Drawing out the Wine Sept 1st

We found that Mary knew that Jesus could and would do something. That Mary dared to get Jesus involved. We saw that work is needed to fill the Jars with living water. Now the wine must be drawn out and taken to the table.

1.       Believe there is wine

a.       Servants put water in

b.      Jesus did not tell them it was wine

c.       The risk of dipping it out and taking it to the table

2.       Believe there is a need

a.       That the guest need the wine

b.      That the guest want the wine

3.       Drawing out the wine

A.      Personally

a.       Drawing out our transformed parts

b.      Paul’s war with flesh and spirit

c.       We choose to bring the transformed part out

d.      In our thinking, in our hearts, attitude, actions

B.      Family

a.       Teaching our children

b.      Sharing faith with each other

c.       Loving our spouse

d.      Loving our children

e.      Family choices

f.        Values we hold and support

C.      Friendships

a.       What we do in our friendships

b.      Love, support, encourage, forgive

c.       Where are our friendships taking us

d.      we draw them toward a transformed direction

D.      Church

a.       working to bring out the wine

b.      working to bring transformation in people’s lives and the church as a whole

c.       sharing the wine Jesus has given us

d.      encouraging those around us in their positive efforts

E.       Community

a.       Believe your community needs Jesus

b.      Be open about our faith

c.       Share your faith with others

d.      Call people to Jesus don’t force them

e.      Make your church known

F.       The World

a.       Support missions

b.      Encourage missionaries

c.       Go on a short term mission trip

 

Do you believe Jesus can help?
Do you believe in the need for transformation?
Will you dare to draw out the wine and bring it to the table?

It is the only way we will experience the miracle of God.

 

jars of stone a heart of love

2

From Jars of Stone to a Heart of Love

The way Jesus chooses to fulfill His mother’s request also tells us many things. Jesus chose six stone jars used for ceremonial washing. Finding wine in these jars would be the last thing anyone would think of. We are told they each hold about twenty to thirty gallons. It is highly doubtful that Jesus thinks they need 120 to 180 gallons of wine, so we know He chose the jars for another reason.

These jars hold water to wash with to make a person ceremonially clean. The cleansing is just a temporary outward removal of the grime of life on the street, but has no real effect on the soul. At the time the wine would have no real meaning, but later in the upper room Jesus would use wine as a symbol of His blood which would cleans the soul.

For the Jewish people cleansing, sacrifice and forgiveness was a temporary thing. Cleansing with water was symbolic and only lasted until you entered the streets of life and your feet became soiled again. The sacrifice of the Lamb would absolve them of their sin at the time but was not a lasting forgiveness that covered the whole of life. There was no movement from the life of sin to the life of the redeemed.

The wine is symbolic of Jesus’ blood which not only cleanses from our current sin but redeems us from all sin. Jesus’ blood breaks the hold that sin has on us and sets us free to pursue God with our whole and undivided heart. In the act of choosing the water jars Jesus announces that He is about to change the whole way people view and relate to God.

Before Jesus dies on the cross, people make sacrifices and go through cleansing to try and become acceptable to God. Once Jesus dies on the cross God has made the sacrifice on behalf of people, because He wants them to be acceptable to Him. God has moved from being the one we must appease, to one who extends grace. Water turned into wine and sin turned into grace.

Gods’ grace is not a temporary fix for the problem of sin in our lives, it is eternal, permanent. This once for all sacrifice does not have to be renewed every now and again to be effective. While the water runs away leaving us to be covered again by sin, the blood is a permanent covering that washes us in an ongoing manner that never ends. We no longer run around trying to make God accept us, we only accept what He has done for us.

The jars are made of stone. They are cold, inanimate and impersonal. The blood that the wine represents is warm and flowing from the very heart of Jesus. The blood is by nature very personal and represents a God who is very much alive. While the stone of the jars cannot have a relationship the heart of Jesus can.

