Jesus wants to transform our life and use it mightily for His
glory. As we yield to Him, He does abundant work through us much faster and
adds divine resources to our offering of obedience. Trust Him to avoid the
pitfall of trying to do God’s work in our own strength. Then, when God works
His miracles through us, Jesus is glorified. Those who witness these miracles
are invited to respond in faith: believers to praise His goodness and draw
nearer to Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18), and unbelievers to come to Jesus and be saved.
This is illustrated in the passage of Jesus transforming the water into wine
(John 2:1-11).
The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding. As Jesus
saw where God was working and stepped into it, we should too. Time is short
(John 9:4). Now, as then, Jesus comes when He is invited and works through
those who are, by faith, children of God. Transformation is from the inside out
and is always a measure of His grace. We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8-9); we
are to grow in grace (2 Pet. 3:18) and we are to live life by grace (John 4).
Grace is the very person of Jesus (John 1:17).
Mary exemplified intercession (John 2:3). She saw a need and
came to Jesus immediately rather than trying to solve the wine shortage in her
own strength. She trusted Jesus for their needs (Phil. 4:19) and the necessary
miracle and left the solution to Him (Isaiah 55:8-9). In whom do you trust for
your needs? Are your needs in His will and in His timing? Search the
Scriptures, pray, listen to the Spirit, seek godly counsel and respond in
faith. Often, Christians seek to precisely know God’s will then choose whether
to obey. We must have the faith of Mary, who, without knowing what Jesus was
going to do, stepped out in obedience (John 2:5). God will use that which is
ordinary and imperfect, like stone jars – or us!, to accomplish extraordinary
things (1 Cor. 1:26-29). We serve a big God. Let our dreams and visions
likewise be big. As we fully obey God through the Word and His Spirit (Eph
5:26, Heb 4:12), our lives will gradually conform to the image of Christ. God
will work with what you have to give you what you need (John 2:7). But we must
follow Him as God leads us even if we don’t understand. The miracle comes when
we walk in faith (Mark 10:52) doing the will of God step by step (Matt. 6:33).
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33 KJV
How can we know whether our request is in God’s will? Will
this request glorify Jesus? Will this request cause people to believe in Jesus?
How will it bless the body of Christ?
- What is your favourite part of weddings? Explain.
- Remember a time you prayed to God for help. Was your prayer answered in the way you expected, or did God respond with a solution only He could have designed? Elaborate.
- Read John 2:1-5. What did Mary first do when she encountered a need? How did Jesus respond? How did Mary react? Why are their interactions significant?
- Read John 2:6-11. Note each point of obedience in the passage. What were the results of this event (v.11) and what do they mean?
- Transformation into the nature of Jesus and trusting in Him is God’s goal for us. Share an example of how you have experienced transformation when you stepped out in faith.
- Just as Mary was concerned about someone else's need (the lack of wine), what can your group prayerfully do for the needs of others in your community?
Personal Reflection
Is God actively working in and through you? Consider your prayers and the size of your vision. By faith, take step-by-step obedience to God.
The Word (NIV)
John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
This Week's Writers: Gene and Karen Gibbs, Alfred Samson, Deb Matiko and Jorel Quemuel