize the flowing wine and allow it to let me lighten up and encourage those who may not know Jesus that He’s not a heavenly bookkeeper, keeping accounts of rules broken. If you only knew Him, you’d know what real joy, real life, is.
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend?
Shepherd is like the one who leads and guides me and keeps me safe. To relate to God as Father is for me to be as a small child to Him. Friend is one I can confide in and trust. But Bridegroom is an entirely different level of intimacy. Keller said that God wants to relate to us as a husband to a wife. And He wants us to give ourselves to Him as a wife gives herself to her husband. It means, to me, a very high level of vulnerability. The imagery in The Song of Songs comes to mind when I think of God as my Husband. Coming away with Him to “our garden”….leaning on my Beloved….hearing Him call me “my love, my dove”.
Recently when I was disappointed in my own marriage and feeling a lack of love and care, I was praying using “imaginary prayer”. I read about this kind of prayer in a book. It’s when you imagine that you are having a conversation with Jesus and imagine what He would say back to you. There’s no right or wrong, as long as what you imagine He’d say lines up with Scripture. (For example, Jesus wouldn’t say, “Oh, I can understand why you hate that person – that’s okay.”) So I imagined Jesus telling me to “run home”. You’re feeling hurt, you need words of comfort – run home to Me. There you will hear My voice calling you my Beloved.
I love how you bring us things from the branch of Christianity that wants to taste, touch, and see — and not just hear.
12. Finish the sermon and share what stands out to you and why.
Jesus shows us what He came to do. This miracle does not mean that Jesus changed His mind, or said, alright mom, I’ll do it.” Jesus said that his time had not yet come. What might He have been thinking about? His wedding day. Jesus had the awareness that He was The Bridegroom. He called himself that to his disciples, and John the Baptist called himself a friend of the Bridegroom. Revelation describes the great wedding feast, with the Bride dressed beautifully for her husband, and the wedding feast of the Lamb. The ultimate consummation with happen then, when Jesus is united with His Bride.
Why is Jesus troubled by his mother’s request? He is thinking about what it will take for Him to provide wine for His wedding feast. He says, literally, “My hour has not yet come.” “The hour” means the hour of His death. Mary says, “They need wine for the wedding feast”, and Jesus says, “It’s not My time to die yet.” What’s happening in the present is a parable, a pattern. He doesn’t have to die to create wine for this wedding feast, but the only way Jesus can produce wine for His wedding feast is by going through the hour of His death.
Keller then explained the significance of how Jesus created this wine. The stone pots signified our moral impurity and needing to be cleansed. In a way, the wine is His blood. In the OT, the blood was a curse, as in when God turned the water into blood. Now, He turns water into blood because it’s the thing that will cleanse us. “Jesus is sitting in the midst of all this joy, sipping the coming sorrow”.
Jesus, as true Lord of the Feast and the true Bridegroom, comes to offer us are powerful sensation and complete reception. First, sensation. Why does the Bible characterize His salvation as wine? And why is Christianity compared to a feast? The Bible gives us sensory language when it comes to our relationship with God. “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. Jonathan Edwards, in a sermon, asked why does the Bible insist on using sensory experience, as in it’s not enough to know that God is good, but I want you to taste that He is good? Edwards said, “You are invited to experience God. Your heart gets a new sensory ability.” It’s not knowing “about” God; it’s “tasting”.
You are not invited to obey a set of rules – you’re invited to a feast! What is the difference between believing, knowing, and tasting? The first step in tasting is you hunger for it (the wine that Jesus offers), you long for it. Secondly, you begin to delight in it. Then, it begins to satisfy you. Example: The love of God for me outshines what other people think of me.
Jesus offers you complete reception. When Jesus says, I am the Bridegroom, it says something about us. It says that He finds us ravishing. He promises us complete reception. This can help us face anything. How do you receive this? You have to admit you are out (they’re out of wine). And, you take all the credit (the host of the wedding got all the credit for what Jesus did).
13. Keller told an anecdote of a mature Christian dismissing an individual for leadership because he didn’t have enough joy. Thoughts?
Keller said that you have power over your joy. We must take responsibility for the level of joy in our lives. He said that Jesus sat in the midst of joy sipping the cup of sorrow, so that we could sit in the midst of the sorrow of this world sipping the cup of coming joy. Are we known as a person who loves life, a joyful person? We have control over that.
So the last part of Keller’s sermon made me think of the preaching style of Richard Sibbes, who we learned about here on Dee’s blog, through some sermons by Michael Reeves. All of the parts about experiencing with our senses the graciousness, beauty, and love of God. I looked for a Michael Reeves sermon online about Sibbes, and found one. I will try to provide a link for it below. Sibbes spoke of God as a “life-giving, warming sun who delights to spread His beams to make things fruitful.” Hardened sinners avoided Sibbes’ sermons for fear of being converted!
The Ministry of Richard Sibbes, Part 1 – YouTube
Thank you, Susan, for sharing this link! I always like to listen to Michael Reeves-he has such a warm and joyful disposition.
Thank you for sharing this, Susan. I so enjoy Michael Reeves too.
9. What stood out to you from this and why?
I love how Keller breaks down scripture and explains it so well. He talks about the Old Testament and how over and over God speaks of the bride and the bridegroom. He speaks of John and Revelation and the mention of the same there.
Also, the difference between heaven and hell. Ugh! How the followers of Jesus died! It’s awful. Keller says that what is worst is rejection of God. Keller says that Jesus knew the only way to get to His wedding day was through His “hour.”
