Signs & Miracles // Jesus: The One Who Transforms // Pastor Johnson

Aug 23, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When the Wine Runs Out, Jesus Steps In

A celebration masks hidden emptiness. The wedding at Cana had music, laughter, and a crisis no one saw—the wine vanished. Jesus didn’t wait for perfect prayers or detailed solutions. Mary simply said, “They have no wine,” and trusted Him to act. Emptiness becomes holy ground when surrendered to Christ. What looks like an ending is where He begins His best work. [07:57]

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.” (John 2:1-3, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you quietly run out of joy, strength, or hope? How might naming that emptiness to Jesus—without solutions—open space for His intervention?

Day 2: Empty Jars and Unexpected Miracles

Six stone water jars stood unused, symbols of ritualistic striving. Jesus didn’t discard them but filled their emptiness with 180 gallons of potential. The jars’ purpose shifted from external washing to internal transformation. What the world calls broken, Jesus calls ready. His power shines brightest in vessels surrendered, not self-sufficient. [21:37]

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. (John 2:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What “empty jar” in your life (a habit, relationship, or struggle) could Jesus repurpose if you stopped hiding it and handed it over?

Day 3: Desperation’s Short Prayer

The woman bleeding for twelve years didn’t recite a sermon—she fought through crowds to touch Jesus’ hem. Peter sinking in waves didn’t theologize—he screamed, “Save me!” Jesus responds to raw need, not polished words. Your most honest cry—"I’m empty"—is a prayer He runs to answer. [12:49]

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” (Matthew 9:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: What vulnerable, unedited ache have you been “editing” before bringing it to Jesus? How might you express it to Him today in one raw sentence?

Day 4: Old Rituals, New Wine

Stone jars meant for ceremonial washings became wine carriers. Jesus didn’t abolish the old covenant—He fulfilled it, turning rule-keeping into grace-drinking. Your efforts to fix yourself are like those jars: limited. His transformation turns striving into abundance, duty into delight. [24:15]

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you substituted religious routines (prayer checklists, service quotas) for raw dependence on Christ’s finished work? What might grace taste like here?

Day 5: The Best Wine Comes Last

The master of the feast expected cheap wine, but Jesus saved the finest for the end. Your story isn’t over because your resources are. Seasons of exhaustion are preludes to His surprise endings. What looks like depletion is His setup for a glory that outshines the first act. [30:41]

And the master of the feast said to the bridegroom, “Everyone serves the good wine first… But you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What current “ending” in your life feels final? How might Jesus be preparing a “best wine” moment you can’t yet imagine?

Sermon Summary

John 2 begins at a wedding in Cana, and Jesus is there. Everything looks like celebration on the outside, with music, laughter, and people gathered together, but behind all that joy sits a crisis: “they have no more wine.” The empty wine becomes that moment when strength runs out, peace runs out, joy runs out, and nobody may even know it. Jesus shows that just because somebody has run out does not mean he has run out. “Jesus is still enough.”

Mary brings the problem to Jesus, but Mary does not tell him how to fix it. Mary simply brings the need: “They have no more wine.” That becomes the shape of desperate prayer. Jesus, I am empty. Jesus, I am tired. Jesus, I need you. Peter sinking in the water had no time to be cute or religious. Peter cried, “Lord, save me,” because his life was at stake. The woman with the issue of blood did not wait on a system to fix her. She pressed through the crowd and went to Jesus first, saying within herself that if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be made whole.

Jesus does not throw away empty vessels. Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars, and he tells them to fill them to the brim. The power is not in the vessel. The power is in the One who fills the vessel. Brokenness, failure, disappointment, fear, and emptiness do not make a person useless to Jesus. They make room for him to fill.

The six stone water jars point beyond the wine. Those jars belonged to Jewish purification, to washing, rituals, laws, sacrifices, and priests. The old covenant was pointing toward something greater. Jesus takes water connected with outward cleansing and transforms it into something new, fuller, and better. The law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus. Jesus did not come just to make people religious. Jesus came to transform people from the inside out.

