Inviting Jesus: Transforming Relationships and Restoring Joy

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound significance of Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine. This event is not just a historical account but a powerful symbol of God's blessing and presence in our lives, especially in the context of marriage. The presence of Jesus at the wedding signifies the importance of inviting Him into our relationships and lives. Just as Moses' first miracle was turning water into blood, symbolizing judgment, Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine symbolizes blessing and joy.

We delved into the reality that even marriages where Jesus is present can face challenges. The running out of wine at the wedding serves as a metaphor for times when the joy and love in our relationships seem to diminish. However, the story assures us that where Jesus is present, there is always hope. He can restore joy and bring new life into situations that seem hopeless.

The key to experiencing this transformation lies in our response. We must first ask Jesus for help, as Mary did, and submit to His purpose. This involves not only presenting our needs to Him but also trusting in His greater plan for our lives. Secondly, we must trust Jesus and obey His commands, even when they seem unrelated to our immediate concerns. The servants at the wedding obeyed Jesus' instructions without fully understanding the outcome, and their obedience was crucial to the miracle.

Finally, we are reminded to glorify Jesus and recognize the source of our blessings. Many at the wedding enjoyed the wine without knowing its divine origin. Similarly, we often enjoy God's gifts without acknowledging Him as the source. We are encouraged to see the glory of Jesus in our lives and believe in His power and goodness.

Key Takeaways:

- Invite Jesus into Your Relationships: The presence of Jesus at the wedding in Cana highlights the importance of inviting Him into our marriages and relationships. His presence brings blessing and joy, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. Consider whether Jesus is at the center of your love and relationships. [02:36]

- Hope in Times of Trouble: Even when the wine runs out, symbolizing challenges in life or marriage, where Jesus is present, there is hope. His ability to turn water into wine reminds us that He can restore joy and bring new life into seemingly hopeless situations. [07:58]

- Ask and Submit to Jesus: Like Mary, we should bring our needs to Jesus and submit to His purpose. Prayer involves asking for His help and trusting in His greater plan, even when we don't understand how He will work in our circumstances. [11:31]

- Trust and Obey Jesus' Commands: The servants' obedience in filling the jars with water, despite not understanding the connection to the need for wine, teaches us the importance of trusting and obeying Jesus' commands. Our obedience can lead to unexpected blessings. [20:44]

- Recognize and Glorify Jesus as the Source of Blessings: Many at the wedding enjoyed the wine without knowing its divine origin. We are reminded to recognize Jesus as the source of all good gifts in our lives and to glorify Him for His blessings. [34:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to the Wedding at Cana
- [00:56] - Significance of Jesus' Presence at the Wedding
- [01:38] - Comparison of Moses' and Jesus' First Miracles
- [02:02] - Inviting Jesus into Relationships
- [03:00] - Avoiding Idolatry in Marriage
- [03:50] - Challenges in Marriages with Jesus Present
- [05:11] - The Wine Running Out as a Metaphor
- [07:22] - Hope Where Jesus is Present
- [09:13] - How Jesus Restores Joy
- [10:10] - Asking Jesus and Submitting to His Purpose
- [13:22] - Jesus' Response to Mary
- [16:00] - Submitting to Jesus' Purpose
- [20:21] - Trusting and Obeying Jesus' Commands
- [29:19] - Glorifying Jesus and Believing in His Works
- [34:51] - Recognizing Jesus as the Source of Blessings
- [41:17] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 2:1-11

Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Jesus being invited to the wedding at Cana, and how does it relate to the importance of inviting Him into our relationships? [00:56]
2. How does the miracle of turning water into wine at Cana contrast with Moses' first miracle of turning water into blood? [01:38]
3. What role did the servants play in the miracle, and how did their actions contribute to the outcome? [21:07]
4. How did the master of the feast react to the wine, and what does this reveal about the awareness of Jesus' miracle among the wedding guests? [31:08]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the story of the wedding at Cana illustrate the potential for hope and restoration in relationships where Jesus is present, even when challenges arise? [07:58]
2. How does Mary's interaction with Jesus demonstrate the importance of submitting to His purpose, even when His response seems unexpected or unrelated to our immediate concerns? [13:22]
3. What does the obedience of the servants in following Jesus' instructions teach us about the relationship between faith and action in experiencing God's blessings? [20:44]
4. How can the story of the wedding at Cana encourage believers to recognize and glorify Jesus as the source of blessings in their lives, even when His work is not immediately visible? [34:51]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationships. Is Jesus at the center of them? What steps can you take to invite Him more fully into your relationships and marriage? [02:36]
2. Think of a time when the "wine" seemed to run out in your life or relationships. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently now, knowing that Jesus can restore joy and hope? [07:58]
3. Like Mary, how can you bring your needs to Jesus and submit to His purpose, even when you don't understand how He will work in your circumstances? [11:31]
4. Consider a command from Jesus that you find challenging to obey. What practical steps can you take to trust and obey His commands, even when they seem unrelated to your immediate concerns? [20:44]
5. Identify a blessing in your life that you may have taken for granted. How can you intentionally recognize and glorify Jesus as the source of this blessing? [34:51]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of asking Jesus for help and submitting to His purpose in your daily life, especially in times of trouble or uncertainty? [13:22]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to ensure that you are giving credit to Jesus for the blessings in your life, rather than attributing them to your own efforts or circumstances? [34:51]

Devotional

Day 1: Invite Jesus into Your Relationships
The presence of Jesus at the wedding in Cana underscores the transformative power of inviting Him into our relationships. His presence is not merely symbolic but brings tangible blessings and joy, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. When Jesus is at the center of our relationships, He provides a foundation of love and grace that can withstand life's challenges. Consider whether Jesus is truly at the center of your relationships and how His presence can transform them. [02:36]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you invite Jesus into your relationships today, and how might this change the dynamics of those relationships?