This marks a very real change for the people then and people today. For the Jews of Jesus time God was impersonal, an authority figure that stood watch over your every move keeping a list and checking it twice. Jesus becomes the list breaker. Jesus shows us that God is not so much interested in keeping track of our sin as He is of forgiving them. The heart of God is that none should perish but everyone have eternal life.

Six stone jars

Questions

What does God really want for our life? How does God want to be involved in our lives? What are Holy times when God is there and what kind of things is God interested in.

Buddy's questions 

The death of Brian

Is God interested in our daughter’s prom, the loss of a friend, our son’s wedding, our retirement plan, the house payment or our 401k?  From times of reflection to times of shock whatever brings them on they are the same basic questions. What does God want? How is God involved? What kinds of things are God things? In a short little passage about a wedding some 2000 years ago we find an answer to some of these questions that we still have today.

John includes this event because it is important to know about to understand Jesus. Without this passage we might miss a part of who Jesus is. In many ways this one event reveals so much of what Jesus is going to do from this point forward. After calling His disciples this is the first thing that Jesus does and if we look closely it reveals Gods’ heart.

 

1

Why Involve Me

Weddings are great fun! The rabbi has given solemn charges to the couple, standing under the canopy. The couple exchange vows, then the wine glass is crushed and the guest all shout mazel tov. The music, food and dancing start amid shouts of joy. But not long into the party Mary comes over to Jesus and leads him out the front door. “This poor couple, the wine has run out.”

Consider the conversation that Jesus has with his mother. Mary points out that this couple has no more wine, Jesus replies “Woman why are you involving me in this”, and then she instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus says and walks off. Some people see Jesus as cold, “woman, why do you involve me?” Yet Mary only talks to the servants fully expecting Jesus to act on her request and He does. It appears to be a casual interaction between a mother and son. So we are going to focus on the second part of the sentence, “Why are you involving me”

What does Mary know? How does she know it? It must come from something other than the angels announcing Jesus’ birth. Mary brings the situation to Jesus because she knows He can do something to take care of it. She may not know how but she knows He can and will. She does not plead or have any other discussion with Jesus, Mary expects Jesus to act.

We do not know how Mary knows she can do this. Has Jesus done a few miracles at home? Healed a sick friend or made bread appear from the air? We only know that Mary believes that bringing the lack of wine to Jesus’ attention will bring a response.

In 2000 packers rookie KGB had come for his first time to Lambeau field. Someone was to show him around and was late so Kabeer just started walking around the place. Eventually he wandered into a very large office looked around and thought this looks nice. Bob Harlan looked up and said “Can I help you” Kabeer explained he was supposed to get a tour of the stadium. Bob Harlan got up and said lets go. KGB is still amazed that a big important man as Bob Harlan would take the time to show a rookie around the stadium.

How often do we think that God is to important to take the time for our little worries, our pleasures, our lives. The loss of a friend, the flowers in our garden, our aging parent or our knee that aces when it rains, are these things to concern Jesus with? Mary seems to think so.

What we see is that Mary has a knowledge of Jesus’ character and abilities, and appeals to them in this situation. She knows she can ask Jesus to get involved. Jesus will extend this same invitation to us, to ask Him for whatever we need.  “Ask and it will given to you; seek and you will find” Matthew 7:7 “If two or more of you agree about anything you ask for, it will be done” Matthew 18:19 “I will do whatever you ask   in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14: 13&14 It is clear then that Jesus ask each of us to come to Him directly.

What we first learn from this is that we can involve Jesus in the events of our lives, because He has promised to act. As we look back at our lives and our interaction with Jesus we will see that we can expect Him to do something when we ask. It may not be what we expect but we can expect something. We can ask in faith that Jesus hears our prayers and acts on them.

 

Jesus ask Mary “why do you involve me in this?” This is a real question for this miracle is not on the Messiah list. This is about a wedding and a poor couple’s ability to provide wine for the guest. We understand Jesus healing a lame man or feeding 5000 hungry people but is wine for a party. When Jesus finishes this miracle He will have made 180 gallons of wine for a party where people have already been drinking. Take away the sandal keys!