The master of the banquet says the best has been saved until now. Jesus can bring something better out of what looks like the end. The current season is not the final season. The miracle points beyond itself to Jesus, because the blessing is not greater than the One who blesses. The Father does not want children who merely believe he exists but still refuse to trust him. Jesus still saves, delivers, restores, heals, fills, breaks chains, and makes all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus transforms from the inside
Jesus does not start where human beings often want him to start. The outside situation may still look the same for a moment, but the inside can be changed so deeply that the outside is seen with new confidence in God. The battle begins inside because trust is formed there before circumstances shift. [01:18]
2. Bring the need to Jesus first
Mary does not hand Jesus a plan, a timeline, or instructions. Mary simply brings the lack to him, and that is sometimes the most honest prayer a heart can pray. The triangle effect begins with Jesus first, because people can encourage, but Jesus is the one who connects, directs, and fills. [11:23]
3. Empty vessels are not useless
Jesus does not look at empty jars and say to throw them away. Jesus sees something he can fill, because the power is not in the vessel itself. Brokenness is not the end of usefulness when the One who fills the vessel is present. [21:37]
4. The old pointed to Jesus
The stone jars were tied to purification, washing, and the old ceremonial system. Jesus takes what was connected to outward cleansing and reveals something greater, the new covenant fullness of grace and truth. The old rituals were not the destination, because they were pointing toward him all along. [23:27]
5. The best is not finished
The master of the banquet thought the normal order had already played out, but Jesus still had something better in store. The present season may feel final, but Jesus is not finished because emptiness is not stronger than his power. The miracle points beyond the wine to the Miracle Worker.

## [30:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - Changed From The Inside Out
[02:50] - The Wedding At Cana
[06:00] - When The Wine Runs Out
[09:09] - Jesus Was There
[11:06] - Bring The Need To Jesus
[14:41] - Reaching The End Of Yourself
[15:13] - The Woman With The Issue
[18:54] - The Triangle Effect
[21:37] - Jesus Fills Empty Vessels
[23:27] - More Than Wine
[26:26] - Grace And Truth Arrive
[30:27] - Saved The Best Until Now
[32:09] - Worship The Miracle Worker
[36:58] - Jesus Still Transforms

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 2:1-11
“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. 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 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.’ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” [02:50]

Matthew 14:28-31
“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” [12:16]

Mark 5:25-29
“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, ‘If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.’ And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” [15:13]

John 1:17
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” [26:45]

Observation questions

In John 2, what does Mary actually say to Jesus when the need appears, and what does she tell the servants to do after that?
What details in John 2 show that the jars were not ordinary containers, but were connected to Jewish purification? [23:27]
In the passages about Peter and the woman with the issue of blood, what simple actions show how each of them went straight to Jesus in a moment of need? [15:13]
In John 2, who knew where the wine came from, and how did the master of the banquet describe what had happened? [30:27]

Interpretation questions

Mary brings the need to Jesus without giving him a plan. What does that suggest about the difference between real trust and trying to control the outcome? [11:23]
The empty jars were filled to the brim before the miracle was seen. What might that reveal about obedience when a person does not yet understand what Jesus is doing? [21:37]
The jars were used for purification, and Jesus transformed what was connected to outward cleansing into something better. How does that help explain what it means that grace and truth came through Jesus? [26:26]
John says this miracle revealed Jesus’ glory and led the disciples to believe in him. Why is it important to see the sign as pointing beyond the wine to Jesus himself? [32:09]

Application questions

What has felt like “running out” lately—strength, peace, joy, patience, hope, or something else? What would it look like to name that need plainly before Jesus this week instead of hiding it behind a smile? [06:17]
Simple prayers like “Jesus, I am empty” and “Lord, save me” can be honest and full of faith. Is there an area of life where prayer has become too polished, distant, or cautious? What honest words need to be spoken to Jesus now? [11:54]
Going to Jesus first changes how a person handles trouble. When pressure rises, who or what usually gets the first call—other people, personal effort, worry, distraction, or Jesus? What would it look like to go to Jesus first in one specific situation this week? [18:54]
Empty vessels are not useless to Jesus. Where is there a temptation to think, “I am too broken,” “too far gone,” or “not good enough”? What would it mean to hand that very place over to Jesus and ask him to fill it? [22:24]
Jesus does not only clean up the outside; he transforms from the inside out. In what area is there a stronger desire for outward change than inward trust? How might Jesus be trying to work deeper than the visible problem right now? [01:18]
The best has not been exhausted just because a season feels dry or painful. Where has it been easy to assume that the current season is the final one? What would trusting Jesus in that area look like in a practical way? [30:51]
It is possible to believe Jesus is real and still struggle to trust him with a real situation. Where is there belief in Jesus, but hesitation to place the full weight of life on him? What would surrender look like there? [34:53]