Day 2: Hope in Times of Trouble
Even when the wine runs out, symbolizing challenges in life or marriage, the presence of Jesus offers hope. His ability to turn water into wine reminds us that He can restore joy and bring new life into seemingly hopeless situations. When we face difficulties, we can trust that Jesus is capable of transforming our circumstances and renewing our spirits. Reflect on the areas of your life where you need Jesus' transformative power and hope. [07:58]

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific challenge you are currently facing. How can you invite Jesus into this situation to restore hope and joy?


Day 3: Ask and Submit to Jesus
Like Mary, we should bring our needs to Jesus and submit to His purpose. This involves not only presenting our needs to Him but also trusting in His greater plan for our lives. Prayer is an act of faith, where we ask for His help and trust that He will work in ways we may not understand. Consider how you can align your prayers with His will and purpose. [11:31]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." (Psalm 37:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one need or concern you can bring to Jesus today, and how can you submit to His purpose in this area?


Day 4: Trust and Obey Jesus' Commands
The servants' obedience in filling the jars with water, despite not understanding the connection to the need for wine, teaches us the importance of trusting and obeying Jesus' commands. Our obedience can lead to unexpected blessings and miracles. Reflect on how you can trust and obey Jesus in your daily life, even when His commands seem unrelated to your immediate concerns. [20:44]

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to obey Jesus' commands? How can you take a step of obedience today?


Day 5: Recognize and Glorify Jesus as the Source of Blessings
Many at the wedding enjoyed the wine without knowing its divine origin. We are reminded to recognize Jesus as the source of all good gifts in our lives and to glorify Him for His blessings. It is important to acknowledge His hand in our lives and give Him the glory He deserves. Reflect on the blessings in your life and how you can honor Jesus as their source. [34:51]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: List three specific blessings in your life. How can you intentionally glorify Jesus as the source of these blessings today?

Quotes


Now, friends, the presence of Jesus Christ at a wedding is full of significance for us. We believe in marriage. We believe that this is a very wonderful and good gift that God has given to a man and to a woman to serve Him as one together. [00:60:18]

It is good for Jesus Christ to be invited into a marriage. Indeed, if you're thinking about dating at all, it is a really good question to ask who, as you think about who you will love, can Jesus Christ be at the center of this love? [00:131:64]

A marriage where Jesus Christ is present can run into trouble. Here we are told of this wonderful wedding, and Jesus Christ is present, and we read there when the wine ran out. I think about that. Here's this wedding, and it's such a great, marvelous occasion. [00:252:45]

A marriage can run into trouble, but where Jesus Christ is present, there is hope. This is the good news that is in this story. A marriage can run into trouble, but where Jesus Christ is present, there is hope. [00:482:28]

Ask Jesus and submit to His purpose. We have this in verses 3 to 5, and particularly we see it in the marvelous example of Mary, the mother of our Lord. I wonder if you noticed when this was read how prominent, in fact, Mary is in the story. [00:627:22]

Prayer involves not only asking help from Jesus but also submitting ourselves to His great purpose. And I want you to see how Mary is such a wonderful example to us of precisely this. She not only asks help from Jesus but she also submits the matter and her whole self to Jesus. [00:964:54]

Trust Jesus and obey His commands. Here we're going to focus in particularly on the servants and notice the important role that they play in the story. As you move to verse 7, Jesus says to the servants, fill the jars with water. [00:1231:94]

Think about this. Jesus Christ could easily have turned water into wine without any involvement from the servants, but that is not how this miracle happened. He did not choose to do it. What we learned from the story is how very wonderfully Christ works in human lives with His people. [00:1289:90]

Gifts of grace come from the hand of Jesus Christ, but they are received through His people, through the prayers and through the work, service, and ministry of others. So here's the principle just to get it as simply as we can: God will do what only He can do as you do what He has called you to do. [00:1411:94]

The master of the feast does not know that the good wine is a gift from Jesus Christ. And so notice what he does. He gives credit in the wrong place. It is this wine, oh, this is marvelous, and so he calls over the bridegroom. [00:1910:71]

It is possible, my friends, to enjoy wonderful good gifts from God in your life and still not to have discovered where they come from. And here, therefore, is something very important for all the folks in the congregation this weekend who are wonderfully, wonderfully blessed. [00:2037:10]

Every good gift comes from above. Everything that brings you joy and pleasure ultimately comes from the hand of this great Creator and this great Redeemer who has set His love on you. Think about it: the gifts of music, the gifts of art, the gifts of work, the gifts of sport. [00:2291:05]

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