November 3, 2022

The Ultimate Wedding Guest

John 2

Katie Mueller
Thursday's Devo

November 3, 2022

Thursday's Devo

November 3, 2022

Central Truth

Life often interrupts and brings unplanned surprises, but God is working, even in the unexpected, for His glory. 

Key Verse | John 2:11

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2

The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 1 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metrtas); a metrts was about 10 gallons or 35 liters Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers 2 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, 3 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Footnotes

[1] 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metr&emacron;tas); a metr&emacron;t&emacron;s was about 10 gallons or 35 liters
[2] 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
[3] 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago

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Dive Deeper | John 2

As I read John 2, I feel empathy for the host when the wine ran dry. For eight years, I worked for a wedding planner, and I saw firsthand the many mishaps that can occur during a wedding. Blazing summer heat melting the perfectly piped icing on the wedding cake and toppling it over, gallons of liquid chocolate intended for a fountain tipping over and splashing all over the floor, tornadoes forming outside of town and knocking the power out, and the list goes on. Weddings are intended to celebrate the happiest day of a couple's new life, but sometimes the circumstances of the day can bring more than what anyone planned for.

The host in Cana didn't plan to run out of wine, but God was not surprised at all and prompted Mary to ask Jesus to perform His first recorded miracle pointing to His unconditional love for people and revealing His supernatural power to His disciples. Jesus turned the water into wine, and not only displayed His power over time and nature by forgoing the fermenting process, but also foreshadowed His sacrifice for us on the cross and His compassion for His children. Author Jon Bloom pointed out that down the road, "Wine would flow freely with infinite abundance from the purest Vessel of all time for the greatest wedding of all time." 

1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 says "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." Three days before Jesus rose from the grave, He hung on the cross and poured out His blood to bridge our way to heaven. All who believe in Jesus, confess, and turn away from their sin will one day enjoy His presence at the biggest celebration of all time.

I'm ready; are you?

Discussion Questions

1. When in life have things not gone as expected and your plan was interrupted? Life can quickly become complicated with job loss, illness, grieving over the death of a loved one—the list is endless. When in these moments have you seen God show up and watched His hand at work?

2. In John 2:4, Jesus mentioned that His hour had not yet come. Mark 14:41 says, "The hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." Jesus knew His time was limited, and He needed to do the work of the Father before His own death on the cross. Do you see your time on earth as finite and feel an urgency to point others to Christ?

3. God seems to have prompted Mary to come to Jesus with the issue at the wedding. While the wine running out didn't directly reflect on Mary, she had compassion on her friends and interceded on their behalf. Do you pray over issues for your friends and family? Do you find ways to serve others in need?  Mark 10:45 says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Pray for God to reveal to you opportunities to serve and help others.