The life of Jesus is filled with things that tells us about what is important to Him. A servant that is close to death, a sick daughter, blind beggars, little children, all unimportant to the world but not to Jesus. While the world says don’t bother God with your little life, Jesus orders a halt and looks at you and ask, “What can I do for you?”

Jesus does this miracle because it brings joy to the wedding couple and guest. Jesus does not just want to be included in churchy or religious things, Jesus wants to be a part of our whole life. Jesus wants to be part of the birthday party, the wedding reception, the funeral, and the graduations. Jesus wants to be at our picnics and games around the table.

“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, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” Matthew 11:18 Jesus apparently loved to laugh and be with the loud crowd as well as in the temple.

 

This does not mean that Jesus approved of people being drunks or telling dirty jokes. What this does tell us is that Jesus wants us to experience Joy, laughter and fun. There is no part of our life that Jesus wants to be left out of. We need to get Jesus involved.

 

We need to get Jesus involved in the broken marriages around us. We need to get Jesus involved in the lives of alcoholics and drug users. We need to get Jesus involved in the life of an abused person. Get Jesus involved because we know His character is to care and to take action. We may not know what Jesus will do but we do know He will do something. Whatever it is He can fix this. It does not have to be “religious” for Jesus to care. Mary asked and trusted and so can we.

John 1:43-47 "Someone is Watching"

John 1:43 – 49 “Someone Is Watching”

On the news was another person who was online doing something they should not have. It seems there is a new video, webcam, cell phone picture, or YouTube of someone misbehaving. The truth in our digital age is that someone is always watching. Just as the Bible says “things done in private are shouted from the roof tops.

This passage has to do with a part of God’s nature we like to forget. God is watching, all seeing, all present. When we think of it we mostly think of a judgmental God glaring down on us with disapproval. But there may be another side to this story to think about.

Nathanael is shocked that Jesus knew of his actions. We are left to wonder is Jesus being sarcastic when he calls him a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit. Was Jesus saying I saw your deceitful action, your lie, your dishonesty? Or is Jesus saying I saw how you were honest, told the truth, in a complimentary way? We do not know because Jesus could be sarcastic at times. But whatever was seen shocked Nathanael to the point of knowing that Jesus was God.

Nathanael is shocked because he is sure that no one has seen what he did under that fig tree. Yet Jesus knows about it even saying He saw what Nathanael was doing. We all have a place an event that we are sure it is private and we would be horrified to know that God saw it. Words spoken between friends that hurt someone, an unkind action, a less than honest deed.

Psalm 139:1-4

The idea of God watching our every move can be terrifying, unless we are foolish enough to believe we never sin. If we truly believe that God is watching it may make a difference in what we choose to do. But all to often it is easier to pretend that God is blind.

Romans 2:16 there is a day when God will reveal and judge.

But as I said there is something else here for us.

I was at a pool and there were parents and kids running around playing in the water. There were a lot of water wings and dog paddles. In one corner of the pool area, as far from the action as you could get a young mom sat under an umbrella. She was not the play in the swim pool type, but she sat watching her kids, laughing when they did something funny, on the lookout for weird dangerous looking people. She pretended to be reading a book but her eyes were always moving, watching.

Here is an aspect of God always watching that we almost never consider. God sees and watches but not just for judgment but to know us, care for us and protect us. God sees our struggles, our hurts and our pain. God sees our success, joy, love and work.

Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:26&27

God is there at the bedside as someone we love dies, God sees our love, hurt and loss. But more than that Jesus intercedes for us, prays for us, and hopes for us. Jesus wants the best for us, to see us laugh and to share our lives. God is watching and God sees us even when we sure He does not.

This is the ultimate question of Job, Job wants to know if God sees Him, and what He is going through.

I once visited a woman in the hospital when they used to give a list to me of everyone from our little town. As I talked to her she shared what was wrong with her. I recognized it as a result of having AIDs. I asked her and she said yes she had AIDs, from her past drug abuse. We talked longer and she wanted to know if God knew, about her being sick, her past mistakes, the changes she made to late in life. She needed to know that God saw, God knew, and more than for judgment, but also in love.

