Light & Life – Wedding at Cana – January 7, 2024
Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Prayer
In this new year, we are exploring the life and ministry of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. This Gospel has been called the “Spiritual Gospel” and is vastly different than the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Whereas these three Gospels follow a very similar narrative, John’s Gospel diverges into a different portrayal of Jesus’ life. John is more concerned about the signs and symbols that point us to a deeper spiritual truth.
SHARE – Icebreaker – Weddings are joyous events, but they can also be stressful. It seems that, no matter what, something inevitably goes wrong. Groomsmen pass out after standing too long, the bride‘s wedding dresses catches on fire, the wedding cake is dropped, smashed, or destroyed. What is the most memorable wedding that you have attended?
STUDY - Text: John 2:1-11 (NRSV)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
In ancient Jewish culture, wine was not just a drink, it was a symbol of joy and gladness. It was a sign of the very presence of God. to run out of wine at a wedding celebration means that the joy has run out; the blessing is gone. Can you think of a time in your life when it felt like the joy had run out, your cup was empty, and the blessing was gone?
As we enter a new year, we have the opportunity to think a lot about time. We can reflect on how we spent our time this past year, and we can plan on how we are going to spend our time in this new year. What are some of your plans for this new year?
Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon says: “As we begin a new year, we begin with faith that God does not leave us in our time, but God makes time for us, takes time for us, and that our days become God’s days.” What might it take for us to merge our time with God’s time? How might we see our world – and the people around us – through the lens of Jesus’ love and God’s glory?
In his very first miracle, Jesus took something that was so ordinary and used it as a way to show us a sign of God’s glory. When has Jesus changed “water into wine” in your spiritual walk?
This story is ultimately a reminder that we are on God’s time and that’s a good thing. It is a reminder that, with God, we will never run out of blessing – there will always be more than enough wine. How might we look forward to God’s future blessings in our lives? How might God be saving the best for last?
SUPPORT - Blessings and Burdens: What has been life-giving for you this week? What has been life-draining for you?
Closing Prayer