JESUS THE WEDDING SINGER

Jesus: The Wedding Singer
INSTAGRAM: Jesus Pics
“Images of Jesus from the Gospel of John”

CONNECT This is wedding season! Do y'all like going to weddings? I don't either!  I was watching Family Feud the other night (Mom’s favorite show) and the question was, “Why do most people go to weddings?  One of the top answers was, “To drink!”  I have done many weddings in my lifetime and one question always come up, “Cash bar or free bar?”  It seems that weddings and alcohol have always gone together; from the champagne fountain to the traditional toast.

TENSION John gives us a pic of Jesus at a wedding. It is here that Jesus performs His first miracle or sign. He turns water into wine! Now the question: How does that impact my life today?

SOLUTION Jesus is the ultimate ‘wedding singer’. Just as a great singer brings beauty to a wedding, He comes to bring a life full of joy! When you are empty, he will fill you up!

TEXT John 2:1-11 (NKJV) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.
9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

INSTRUCTION

1. Jesus goes to insignificant places and touches seemingly insignificant people.

Cana was not a big town and it appears the family was not wealthy or renown. In fact, we don't even know who they are!

A popular song years ago was ‘Ordinary People’. God uses ordinary people in ordinary places. Francis Schaefer wrote “No Little People; No Little Places”. No matter who you are or where you live, you are important to God!  Jesus met with the poor and the wealthy, the sick and the healthy, the ruler and the slave, the religious and the sinner. His arms were open to everybody!

John the Baptist was an ascetic who avoided folks and they said he had a demon. Jesus hung out with all kinds of people and was rejected for it.

Matthew‬ ‭11:18-19‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I am so glad Jesus is a ‘friend of sinners’ because that means He will hang out with me!

2. No need is too small or too big for Jesus.

The family had run out of wine. That is not the biggest problem in the world, but it is a need. To run out of wine was an embarrassment to the groom. Running out of wine would have dishonored the guests and brought shame on all those involved.

We don't know why they ran out of wine. Wedding feasts often lasted a week; perhaps there were extra guests; maybe everybody was drunk. The key here is that it doesn't matter!  God responds to us at the point of our need, regardless of how we got there!

Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
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Mary pointed out the need and wouldn't take “no” for an answer! Jesus said it was not their problem, but Mary interceded. Jesus responded to her cry!

3. Jesus invites us into His ministry.

Mary gives us the key, “Whatever He says, do it!” The servants obeyed and got to see a miracle. They didn't do it; but got to witness it! The first disciples saw it too! And they believed!

John‬ ‭2:23‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

We can participate in the ministry of Jesus!

John‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭(NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

4. Jesus provides more than enough.

150 gallons of wine!  What a party!

John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ephesians‬ ‭1:23‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ … the fullness of Him who fills all in all.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ephesians‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus wants to fill us today!

5. Jesus changes ordinary to special.

Water to wine. Not just any wine; the best wine ever! This is the first of many situations in John’s Gospel where Jesus restores something to better-than-original condition.

It also reveals Jesus’ deep concern for meeting people at their point of need, no matter how inconsequential that need may seem.

Matthew‬ ‭9:9-13‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus did much more than simply fill a need: He turned embarrassment into blessing. The chief steward’s pronouncement to the groom is the climax of the story. Instead of having to endure shame, the groom was publicly honored for his over-the-top hospitality—and for saving the good wine for last.

The best wine of your life is ahead of you! Don't give up!

INSPIRATION

Jesus ministered to the meanest men in town!

Luke‬ ‭19:1-5, 7-10‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

APPLICATION

There are many applications I could focus on from this Jesus pic: we need to hang out with people from all walks of life; take friends with you when you minister; listen to your mother…

But I want to focus on just one application…

Years ago I heard John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard, tell about being empty; he pulled out his spiritual dipstick and it was dry!  I knew exactly what he meant.

Are you here this morning and you’re running low on wine? You don't know why, or maybe you do. It really doesn't matter because Jesus wants to fill you up with new wine!  Regardless of the past or the problems or the people, He wants to fill you with new wine!

Joel‬ ‭2:23-26‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. ‬‬‬‬

How does He do it!

Jesus used something already in the house and re-purposed it for a new task. A common water pot became a vineyard. What was in the vessel changed its use and and its value!

Isaiah‬ ‭42:3‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. ‬‬‬‬‬‬

Mark‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.‬‬

God wants to make you a new wine skin!  He wants to take the old bruised and broken life and fill it with new power, new faith, new life!