What is going on in your life? Happy, sad, laughter, tears, struggles or blessings? God sees them all. At times just to know that some one sees us is the greatest thing we can have.

Nathanael was shocked that Jesus said He saw him and knew of his actions. If we truly understand what Jesus is all about we should be encouraged knowing that God sees us, knows us. Someone is watching like a parent at a playground or a beach. Loving, caring, praying and interceding. Jesus sees us.

John 1:35-50 “Come and See”

John 1:35-50  “Come and See”

Jesus has been introduced and now people will start seeking Him out and following Him. The interaction between Jesus and the disciples tells us something for us today. First though I would like to tell you about some places.

I spent 6 years in the navy 4 of them on a destroyer. Often I had time to sit on the deck and watch the water curl off the bow or sit on the fantail and watch the water come out the screws. On sunny days the water stirred water would turn a beautiful shade of blue that was so intense. That color was so amazing; I have never seen it before and never seen it since. It is something you have to see, there are no words that can take you there, no picture or painting.

In June Don Landwehr, Tom White, Kathy and I went to climb Mt. Alice just east of Estes Park CO. We did not make the top because our trail came to giant snow cliffs that went vertical for some 500 feet and were to dangerous to go up. So we sat and had lunch in such a place that you could never get it into words or photographs.  Why do you climb a mountain? If you have to ask you would not understand the answer.

Some things you cannot explain for they must be experienced, seen, to be understood.

Jesus is just walking by when John says “look the Lamb of God” and two of John’s disciples start following Jesus. We know one is Andrew and the other is John the writer of the gospel. You can almost feel the awkward way they are following Jesus when He turns to them. Jesus simply ask “what do you want?” They have no Idea what they want so they are digging for an answer. And come up with “where are you staying?” There is no way that this is why they are following Jesus.

Jesus could have given them an answer, 21^st and main, spare room in the temple, Holliday Inn Express. But Jesus says “Come and See?” The strange thing is that John does not give an answer. He says they saw the place but does not tell us where it is. The where question is lost and now they are calling their friends.  Since the where is lost, Jesus must have meant something more when He said “Come and you will see”

Come and See

Vs 50 “You will see greater things than this”

Matthew 4:18 -22 Jesus walks past the same group of men rounding them up for a trip and just says “follow me”

Jesus can be talked about, studied in a Bible study, yet it all falls short. For us to understand Jesus we must come and see. Take part, with Jesus in the healing of a life. See Jesus truly answer prayers, to be part of the work of Jesus in the world. Jesus says to all of us walk with me and you will see amazing things. See colors that are brighter, be dwarfed by wondrous cliffs, amazed at a changed life, your life.

There is no way to read it, hear about it or even watch it from the stands, only on the field and in the game will do.

So Come and See is the challenge to us.

Come and See is also our message.

Vs 40 Andrew is so impressed with Jesus that he find his brother Peter and says “come and see”

Philip gets the come and see/ follow me call from Jesus and then runs off to find Nathanael and tells Him “Come and See” vs 46.

In John 4:29 the woman at the well says “Come and See” is this not the Messiah?

There are people who are waiting for you to invite them, not to church, not to a Bible study, but invite them to come and see.

Come see how God deals with the questions of your heart

Come and see how Jesus changes lives.

Come and see how Jesus has changed your life.

This is God’s powerful Plan to reach the world with forgiveness, not a new book, a good sermon, or wonderful song, it’s the power of an invitation first to you and then for you to give. “Come and See, and you will see greater things than you can imagine. You will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending, eyes opened, and the lame walk. Come and See.

John 1:29-34

John 1:29-34 Lamb of God

John has introduced Jesus as the WORD, as one greater than all others, and now as the Lamb. The progression is laid out in this first chapter. Jesus created the world, has left heaven and come to earth, is now with us and will become the sacrifice of Father for the sins of the world.

