Jesus, The Essential one
John 2:1-11
We are in the midst of studying the book of John
In order to see the Biblical Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”
We are not interested in the Jesus of the culture,
We are interested in the Jesus of the Bible.
We have seen thus far some amazing truths about Jesus.
He is the Living Word of God (eternal, supernal, supernatural)
He is the Light of the World (though often rejected)
He is the Incarnate One (“Word became flesh”)
He is the Revealed One (“This is My Son”)
He is the One to Follow
We saw our text end last Sunday night
With a wonderful statement by Jesus to Nathanael.
John 1:50-51 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet”
That statement is the logical lead in to the story we read here.
IT IS THE FIRST SIGN OF JESUS.
Verse 11, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”
This was more than Jesus just wowing the crowd,
This was about Jesus revealing who He is.
John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
Last week we learned Jesus was revealed by the Father.
Here we see a second way Jesus is revealed.
John 7:31 “But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
Through this miracle Jesus is sending a statement
That He is the One the world had better not miss,
And as we see in verse 11, the disciples didn’t.
Verse 11, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”
After seeing His power, they trusted in Him.
To put it plainly, the disciples realized that in Jesus
They had found something that they could get no where else.
In short, Jesus is Essential.
He is Irreplaceable (Light)
There is no “bargain brand” Savior
There is no “imitation” Salvation
And so this morning I want us to see why Jesus is so essential,
And see what He was revealing about Himself through this first sign.
#1 IT IS BENEFICIAL TO INVITE JESUS
John 2:1-2
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”
Talk about an important invitation.
Of all the people that were invited to the wedding,
None proved to be more essential than Jesus.
He is the One who would save the day.
IT PAYS TO INVITE JESUS
“When Jesus is present, anything can happen!”
So you run out of wine, no big deal, Jesus is there.
So you don’t have enough fish or bread, no problem, Jesus is there.
So a demoniac runs through your wedding, no problem, Jesus is there.
So the groom is blind, no problem, Jesus is there.
So the bride is barren, no problem, Jesus is there.
It doesn’t matter the circumstance,
When Jesus is present, anything can happen.
BUT IMAGINE THE TRAGEDY OF NOT HAVING JESUS PRESENT
What would you do without Him?
You would drink dishwater, that’s what you would do.
(Those pots were to wash your feet and hands)
Without Jesus the power is gone.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Imagine Peter with and without Jesus.
Peter with Jesus:
John 18:10 “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.”
Peter without Jesus:
John 18:17 “Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
THE COMPANY OF JESUS IS ESSENTIAL
THINK ABOUT HIS PRESENCE IN REGARD TO MINISTRY
A sermon written without the presence of Jesus is just a speech.
A sermon delivered without the presence of Jesus is powerless.
A Bible read without the presence of Jesus is confusing
A witness shared without the presence of Jesus is unconvicting
A worship service without the presence of Jesus is a meeting
The presence of Jesus is essential.
Consider the lukewarm nauseating fake church of Laodicea.
Revelation 3:15-17 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,”
Of course the reason for their ineffectiveness…
Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
THINK ABOUT HIS PRESENCE IN REGARD TO MARRIAGE
We have many in our day who invite Jesus to their wedding,
But leave Him out of their marriage.
It is no wonder 50% of all marriages end in divorce.
Psalms 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”
All is vanity if Jesus isn’t there.
ONLYJESUS CAN HEAL A MARRIAGE
Jesus can fix your marriage.
(MARRIAGE WAS INTENDED TO MODEL HIM ANYWAY)
THNK ABOUT HIS PRESENCE IN REGARD TO LIFE IN GENERAL
Where do you go for joy?
Where do you go for peace?
Where do you go for comfort?
Where do you go for forgiveness?
What do you do with sickness?
What do you do with death?
What do you do with trials?
Who is your source of strength?
Who is your source of grace?
Who is your source of truth?
Who is your guide?
I’m here to tell you, the company of Jesus is essential in your life.
Imagine this wedding in Galilee if Jesus hadn’t been invited.
#2 IT IS BENEFICIAL TO APPEAL TO JESUS
John 2:3-5
This is a rather interesting couple of verses.
The wine runs out and Mary comes to Jesus.
She comes to Jesus and says, “They have no wine”.
But then notice Jesus’ response, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.”
Now, you can read that passage just like I can.
At the very least, you can see that Jesus is hesitant to grant her request.
But then notice what Mary says to the servants.
“Whatever He says to you, do it.”
DID I MISS SOMETHING?
I never heard Jesus say that He would do anything.
It sounded to me like Jesus said no.
But Mary remembered a vitally important truth in regard to Jesus.
WHEN YOU NEED JESUS, JESUS COMES THROUGH.
It is beneficial to appeal to Jesus.
In fact, this is one of the downfalls in our life.
We often don’t call on Jesus.
James 4:2b “…You do not have because you do not ask.”
What a tragedy when we don’t seek God’s counsel.
Remember Joshua and the Gibeonites?
Joshua 9:14-15 “So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.”
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO APPEAL TO JESUS.
