Title: Restoration of Obedience/John 2:1-11
Contents Restoration of obedience/John 2:1-11
1. The wedding feast when the wine ran out: verses 1-3
In the past, makgeolli and panchimgae were the must-serve foods at wedding feasts in Korea. A wedding feast without makgeolli and panchimgae was unthinkable. Likewise, the most important thing to be served at a wedding feast in Israel at the time of Jesus was wine. It was inconceivable not to serve delicious wine at a wedding feast in Jesus' day.
A wedding was held at the home of a close relative of Mary in Cana of Galilee. Anticipating the number of people attending the wedding feast, food and wine were prepared accordingly. Now the wedding feast has finally begun. However, more guests came than expected. So the wedding feast was in full swing, and the wine ran out. The feast is still going on, but the most important wine has run out and is no longer available.
We also experience times like this in our lives. There are times in our lives that we are faced with a difficult situation when we run out of things that should be continuously supplied and there is no more supply.
2. Jesus' response to Mary's urgent request: verses 3-4
In a desperate situation when the wine they desperately needed ran out and there was no more to find, Mary, the mother of Jesus, asked Jesus, “I am in a difficult situation, so please help me because the wine is running out.” I could ask because Jesus was with me at the very wedding feast when the wine ran out. She also asked Jesus to solve the problem because she believed in His power.
We, too, should ask Jesus when we are faced with a difficult situation when we run out of needs today. We can ask because Jesus is the God of power who can fill our exhausted lives. We can also ask Jesus to help us in our desperate situation, knowing that the power of Jesus is with us where we are. In this way, it is faith to earnestly ask Jesus, “Lord, fill our empty lives.”
3. Mary's obedience: verses 4-8
Mary may have asked for it, full of anticipation that Jesus would help her soon. But Jesus' reaction was very different from Mary's expectations. Jesus responded coldly, saying, “Woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” It was a really disappointing response.
Upon hearing the disappointing answer, Mary gave up everything and was able to let go, thinking that the wedding feast was bound to be a mess. Or maybe he gave up on getting help from Jesus and ran frantically to and fro. But Maria didn't react that way. At this time, I realized that it was the time to do what Jesus told me to do, and I decided to more actively obey Jesus' guidance. And he showed a thorough obedience and told the servants to do whatever Jesus said to them (verse 5). When Mary showed the attitude of absolute obedience that she would do what Jesus told her to do, Jesus, who seemed not to say anything, opened his mouth and began to respond.
But Jesus told us to fill the six vats used for purification ceremonies with water. What we desperately need now is wine. Wine has nothing to do with putting water in a jar for purification rituals. But Jesus told us to fill the water tank with water for the ceremonial purification, which seems to have nothing to do with wine. It was difficult to put into practice, but the servants followed Jesus' words and filled the barrel with water up to the mouth. Also, even when he said, “Now, take it out and bring it to the banquet hall,” the servants thoroughly obeyed Jesus’ words. The water used for purification ceremonies is not drinking water. This water is used to wash the hands and feet of people who enter this house. However, the servants were obedient even when asked to bring water, not drinking water, to the banquet hall. They not only pretended to be obedient, but actively acted in obedience with all their devotion.
4. The reaction of the banquet hall and the guests: verses 9-11
It was a banquet house where the most important wine at the wedding banquet ran out. However, Jesus worked at the wedding feast, when the wine ran out and he was in a difficult situation. Jesus provided better wine that was incomparable to what the banquet house had prepared. So, the banquet hall praised, “You have kept good wine until now.” In the end, through the desperate situation of running out of wine, this banquet house had an amazing experience of obtaining the precious wine Jesus provided.
When something runs out and you are in a desperate situation, you must realize that that is the moment of opportunity to experience the provision of Jesus. It is an opportunity to experience something more precious and good than what we have prepared for you from Jesus. Jesus performs signs and wonders. Our lives absolutely need the signs and wonders that Jesus performs. Jesus is the One who turns our exhausted lives into a festival by turning them around through signs and wonders. Just like Mary and the servants who experienced the provision of Jesus through absolute obedience, we too will experience the miracles and provision of Jesus if we thoroughly obey the words of Jesus.
question and share
◎ Marriage Feast Just as wine runs out in the house, let's share what we need in our own lives.
◎ Jesus wants us to pray in desperate moments. Let's pray earnestly to Jesus, the provider, to fill the gaps in our lives.
◎ Through thorough obedience, the servants experienced the miracles Jesus performed. Like servants, let's become a victorious Hanju by praying without giving up until Jesus answers with an attitude of obedience to Jesus' words.