10. Comment on the below and how it relates to you — and how you might share this with those who don’t know Jesus.
Do you dare say to me, I reject Christianity because I want to have fun. You don’t even know who I am. You don’t even know what you’ve rejected. I am Lord of the Feast. I come to make the world run with wine. You don’t even know. There are reasons to reject me, but this is not one of them.
I think it’s hard to get people to listen. My best friend retired yesterday. She is not a believer. I have tried over the years to bring her to Christ. This is a statement that is intriguing to bring to someone because you could say something like, “Do you know about Jesus and the wine?” Then I would have to go into the details though, and I’m not so good after that…I definitely would have to think it through before I made the statement. This story is so detailed and Keller does such a good job breaking it down! Maybe after the initial question, I go into the story of the water to wine using the Johnny Cash song. Then, definitely the ceremonial vases and their representation. I could end with the idea of Jesus being the MC, who provides us the feast. Just trying to think how I would handle it 😉
11. How do you relate to Jesus as your Bridegroom in contrast to Shepherd, Father, or Friend?
I’m not sure I have ever thought of God as anything other than my Father. This makes me so warm inside, that He would be my bridegroom. I would finally feel complete, like I was finally home, in His arms.
Praying for your conversation with your best friend.
Love this from you, Laura:
I’m not sure I have ever thought of God as anything other than my Father. This makes me so warm inside, that He would be my bridegroom. I would finally feel complete, like I was finally home, in His arms.
Praying for you as you talk to your dear friend, Laura. Praying that God will give you the perfect words at the perfect time.
Amen to Dee on this: This makes me so warm inside, that He would be my bridegroom. I would finally feel complete, like I was finally home, in His arms.
Laura, love your thoughts on seeing Him as your Bridegroom!
Saturday:
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
—This week’s study has been so very rich and the sermon by Tim Keller so very encouraging. My takeaway is one of just being very blessed.
Today we are attending the wedding of my sister’s granddaughter. I know I will have a completely new perspective and much greater insight as I observe this marriage and enter into the celebration. I look forward to it.
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
This lesson and the sermon are so rich and full of so much. I loved this from Keller: When you receive the Holy Spirit, you move from one realm to another. You hunger for God’s Word, You delight in it, His words ravish you with delight, they become sweet and they satisfy you. God love and mercy for me outshines what people say about me and I am not afraid; God’s wisdom out tastes my own wisdom, so I am no longer anxious. You have to admit, you are helpless without it; Only He can fill the empty spaces in your soul, as your King, your Shepherd, Your Groom. Many of you posted the same thoughts I have.
You can go to Him with the little things.
Submit to His timing
Wedding day with Jesus will be a balm, because the perfect marriage await you as He awaits you.
Jesus sat in the midst of joy sipping the coming sorrow, so we can sit in the midst of sorrow awaiting the coming joy.
Most of all, I love this from Keller’s message: Learn from Mary, “do whatever He says, I don’t understand it, but do you think we’re smarter than He is?” “You will never get the blessing if you don’t do whatever He says, even if it doesn’t make sense to you.” This says it all…. I need this on my mirror!
15. What is your take-a-way and why? A better understanding of this passage of scripture. His mom telling him about the problem and then we read the response Woman it’s not my time. Then her turns water into wine. The quote in the midst of the joy He was seeing/feeling the sorrow because of the cost He, Our Bridegroom, would sacrifice us home as His Bride.
14. Share a time when you absolutely experienced the joy of the Lord.
I can’t help but think back to my trip last year to Holy Island in Northumbria. So much happened there, and I felt so close to God. I felt like He showed up in unexpected ways, answered prayer, and I was overcome, many times, by the unique beauty of the island, the sense of the presence of the saints who lived there centuries ago, and many spiritual insights that I had while there. It was experiencing the joy and BEAUTY of the Lord in that place that gave me the desire to rid myself of everything that was unlovely in me. Though I hate to say it, several months later, I see how some of those unlovely habits and attitudes have resurfaced in me. It’s very hard for me to imagine what it will be like in heaven to be perfect and sinless.
15. My take-away is what Tim Keller said about Jesus making the “world run with wine”. This is not a sinful revelry for us to partake in. Rather, it is a spiritual seeing of everything good in this world as being like the very best wine one could ever taste. It’s an invitation to see Him everywhere and in everything, always spreading His goodness and beauty in everything. That’s what led me to seek out the Richard Sibbes talk by Michael Reeves, because I remembered how Sibbes would speak so beautifully on God’s beauty, and I wanted to hear more of that!
On a similar note, today in our adult forum at church, one of our priests, Paul, who used to be a college professor, was discussing the poetry of George Herbert. One of his poems, entitled The Elixir, was explained as meaning: the title, “elixir” is akin to “the philosopher’s stone” – a thing which alchemists of the past searched for years for the “elixir” that would turn something into gold. The poem begins like this: “Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see, and what I do in any thing, to do it as for thee.” And the last part of the poem: “A servant with this clause makes drudgerie divine: who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, makes that and th’action fine. This is the famous stone that turneth all to gold: for that which God doth touch and own cannot for lesse be told.”
In essence, Paul said the meaning lies in that whatever you touch with your sense of faith and grace, becomes gold. That made me think of Jesus making the world run with wine. We need spiritual eyes, or our spiritual senses, to “see” it. As Keller said, that was Jesus’ “calling card” – 150 gallons of the finest wine. I need to search everywhere for His calling card.