"MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD’S GLORY"
By: Dr. Dennis Deese
JOHN 2:1-11
ETS: Jesus manifested His glory.
ESS: Jesus is still manifesting His glory today.
The wine issue: The Jewish practice was to ‘cut’ their wine with six parts of water in order to ensure that they remained ceremonially clean, for fermentation is decay and thus a source of ceremonial uncleanness.
God throughout history has revealed His reality (existence) in numerous ways and while He has commissioned us to live by faith, He has not left our faith without sufficient evidence.
The scriptures exhort us to glorify God.
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
There are three things that reveal Christ’s glory in John chapter 2.
1. The Miracles He performed 2:11 & 2:23
2. The Holiness He displayed 2:2:16-17
3. The Power He executed 2:11& 2:25
Jesus said, (1:50) "thou shalt see greater things than these." They did! Jesus wants to reveal greater things to you and I and He will. I believe the greatest priviliges of being a disciple of Jesus is learning of His great glory.
God certainly has the ability to reveal His glory but what is required on our part? How can Christ’s glory be manifested to us, in us, and through us?
The basic questions are: How can we glorify God with our lives and at the same time, how can we receive a fuller understanding of His glory? What does it take? It takes:
I. PERSONAL COMMITMENT 2:2 "and both Jesus was called, and his disciples"
It’s one thing to believe the witness of others (like John the Baptist) but there is no substitute for our own personal walk with God in discovering Christ’s great glory.
Matthew 17:1-2 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
What is required in order for you and I to make a personal commitment that is legitimate?
A. Acceptance - There will be no Acceptance without Confidence
B. Abandonment - There will be no Abandonment without Sacrifice
C. Allegiance - There will be no Allegiance without Discipline
II. CONCERNED PRAYERS 2:3 "the mother of Jesus said unto him"
Exodus 33:18 And he (Moses) said, I beseech (I pray, now, please) thee, shew me thy glory.
2:4 His address to Mary as woman, (Greek gune - goo-nay) (the same Greek word used in John 19:26) rather than the Greek word meter - may-tare, (the source of something - the Greek word for mother) does shows her she can no longer exercise maternal authority and not at all in his Messianic work. That is always a difficult lesson for mothers and fathers to learn, when to let go.
God help us to learn from this passage and event, if his mother was rebuked for attempting to direct him in the days of his flesh, how absurd and indecent it is for us to direct his (the God of glory and majesty on the throne)supreme wisdom, as to the time or manner in which he shall appear for us in any of the exigencies (urgencies) of life! He cannot allow her or any other person to direct in regard to the exercise of his divine power.
A. His Will must be Supreme
B. His Love must be Trusted
C. His Ability must be Unquestioned
III. FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE 2:5 "whatever he saith unto you, do it."
Joh 17:4-5 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
A. Unquestioning obedience 2:6 "In these pots"
B. Zealous obedience 2:7 "filled to the brim" The weight of the pots was not a hinderence to them.
C. Trusting Obedience 2:8 "And he said unto them, draw some out now, and bear it unto the governor of the feast"
IV. SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION 2:9, 11"knew not from where it was, but the servants who drew the water knew"
If we are gong to be spiritually perceptive, what is required?
A. Spiritual Life
B. Spiritual Hunger
C. Spiritual Control
D. Spiritual Discipline