Sermon Clips

72s

#NotMyFinalSeason

“And somebody needs to hear this. Don't assume that your current season is your final season. Did you hear me? Don't assume that your current season is your final season, that the season that you are in now is your final season. Don't assume because you've cried that you always cry. Don't assume because you've been empty that you'll stay empty. Amen. Don't assume because you've fallen that you can't get back up. Don't assume because you've failed that God is finished with you. Jesus is not finished. Let me tell you. Jesus is not finished with you. It doesn't make no difference what situation you are in. Jesus is not finished with you. He's not finished with you.”

70s

#JesusIsStillEnough

“Because that's where we find this wedding in Canaan. Everything looked like a celebration. There was music, dancing, laughter. There were people gathered together. There were there was a wedding, but behind the celebration was a crisis. They have no more wine. And I came to tell somebody today, if you are in that situation, I'm I'm talking to you. I'm talking to you. Just because you have run out doesn't mean Jesus has run out. Just because your strength has run out doesn't mean Jesus has run out. Just because your resources have run out, Jesus hasn't run out. And just because you're you're you're empty, Jesus has not run out. Your hope probably ran out. Jesus doesn't run out. I want somebody to say, Jesus is still enough.”

36s

#LeaveTransformed

“You may have walked into this church empty, but you don't have to leave that way. You may walk in broken, but you don't have to leave broken. You may walk inbound, but you don't have to leave bound. I guarantee it. You don't have to leave that way. You may walk in discouraged, but you can leave with hope. Why? Because Jesus is the one who transforms.”

59s

#GraceHasArrived

“Jewish leaders at the time were searching the scripture to have eternal life, but they just didn't know that all the rituals, all the sacrifices, all the priests, all the laws were pointing towards him. sacrifices pointed towards Jesus. The priesthood pointed towards Jesus. The blood pointed towards Jesus. The promises pointed towards Jesus. The prophets pointed towards Jesus. The old covenant was pointing forward, and now Jesus is standing in the middle of Canaan at a wedding. The fulfillment has arrived. Grace has arrived. Truth has arrived. Redemption has arrived. Forgiveness has arrived. Freedom has arrived. Jesus has arrived.”

65s

#WineHasRunOutMoment

“Have you ever had a moment in your life when everything looked fine on the outside, but on the inside, you knew something was running out. Have you ever smiled when you were hurting? Look at the hair like the bobble dolls. Have you ever said I'm blessed while secretly wondering, Lord, how much longer can I keep going? Have you ever reached a place where your strength was running out? Your joy was running out. Your peace was running out. Your faith was being tested. Your hope was getting weak, and perhaps nobody knew it. Have you ever had the wine has run out moment?”

56s

#TransformingJesus

“All he wanna do is transform you, transform you. He wanna take away the hurt. He wanna take away the pain. He wanna mend the broken heart. He wanna mend families together. He wanna mend marriages together. Church, we serve a transforming Jesus. still saving. He's still delivering. He's still restoring. He's still healing. He's still filling. He's still breaking chains. He's still making all things new. And when the Holy Spirit get involved, that's when transformation takes place.”

41s

#PresenceChangesEverything

“And I want you to catch that. The difference between this being just another wedding and this becoming a place of supernatural transformation was simple. Jesus was there. This is a different wedding, y'all. This is a different type of wedding. There's a whole different type of wedding that they've been going to. And I've come to remind somebody today, those who I said that was feeling that way, I come to remind you that when Jesus is present, your situation doesn't have to stay the way that it is. It doesn't.”

