Understanding The Root Of Happiness Series

Understanding the Root of Happiness

What do you do when the wine runs out?

There are some happy moments in life. Take children for example. The day your child is born is a happy day. The day they say their first word and they take their first step are happy days. The 1st birthday is a happy day. And so is the day they first go to kindergarten.

Of course, when your kids are little they aren’t all happy days! Some are just plain busy and more than a little crazy. A young mother was asked, “If you had it to do all over again would you have children?” Her answer, “Yes…but not the same ones." I think this is the same woman who put her children to bed by telling them "It’s sanity time!" as she tucked them in to sleep.

Maybe, that’s why our child’s HS graduation day is such a happy day! And who can forget the most wonderful day of all - The day they move out on their own – Oh, glorious day! The food bill goes down, the shower water stays hot and the leftovers in the fridge stay left over.

Still another happy day is the day they marry. Amazingly, there is something about walking down the aisle to give your daughter to a wolf in a tuxedo that brings tears to your eyes. Weddings are happy days.

But what do you do when the wine runs out?

This Sunday we’ll be studying John 2:1-12 and getting an understanding of the root of happiness. In this first miracle of Jesus at Cana the wine ran out and the happiness of the wedding party was almost lost. The happiness of the moment almost became a tragedy

until Jesus turned water into wine.

Jesus miracle saved the day but he wants to do so much more. As you study this passage you’ll begin to understand the root of happiness. Even more important you will learn that your happiness is not God’s priority. His priority is far better and completely different...

John 2:1-12 (The Message)

2 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

“Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days.

Look at what happened in John 2:1-12

There was a wedding and the wine ran out. Weddings in Jesus day were no small affairs. They lasted for several days and the family was responsible to make sure that everyone had a good time.

Hosting a wedding and having the wine run out would be like having a dinner and not having enough food today. It was a serious social gaffe but not exactly on a par with losing a battle in a war. I mean no one dies and the great scheme of life it’s not really that big a deal.

But if you are throwing the party it’s pretty huge!

The simple fact is that every wedding day runs out of wine. Some quicker than others but eventually the party ends and real work of living with each other begins.

This is a simple fact of life – in every area of life. It’s exciting to get a promotion, or to land a new position. It’s exciting to be accepted in a school or to find out you are starting a family. It is wonderful to discover that your work has made a difference in your company.

In every circumstance of life the party eventually ends because the wine runs dry.

So what do you do when the wine runs out? You do what Mary did. You look to Jesus for his help.