The Gospel of John focuses on the deity of Christ framed in seven miracles. Jesus manifested the glory of God through the miracles He did (v11). Since God does not share His praise or glory, Jesus undeniably demonstrates He is truly the Son of God. The culture of that time fully understood Jesus’ claim and wrongly accused Jesus of blasphemy to the point of crucifixion.

Background
Cana was a small town 3.7 miles from Nazareth. It had maybe 500 population. It was a town where everyone knew each other, everyone was friends and family and everyone was invited to the wedding. Jesus was also at the wedding, celebrating the joy of the marriage. Marriage is a wonderful blessing ordained by God, so naturally Jesus would be there.

The Crisis
A crisis happened at this wedding. The wine ran out. This was not a crisis because the people loved to drink; it was a neglect of hospitality. It was a severe breach of etiquette as well as shame for the groom. It could even escalate into the bride’s family suing the groom because he had not prepared properly for their daughter’s wedding. Wine was the main drink at a wedding and a wedding without wine was a disaster. In comparison, Jesus is central and necessary for life. Life without Jesus is a disaster.

Mary Turns to Jesus
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, told him there is no wine she probably wasn’t expecting a miracle. She was simply a mother relying on her eldest son to find a solution. Maybe he would go out and buy some more wine?

Jesus replies with ‘woman’, instead of ‘mom’. Many misinterpret this greeting as disrespect. ‘Woman’ is not disrespectful but a courteous addressing. Jesus is showing that what he is doing is not because His earthly mother asked him to, but because it is the will of His heavenly Father. The miracle was not done as a favor to Mary, but with the power of His deity for the purpose of His ministry. He is obeying God’s will as the Son of God.

Mary understands what Jesus is saying and humbly submits. She doesn’t get offended but instead tells everyone else to do as Jesus says. Similarly, knowing our life is in crisis, we must also submit and turn to Jesus for salvation.

Jesus Saves
Jesus then turns pots of water into wine. Jesus rescued the wedding. Not only did he miraculously turn water into wine, but it was much better than the original wine. As the guest explains, normally wine worse as the wedding goes on. Similarly, as life goes on, we get weaker and weaker, life gets worse and worse. But here Jesus turned it into good wine! Through Jesus we have the good news (the gospel), by which our deteriorating life can be made good.

4 dilemmas in life (even non believers will admit)

1. Everybody is a sinner (Rom 3:23)

2. We will all die. (Rom 6:23)

3. Everyone is judged (Heb 9:27)

4. We cannot save ourselves. In fact, we don’t want to be saved.

The 4 dilemmas explain the crisis in every person’s life. It is only by God’s grace can a man’s stubborn heart be made to seek God and desire to be saved. By our sins, we have given God countless reasons to not love us, yet He still shows mercy. It is only by His grace can we be saved.

Only Jesus can save us like He saved this wedding. He became man as God. He understands our plight and overcame our crisis, our inability and helplessness. Jesus is the good wine, the good news. His death on our behalf and resurrection on the third day is the miracle by which we are saved.  With His life and death, Christ fulfilled the holy law which no man could. Jesus saw our best which ended in crisis and then died to forgive it.

What must man do?
We must repent of our sins and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Repentance is confession of wrong and changing of mind, heart and life.  Belief is trust in Christ with your life. Those who follow Jesus are convicted He is the Son of God who saved them from death. They love Jesus for what He has done and obey Him.

Mary’s rejoicing and praising the Lord stemmed from her faith, her humility, and as shown in these verses, her knowledge of God.

Mary Knew God Provides
Verse 53: He has filled the hungry with good things

The spiritual climate of Jerusalem was not very healthy. While extremely religious, the people  were very hypocritical. In Mary’s life God had provided a righteous husband and faithful cousin, to help Mary in her situation. Still, her life was in danger and her future was very bleak, yet she trusted in God’s provision for the hungry. Her song of praise stemmed from her faith and knowledge  in God’s word (Ps 107:9).

God Cares and Provides
God cares both generally for all creation and men and specifically for the believer through their redemption in Jesus Christ. There are numerous examples of Scriptures of God showing care to the weak and needy and people acknowledging His care (Ps 27:10, Is 48:15, Lk 22:31-35, Lk 13:34).