INVITATION

Isaiah‬ ‭55:1‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and  you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

John‬ ‭7:37-38‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”‬‬

JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD

Jesus: The Lamb of God

INSTAGRAM: Jesus Pics

“Images of Jesus from the Gospel of John”

CONNECT How many of you use Instagram? Snapchat? These, along with Pinterest, are the fasting growing social media sights.  They are trying to close in on Facebook’s dominance in this genre.

Why are they so popular? There is an old saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words!”

John gives us an Instagram album of the life of Christ: Jesus pics...,

TENSION What difference do these pics make in my everyday life?

SOLUTION These snapshots all testify to something that Jesus has done for us and continues to do for us. They are all directly applicable to our lives today!

INSTRUCTION Let’s look at first of these Jesus pics.  In 1976, Alba and I were in Israel. We had a chance to be baptized in the same place where John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River. He looks and sees Jesus approaching...

TEXT John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

John 1:35-36 (NKJV) Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

John the Baptist did not know who Jesus was, even though they were related and were born six months apart. It appears they never played together as children; they never sat together at the kid’s table during family reunions!

However, when John baptized Jesus, he knew immediately that Jesus was the Messiah.

John 1:32-34 (MSG) John clinched his witness with this: “I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.”

Now John had a complete knowledge about the significance of the Lamb. He could remember all the imagery of the Old Testament...

J. Sidlow Baxter: “The Master Theme of the Bible” …

PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

Genesis 4:3-7, Abel and his lamb

Genesis 22:6-8, Abraham, Isaac and their lamb

Exodus 12:3-23, The Passover lamb

Leviticus 22:21, The unblemished lamb

Isaiah 53:6-8, The submissive and suffering lamb

He could only envision how the New Testament writers would expand the picture…

John 1:29,35, John’s own testimony

Acts 8:26-37, The Lamb and the Ethiopian eunuch

I Peter 1:18-21, The risen Lamb

Revelation 5:6-14, The Lamb on the Throne

Revelation 21:22 – 22:5, The Lamb, King of Kings and Lord of Lords

PROGRESSIVE EMPHASIS

Genesis 4: The Necessity of the Lamb

Genesis 22: The Provision of the Lamb

Exodus 12: The Slaying of the Lamb

Leviticus 22: The Character of the Lamb

Isaiah 53: The Personality of the Lamb

John 1: The Identity of the Lamb

Acts 8: The Christhood of the Lamb

I Peter 1: The Resurrection of the Lamb

Revelation 5: The Enthronement of the Lamb

Revelation 21-22: The Endless Kingdom of the Lamb

PROGRESSIVE DOCTRINE

Genesis 4: Propitiation

Genesis 22: Substitution

Exodus 12: Protection

Leviticus 22: Absolution

Isaiah 53: Expiation

John 1: Sin removal

Acts 8: Personal salvation

I Peter 1: Redemption

Revelation 5: Government

Revelation 21-22: Eternal glory

PROGRESSIVE EXPANSION

Genesis 4: For sin

Genesis 22: For one person

Exodus 12: For one family

Leviticus 22: For one nation

Isaiah 53: For the elect

John 1: For the whole world

Acts 8: For whosoever

I Peter 1: For all history

Revelation 5: For all the universe

Revelation 21-22: For all eternity

Worthy is the Lamb!

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.

INSPIRATION

Big deal, you may say, “What do all these big and fancy words mean to me today”? Let me take you a passage that recently the Lord showed me again…

Exodus 34:19-20 (NKJV) “All that open the womb are Mine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep. But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. “And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.”

APPLICATION

I was destined for a broken neck!

Proverbs 6:12-15 (NKJV) A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV) He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

You don't have to die of a broken neck! We are all donkeys, full of stubbornness and idolatry, destined for death. Jesus, the Lamb, purchased our life!

It is true of every truth we looked at today.

HASHTAG #Jesus paid it all!

WE WANNA SEE JESUS

WE WANNA SEE JESUS

INTRO: John 12:20–22 (NLT) Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration ²¹paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” ²²Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

There are many times in life we need to get a fresh view of Jesus…

John 1:1-5 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Colossians 1:15-17 NKJV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

1.     A word from the Word

a.     The written Word takes us to the living Word to hear a ‘rhema’ word!

2.     It all starts with Jesus…

a.     He is the Creator!

3.     Jesus has the answer…

a.     Bread of life… John 6:35, 41, 48, 51

b.     Light of the world… John 8:12; John 9:5

c.     I am… John 8:57, 58

d.     Door of the sheep… John 10:7, 9

e.     Good shepherd… John 10:11, 14

f.      Resurrection and the life… John 11:25

g.     True and living way… John 14:6

h.     True vine… John 15:1, 5