The lamb in the Jewish world would be well known, and John uses it with little explanation which tells us he is writing to Jews or those who would know their customs. Here before John tells of the amazing things Jesus does, he tells us Jesus’ ultimate goal. It is like John is telling us not to lose sight of this while reading what follows; Jesus is the Lamb of God. While John uses Lamb only twice in his gospel he uses it 29 times in Revelation. John is the only one who calls Jesus the “Lamb of God”

 

1.     The lamb of sacrifice

a.     Lev 4:27-33

b.     For ordinary Israelite

c.      Without spot or blemish

d.     Very personal thing

e.     Lay hands on it’s head

f.       Slaughtered by the sinner

g.      Atoned for that sin

 

2.     Gods’ Lamb

a.     Provided by God

b.     Abraham Gen 22

c.      Perfect

d.     Personal

e.     For the world forever

f.       Breaks the sin connection so we can be sanctified, transformed.

 

3.     Our lamb

a.     Making it personal

      This is my lamb, place your hands upon it and claim it

      This is my sin Father,

b.     Making it lasting

      I not only want forgiveness, I want transformation

c.      Gods’ requirement, give it away

People want to know who Jesus is and what He really did. Tell them about your lamb. Tell them about their lamb, the Lamb of God that takes away their sin, breaks the bond of sin. Behold the Lamb of God, Jesus.

John 1 15

John 1:15-28 “Greater than Me”

INTRODUCTION: John’s Gospel is flowing with meaning. Here we have John the Baptist telling us what God has instructed him to do.  Yet in this same passage if we look at we find the instructions to the church. The church of John’s time was filled with Gnostics, people who claimed that they had special knowledge from God, that in turn made them special, usually this special knowledge gave them a way around living the life of Jesus. So all trough John’s Gospel He addresses their ideas. In doing so John addresses many of the same problems that exist in the church today.

1.     John’s confession

a.     Jesus is greater than me

John somehow understood that Jesus was greater than He. He knew one greater than was coming and when Jesus comes to be baptized he knows Jesus is the one who should baptize him. John was given a great place on the world stage, yet John always knew he was number two in the parade, a supporting actor.

b.     I am unfit to even untie Jesus’ sandals

How far was there between John and Jesus? John felt unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. Sandals covered with the dirt from the street, the lowest servant of the household type of job.

c.      I am here to make a path for God to reach people

John’s profession was to make a highway for God, not a highway to God. John knew that his work was making a way for God to reach the people. God was the only one that would move. John called the people to repent, be baptized. Paving the way.

Busting Rocks, John was also in a constant state of battle with some people. Vs 24. John is fighting the Pharisees who thought themselves the authority of God, holders of the knowledge of God. The same kind of people who become known as Gnostics.

 

2.     Our Confession

a.     Jesus is greater than we are

The church in America and Christians in America think of Jesus as their servant. Jesus is here to give us stuff, make our life comfortable, ectt.. We even have that our own Lord’s Prayer; “My kingdom come and my will be done, for this is earth and not heaven.” And our own hymn; “have my own way, Lord” When Jesus washes the disciples feet is demonstrating what they should do, not what He was going to continue to do.

To many people have Jesus mixed up with Igor from Frankenstein, Yes Master.

We are to serve Jesus and others.

b.     We are unfit to even untie Jesus’ sandals

How far down the list are we? At our best we are unfit to touch the laces on Jesus’ sandals. Yet all too often church and worship is all about us. Worship that moves us, sermons that entertain and make us think, but not too much. Music we like. Ect.. But Worship is supposed to be all about God, and the best form of worship is to do the things God ask us to do.

 

Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly  and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

 

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you,   brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,  holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual  act of worship.

 

3.     Our profession

a.     Make a path, a way for God to reach people

b.     Bricks, for pavement or walls

c.      We tend to be wall builders, walls to keep people in, walls to keep people out. More concerned with our own stats than Gods’

d.     2.5 million People will die in the US, 333 of them will be in Marinette C.

e.     How many will know about Jesus?

f.       Good paving is done on your knees.

 

Conclusion: Do we know and live out our real relationship to God? Are we paving a path or building a wall?