God cares for your physical needs. In Matthew 6, Jesus says not to worry for God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Mt 6:25-31). This is one of the first truths we must realize of God. He is the one who cares and provides (Ps 24:10). It is fundamental to our attitude towards God that we trust in His provision in all areas of our lives.

Spiritually Hungry
God also provides for those who are spiritually hungry. Like the eunuch trying to understand the prophecy of Jesus, God provides someone to explain. Just as Zaccheus was unsatisfied with his wealth, he found satisfaction in Jesus. We must realize as sinners, we are spiritually poor. Not just poor, but completely bankrupt, without a single spiritual cent. It is those who confess their poverty and hunger who will be blessed and inherit the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:3). Our first partaking in the gospel of Jesus is our admittance of our need for the Savior, our spiritual hunger. Take care to remember and remain spiritually hungry, otherwise we go astray and backslide in our faith (1 Pt 2:2).

Those who are spiritually fed will share Christ with those around them. Christians are silent because they are not filled with Christ. A healthy church is a church who is spiritually hungry and being fed with God’s word. A healthy church is filled with joy and growing as a true body of Christ. A healthy church is what we want to be.

Mary Trusts the Faithfulness of God
He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

God is faithful to the promises of His word. The promise given to Abraham was not just to the Israelites but for many nations (Gen 12:2). Through Jesus, God fulfills His promise of mercy. Sin is most terrible and there is nothing worse. Any tragedy and hardship, any death any crime is because of sin. All pain and sorrow is due to sin. We do not hate sin as we should. We fail to grasp the pervasive devastation of sin and as a result, we fail to rejoice to Christ who saves us from it. Christ is the source of joy when sin is our enemy.

Wonderfully, God is faithful to His promises of mercy and salvation (Ps 98:3). He is not obligated to show mercy to any of us. Yet he remembers and is determined to show mercy to us who are sinners (Eph 1:4-6). Those who practice faith and bear the fruit of sanctification are counted as descendants of Abraham (Rom 1:16-7, 9:6-7).

Conclusion
Mary rejoiced because the baby she carries is the Savior! The Savior who would die on a cross and rise again to take away our sins. She trusted in God’s provision in her physical and spiritual needs and remembered God’s faithfulness to His promises. Let us also rejoice like Mary, who had faith, was humble and knew her God.

The knowledge of God is key to remaining joyful in all circumstances because God Himself is the foundation of joy. Despite Mary’s trying circumstances, she was able to rejoice because of her biblical theology. In these verses, we see Mary’s understanding of God.

Mary knew God as merciful. And His mercy is upon generation after generation…
Mercy and grace come through Jesus Christ. Just as faith is never without repentance, so mercy and grace always go hand in hand. Mercy and grace are distinct from one another. Grace is when God gives the sinner what he does not deserve- salvation and blessings. Mercy is when God does not give the sinner what he does deserve- punishment, judgment, and wrath. God’s ultimate display of mercy is Christ on the cross, who suffered and died in order to offer sinners God’s mercy and grace.

Mary understood she was a sinner who received God’s mercy. This understanding was the spring that brought forth joy, even when she faced a difficult trial. We see that joy is not circumstantial, but spiritual, and only believers who experience God’s mercy and grace can experience joy. When you are suffering under various circumstances and are tempted to be in despair, think deeply about God’s mercy and grace and you will find your footing again as you see God’s mercy sovereign over all difficulties. Your salvation could not be bought or earned- it was given by His choice. His mercy has extended from man’s Fall to today; it has never and will never cease.

Why do we fail to experience joy in God? God’s mercy is towards those who fear Him. We must check our hearts- what do you fear? Or in other words, what idols do you have in your heart? God pours His mercy on those who fear Him, who hold a high view of His majesty and holiness. A right fear of God comes through knowing that God is love and God is just. His love stirs us to be thankful, and His justice compels us to give homage to Him. In any situation, if you fear God, you will find refuge in His mercy. He will be greater than whatever you face.

