More than a Taker

Introduction:

PAGE ONE: TROUBLE IN THE WORD
1 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.”
“wedding” = 7 day celebration and feast
“woman” = Dear Lady (a term of warm respect)
“why do you involve me?” = “Let me take care of this my way”
“My time has not come” = his coming crucifixion and resurrection
PAGE TWO: GRACE IN THE WORD
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Water jars held 20 – 30 gallons each = 120 to 180 gallons of wine far more than enough
“No need on earth can exhaust the grace of Christ; there is a superabundance in it.” (Barclay)
“Saved the best” = Jesus supply is far above average
PAGE THREE: TROUBLE AND GRACE IN THE WORLD
1. Everyone runs out of resources sometime. Jesus can more than supply what you need if you “do whatever he tells you.”
2. Everyone runs out of joy sometime. Jesus can more than supply you with joy if you “do whatever he tells you.”
PAGE FOUR: HOW CAN I KNOW WHAT JESUS TELLS ME TO DO?
1. Pray
2. Study the Bible (alone and with others)
3. Pray more
4. Prepare to sacrifice
Thesis:
Jesus came into the world not to take from us but to give to us.
REPENTANCE POINT:
You and I live in a world where each person wants to take and to accumulate. But Jesus came into the world to give – to sacrifice and to provide more than we can ever need.
Let’s pray