The Wedding at Cana - John 2:1-12
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Brain Puzzle
Habituation
Double Blessing
On the third day…
Genesis 1:1-14 - 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God said…
John 2:1 - On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.
Zeal
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible - Righteous zeal is manifested chiefly in the interest of maintaining the covenantal bond between Yahweh and Israel. (It’s) the display of fervent devotion or jealousy on behalf of valued possessions (including persons) perceived to be under threat from rival claimants.
Hosea 9:10 - “When I found Israel,
it was like finding grapes in the desert;
when I saw your ancestors,
it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.
But when they came to Baal Peor,
they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol
and became as vile as the thing they loved.
Zeal - קִנְאָה kin-nah - Cana
John 2:3 - When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
Sparring Match
Where is the wine running out?
John 2:2-5 - 2 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.”
Luke 1:32-33 - “Great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Do whatever he tells you.
New Wine
Fill the jars
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
Discuss how we’ve become habituated to forms of Jesus and what value there is in coming to Jesus with curiosity.
Consider Mary’s words to the wedding attendants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
What can we learn from Mary’s interaction with Jesus and the servants’ response?
What do you make of Jesus’ invitation to “fill the jars?”
Does an invitation to participate in your own transformation chafe against your religious upbringing? If so, why?