Mary knew God as mighty. He has done mighty deeds with His arm…
Every earthly kingdom rises and falls by God’s might and will. He is above all kings, rulers, and authorities. By the power of God, Mary the virgin conceived. There are only two types of religion in the world- false salvation by man’s achievements, or salvation by God’s accomplishment in Christ. By His sovereign might, God has done the impossible- He saved us.

Why do we fail to experience God’s power? God’s power is upon humble men. Humility is self-denial. It is to think nothing of yourself, and to see God as greater than whatever you face. God has His own purpose for you. Wherever you go, there is never a shortage of people who need the gospel and your service. If you are humble, you will be useful to God. Even our Lord was humbled when He was baptized by John the Baptist before He began His ministry. Humility is a mark of a true child of God because Christ was humble. When you think nothing of yourself, God’s power is yours, and you will therefore have joy.

Dwell upon the mercy and might of God in Jesus Christ. There you will find joy.

True and lasting joy comes from faith. Mary praises God in her unfavorable circumstances because of her faith. She accepted God’s will for her faithfully and was able to receive the joy of the Lord. Christians are also joyful for the same reason. Our joy is not based in our circumstances but it is a supernatural  fruit of God’s salvation received by faith. This is why joy is internal and that joy is an offering in worship. We worship what we know, and if we don’t truly know God, we cannot worship him. It is only through Jesus, we know God, and worship joyfully.

Joy Must be Obligatory
From these verses, we learn the source of Mary’s joy. She has a proper knowledge of God. Her theology is sound.  Mary’s knowledge of God is not only true but applicable. It’s just information, but wisdom. Her theology results in praise, ‘my soul exalts the Lord’. Instead of blaming God for her unfavorable life situation, she praises joyfully. Mary fully understands who she will give birth to and submits to God’s will for her. Her theology is full of trust and obedience, leading to joy and praise (2 Ki 5:12-14, 15-17).

Mary exalts Jesus as Lord. She understands who Jesus is as Lord and who she is as a sinner.  Mary understands she also needs Jesus to redeem her. It is only in Christ a sinner can be saved. Mary called the baby in her womb as God and Lord who would save her from her sins.

Joy and Humility
Rightfully, Mary identifies her major problem. It’s not lack of finance or safety. Her biggest problem is not the circumstances but her sin. Consequently, Mary calls herself a ‘bondslave’, who has no rights or power. This is not low self esteem, but submission to God (Acts 20:22-24). Mary’s joy is paired with humility before the Lord and obedient to his will.

Are you humble? Are you submitting to God’s word (Phil 2:8). Those who are disobedient are not humble. They make excuses and defend their behavior in pride. Mary says, ‘according to Your word’ (Lk 1:38), which shows boldness to obey through whatever circumstance. Her humility shows self-denial, which is not merely a disciplined life or forgoing of pleasure, but rather an exaltation of God who is greater. To deny yourself, is to see yourself as a sinner at the foot of the cross, in need of the gospel of every day (MLJ). Those who are biblically humble, will never have need to complain, for we understand we are the lowest beneath the cross, yet our lives are redeemed by His death and resurrection. The fruit of humility is joy in our Savior!

Joy and Holiness
Mary proclaims that God is doing a wonderful and holy work for her. (Lk 1:49). Her situation is under God’s holiness, so she could be joyful and appreciate. Her surprise pregnancy wasn’t a scandal or shameful or adulterous, but holy (Lk 1:34-35). Therefore she could be joyful.

Only by our salvation in the gospel of Jesus can we be holy. No works or riches can make us holy. (Mt 16:26). Tragically, all kinds of successful people will go to hell because they fall short of God’s holiness. (Rom 3:23, Gal 2:16) Man can do moral things and accomplish good deeds by God’s common grace. However, only by faith in Jesus can we become holy.