47s

#GoToJesusFirst

“The woman with the issue of blood knew this. She knew to go to Jesus first. She didn't go to the high priest. She didn't go to pharisees or sadducees or herodians. She went to Jesus first. Bring your emptiness. Bring him your brokenness. Bring him your failures. Bring him your disappointments. Bring him your fears. Bring him your family. Bring him your heart. Some of you have been in the same situation for two, five, ten, twenty, thirty years. You've been having an issue longer than the than the woman with the issue of blood. You've been having issues for years, and you still haven't brought it Go ahead. To Jesus.”

54s

#DependOnJesusAlone

“When Jesus walks into your heart, things changes. When Jesus walks into your situation, things changes. When Jesus walks into your marriage, things changes. When Jesus walks into your family, thing changes. When Jesus walks into your emptiness Yes. Things changes. When Jesus walks into your brokenness, things changes. changes when you allow him to walk in for real, for real, when when he is the only one that you are depending on. You're not depending upon anyone else. You're not depending upon your spouse. You're not depending upon the pastor. You're not depending upon the preacher. You're depending on Jesus and Jesus alone. And when you do that, things changes.”

54s

#TouchTheHem

“And when she heard Jesus was coming by, she said to herself, I'm just gonna wait here and and let him come and lay hands on me. I'm just gonna get in the prayer line like everybody else. Uh-uh. She said within herself. didn't tell nobody. Sister Patricia, she didn't talk to nobody. She pushed her way through the crowd. She pushed her way where she shouldn't have been. She pushed her way through the crowd. She said within herself, if I can just touch the hem of his garment, I know that I will be made whole.”

38s

#TrustNotJustBelieve

“See, we believe in God. We believe in God. We believe that there's a God. We believe that he's the king of kings and the lord of lords. But we get in situations we just don't trust him, And we start handling things ourselves, and that's when we become broken, and that's when we become empty, and that's when we become hurt because we just don't trust him.”

66s

#ChangeMeInside

“He changes us from the inside, and that's where the battle comes in at because we have so much going on on the outside, and we expect God to change that outside first. Change the outright outside situation, and then I'm able to come to you. But God say, no. I'm changing you on the inside first. See, because if I change you on the inside first, then the way that you look on the outward situations, it will look completely different. See, because you have confidence in me. Hallelujah. Father, I thank you for this. See, because if he changes us on the on the outside first, we still be feeling the same way on the inside. But if he changes us on the inside and and have us trust in him on the inside first, And then when we look on the outward appearance, and then things start looking different and say, Lord, I know you can handle this now because I see what you are doing.”

71s

#TriedEverythingThenJesus

“And for twelve long years, she had this she had this issue. And she wasn't able because she was unclean at the time, she wasn't able to go around people. She had to stay on the outskirts of the city. She had to stay isolated. I don't know if she had family or children or what, and if she did, she wasn't able to go around her family. She didn't have friends. She was all by herself. And she tried what the world says. She tried to figure it out. She really did. She tried what the religion says. She tried harder to figure it out. She tried what the flesh says, you can do it yourself. But until she heard Jesus came by, also, tried she tried doctors. She tried doctors. She gave all her money to doctors, and it still didn't heal her until she heard Jesus come by.”

54s

#FromRitualsToJesus

“John tells us that these six stone water pots, each one could hold about 20 to 30 gallons of water and was used for Jewish rights of purification. that that detail matters. Because these these vessels, those vessels that that were there, they were connected to the old ceremonial system. Okay? What does that mean? It means that the old testament, god gave the Jewish people rules about being ceremonial clean. Sometimes people had to wash themselves with water before they could take part in worship or certain religious activity.”

43s

#WorshipTheMiracleWorker

“The miracle, listen, the miracle wasn't the destination. It pointed beyond the wine. It pointed to Jesus. don't worship the miracle. We worship the miracle worker. Yeah. Yeah. We don't worship the miracle. We are people that worship that miracle. They worship the miracle, and they get their eyes off the miracle worker. don't worship the blessing. We worship the one who blesses.”

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