VITALLY IMPORTANT IN MINISTRY
Jeremiah 10:21 “For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.”
Amos 5:4-7 “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live. “But do not resort to Bethel And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble. “Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel, For those who turn justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth.”
VITALLY IMPORTANT IN MARRIAGE
Couples will seek all sorts of things to heal their marriage.
Marriage counselors, Seminars, but they never seek Jesus.
Your marriage can’t last if you don’t appeal to Jesus.
VITALLY IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE
Where do you find guidance apart from Jesus?
When Jesus died, His followers were like sheep without a shepherd
They were lost, and they didn’t know what to do.
Do you know where we find them?
John 20:19 “So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
VITALLY IMPORTANT IN REGARD TO SALVATION
How will you be saved if you don’t seek Jesus?
Romans 10:13 “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
You will notice that part of salvation
Is you humbling yourself before Him and crying out to Him.
Our world is filled with people who are content in their own goodness and because of that never cry out to Jesus.
Luke 18:10-14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
One was humble – One was arrogant
One cried out – One was content
One was justified – One was condemned
It is beneficial to appeal to Jesus,
Because Jesus is compassionate.
When you come to Him, when you call on Him, He answers.
Mary knew this, that’s why she went to him with Her problem.
John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
It is beneficial to invite Jesus because the company of Jesus is essential.
It is beneficial to appeal to Jesus because the compassion of Jesus is essential.
#3 IT IS BENEFICIAL TO OBEY JESUS
John 1:6-10
I LOVE THESE VERSES
Verse 7, “Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.”
Verse 8, “And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him.”
Very simply, they just did whatever Jesus said to do.
Of course this was Mary’s command.
Verse 5, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
But look at this from a logical standpoint.
Jesus says, “Go fill up the feet washing pots”
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE WINE PROBLEM?
Some times we don’t obey
Because we think the command doesn’t make sense.
Remember Namaan?
He was captain of Aram’s army, and he was a leper.
He was sent to Elisha for healing.
2 Kings 5:10-14 “Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”
Sometimes we don’t obey because
We don’t think the command makes sense.
“Husbands love your wives…”
“Wives submit to your husbands…”
“Turn the other cheek to him also…”
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…”
BUT OH HOW IT PAYS TO OBEY JESUS
ALL BECAUSE OF OBEDIENCE:
The Groom was honored
The Servants were relieved
The Water was Wine
Jesus was glorified
THIS WAS WHAT JESUS WAS REVEALING ABOUT HIMSELF
He can take what is dirty, foul, and useless,
And turn it into something wonderful.
You just have to INVITE Him
You have to APPEAL to Him
You have to OBEY Him
BUT THIS IS OFTEN WHERE WE BLOW IT
Not only do we fail to invite Jesus…Not only do we fail to appeal to Jesus…
We often fail to obey Jesus when He answers.
You don’t have to search hard in the Bible
To find the devastating effects of failing to obey.
See Jonah sinking to the bottom of the ocean…
See Samson getting his eyes gouged out…
See David holding the dead son that he conceived with Bathsheeba…
See Moses looking at the Promised Land from a distance…
See Adam and Eve leaving the garden…
See the children of Israel turning around and leaving the Promised Land…
And imagine this wedding if they had failed to obey.
They would have missed a blessing indeed.
I want you to know something, Jesus is essential.
You cannot handle life without Him.
It is essential that you INVITE Him
It is essential that you APPEAL to Him
It is essential that you OBEY Him.
IF YOU DON’T, YOU WILL NEVER SEE A MIRACLE
Remember Jairus’s daughter?
Matthew 9:23-26 “When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. This news spread throughout all that land.”
But I’m here to tell you,
If you don’t invite Jesus,
If you don’t appeal to Jesus,
If you don’t obey Jesus,
You will miss the greatest miracle of all.
Mark 6:1-6 “Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.”
Mark goes out of his way to show that Jesus was working some miracles.
He had astonished the people, He had healed some of the sick.
But yet Mark said, “He could do no miracle”
We aren’t talking about temporal miracles, He did those.
We are talking about the eternal miracle of salvation.
I want you to hear me very closely.
You can have church without Jesus…
You can have preaching without Jesus…
You can have a marriage without Jesus…
You can live your life without Jesus…
BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE A MIRACLE WITHOUT JESUS
Jesus is essential if you want to see eternal results.
It is essential that you INVITE Him into your life…
It is essential that you APPEAL to Him for your salvation…
It is essential that you OBEY Him no matter what He says…
SO HOW ABOUT IT?
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
ARE YOU MISSING THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT TO LIFE?
He is the One who turns dirty feet water into flowing wine.
He will do it in your life as well.
You must come to Him in REPENTANCE, confessing your sin, turning from your sin, and yielding to Him.
You must come to Him in FAITH, trusting Him, and Him alone to save you and change you. Forsaking all others placing all on Him.
You must come to Him in OBEDIENCE, fully surrendering your life, your ministry, your marriage to His will so that He can work.
This morning
If you are ready to leave your sin and live for Jesus,
You come.