This is why our salvation is so great! Isaiah 43:25, Romans 8:31-35 The promises and blessings of forgiveness and holiness belong to every Christian (Is 43:25, Rom 8:31-35). What no man could accomplish, no matter how great, Christ has accomplished and given to us the reward. Even before kings, we can stand joyfully and proudly because of our salvation. (2 Cor 5:17, Acts 26:29)

Appreciating Salvation
Christians look miserable because they don’t appreciate their salvation. Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, we forget the works of the Lord, the greatness of what God has done for us. Appreciating salvation is the gateway for all of God’s blessings. If we are discontent with Jesus the Son, and instead focus on what we want and what we feel like we need, if we look for something else to satisfy us rather than Christ, then what can God do? He has given us His Son and even still we want something else, then we are hopeless. It means we are not truly interested in actual salvation but rather our own desires (Rev 2:4, Mt 7:21-23).

If you are going through a hard time? Remember your salvation. Your hard time, while difficult, is nothing compared to your sin and it’s judgement. Christ has overcome our most impossible need and the joy of salvation is ours in Him.

In this verse, we see Joseph at the end of his life, similar to his father in the previous verse. Last week, we learned that faith finishes well. Through Joseph, we learn that true biblical faith is long lasting. From a young age, Joseph had received dreams from God and gone through numerous situations and was ultimately used by God to save his family and the world from famine. Throughout his whole life, Joseph faith was always active, present and lasting.

Many people understand faith as a means to overcome hardships. From a biblical and larger perspective, faith is actually a means to overcome sin. Only by faith can we see how large and dangerous sin is and also see that only God is able to overcome sin. By faith, we see that Satan is behind sin, but we also see God is sovereign and in control of all things, even Satan.

How to have long lasting faith?
Joseph ‘made mention’ which means, he remembered God’s promises. Joseph remembered God’s word to his father’s. A long lasting faith will always remember God’s word. The unfaithful and the worldly forget God’s word and seek after the new. We see the Bible emphasizing the importance of remembering what God has said (Joshua 4:5-6, Luke 15:17, Luke 17:32, Luke 22:19). In the Bible, those who remembered were saved, such as Rahab and Peter (Mt 26:75), while others forgot and were doomed, like Hiel (1 Ki 16:34) and Judas (Mt 27:7).

Do you remember God’s promises? In your daily life, do you remember the words you read from His word? What about the words you heard from last week’s sermon? For your faith to be active and lasting, we must know and remember God’s words (1 Jn 3:14-15) Joseph remembered God’s promise to Abraham, that his children would return to the land of Canaan. It was a promise made hundreds of years ago and promise which would not be fulfilled in hundreds more. The Israelites were flourishing in Egypt. Why would they leave? Yet, Joseph asked to be buried with his fathers, knowing that it was God’s word which had accomplished everything up to now, and God’s promise would also be fulfilled in the future.

Do we practice our faith in the same manner as Joseph? What hinders our remembering of God’s word? It is a love of the world and the things in it. We are slow, fearful and compromising because we love the world more than we love Jesus Christ. Even though the world crucified Jesus; we love that world. We don’t love Christ so we don’t remember Him. We are in need of a recalibration in our love. We didn’t start out this way.  Our beginning at conversion was full of passion. The gospel was fresh in our hearts. What have we forgotten?

Devotion to God’s Word
To remember God’s promises, we must devote ourselves to them (Acts 2: 42) Our days must be filled with deep meditations (Ps 1:1-2). When gathering with the church, our fellowship must be filled with the talk of Jesus Christ. Also, our prayers must be through the Scriptures we read.

Hope actualizes faith
Joseph gave orders concerning his bones. This order was based on the hope he held in God’s word. Hope is not wish thinking or a positive mindset. It’s not just delayed disappointment. Hope is the fuel for faith (Heb 11:1-2). Hope is given through faith because God fulfills His promises; and we see that Joseph is buried according to his hope (Joshua 24:32). Even the hopeless, who hear the word of God and believe have hope (Ez 27:15, 10)

The backbone of our hope is the resurrection of Jesus (Rev 20:5). There is hope in this life for eternal life and glory through Jesus (Phil 1:21, 1 Cor 15:57-78). Faith in Jesus comes together with hope. John Calvin says ‘Faith believes that eternal life has already been given to us. Hope waits for the day when it will be revealed Faith is the foundation on which hope is built. Hope feeds faith and keeps it alive.’  By remembering the past, our faith is present, leading to our future hope.