JESUS THE SAVIOR
Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches
of the Philippines
Lesson 3
JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Aim: That the learners will trust Christ to fill whatever lack they have
in their lives.
Scripture: John 2:1-11
Memory Verse: John 10:10 – The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full. (NIV)
In Advance
1.
Pray
2.
Memorize John 10:10
3.
Study John 2:1-11
Background of
the Scripture passage used:
Weddings in Israel during earthly
life of Christ were very important and might go on for a week. A wedding was a public affair with much food
and beverages. People normally drank water or wine. To fail in proper hospitality
was a serious offense.
Like weddings in rural Philippines,
visitors included invited and uninvited ones. In a country like Israel where
grapes were major product, to run short of it was like running out of rice
during a feast. It could be quite a
social embarrassment not only for the bride and bridegroom but for their entire
families.
It would seem that Mary was a close
relative to one of the families involved, possibly that of the bridegroom. The whole family of Jesus hiked about nine
miles from Nazareth to Cana to attend this particular wedding.
CLASS SESSION
ENTRANCE
Couple Buzzers: Two learners share with
each other and exchange experiences on the funniest thing they have witnessed
at a wedding. After about two minutes,
those who want to share with the whole class what they shared or heard during
the couple buzzers can have some time to do so.
Transition Sentence: There was one wedding
celebration that almost became an occasion for a great embarrassment.
SUBSTANCE
Divide
the class into three groups to discuss amont themselves and to report to the
whole class later. Let everyone read the entire passage silently first. The
topic for group assignments should be written on a piece of paper for each
group.
Assignments
1.
Group 1 – Describe or characterize the relationship between Mary and Jesus (vv.3-5,
11; cf. Luke 1:26-33; Luke 2:11-19, 52)
Answer: Although Jesus has
not yet performed any miracle at this point, Mary knew He was from God even
before His birth. At His birth, Mary
treasured in her heart the fact that a Savior was born (Luke 1:11-19).
In
a sense this event had a parallel when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke
2:41-52). After the Feast of Passover in
Jerusalem, He stayed behind among the teachers, amazing them with His
understanding. When Mary and Joseph found Him, Mary told Him, “Your father and
I have been searching for you.” Jesus replied. “Why were your searching for me?
Jesus contrasted “My Father” (the heavenly Father) with Mary’s “your father”
(Joseph). It could be noticed in that
account that Jesus, at twelve, was aware of His unique relationship with God.
He was taking His directions from His heavenly Father. In a similar way, during the wedding at Cana,
Jesus told Mary, “My Time has not yet come.”
His earthly time was inevitably moving towards his sacrificial death on
the Cross (John 20:23). He was gently reminding Mary that His purposes was
greater than hers. Yet their purposes in
the transformation of water into wine during the wedding were not necessarily
incompatible. Verse 11 says what Jesus
did was a “sign.” Through it He revealed His glory and His disciples put their
faith in Him.
The
address “woman” in v.4 was not one of disrespect during that time. It should not be understood as a rebuke. It
was the same address Jesus used when He lovingly spoke to Mary at the Cross
(John 19:26).
OPTIONAL COMMENT: Some
take this passage to support the doctrine that praying to Jesus through Mary is
effective. For such belief, the following Bible truths need to be considered:
1.
All have and sinned and fall short of God’s glory (including Mary) Romans 3:23
There is no one righteous, not even one Romans 3:10
To exempt Mary from this, it is taught that she was immaculately
conceived. There is no Biblical basis for this.
For her mother to have immaculately conceived her, her mother must have
been immaculately conceived too, and her grandmother, and so forth. Of course, it can be argued that God could
perform a miracle at any point in history.
He could cause Mary to be immaculately conceived. But as far as His
revelation is concerned, that is not what He did. The miracle He performed was on the virginal
conception of Jesus (Luke
1:26-27:34-35).
It is also taught that Mary is a
perpetual virgin. This is not only unsupported by Scripture but is contradicted
by some passages. Mark 6:3) for example,
explicitly states that Jesus had at least four brothers and two sisters.
2.
Mary herself acknowledged her
need of a Savior (Luke 1:47).
On the one
hand, Mary should not be considered a mediator because there is only One
Mediator, Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:5). On the other hand, it should be
recognized, as the angel did (Luke 1:28-33), that Mary was highly favored to
bear in her womb and give birth to the Lord Jesus Christ. We can rejoice
though, that we too can be highly favored if we obey God (Matthew 12:46-50).
Jesus said, Whoever does the will of my
Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
2. Group 2 – Why do you think
Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast?
(cf. Genesis 1:24;
Matthew 22:2; Matthew 25:1, Ephesians 6:22-28; Revelation 19:7)
Answers: a) There was a
special need He could meet, as Mary knew (vv. 3-8).
b)
Revealing His glory at such time was a sign causing His disciples to put their
trust in Him (v.11).
c) Weddings
have special significance:
1.
Marriage was the first
institution God established (Genesis 1:24)
2.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a
king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son (Matthew 22:2)
3.
The analogy of Christ as the
bridegroom and the people as His bride (Matthew 25:1; Revelation 19:7)
4.
The husband-wife relationship
is compared to the Christ-church relationship (Eph. 6:22-28).
5.
The glorious gathering of
Christi and His saints in heaven is figuratively called “the marriage supper of
the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9)
3.
Group 3 – How did this miracle reveal Jesus’ glory?
Answer: The
miracle of changing water into wine was in itself sufficiently amazing. Added to this was the fact that the wine
Jesus thus provided was superior in quality to what had run out.
General Truth: Jesus has the power to fill what is lacking in our lives.
SIGNIFICANCE
Comment
no the fact that there are areas in modern life too, where a miracle needs to
be performed. People solve their needs
or lack by working hard, by drugs, by stealing, or even by suicide. Wine could represent zest for life or joy of
living. There are areas in our own lives where we need to see water turn to
wine. The degrees of need may
differ. In some areas there might be
some wine available but we are not satisfied or we simply don’t drink.
Write the areas of life on the board:
PHYSICAL
MENTAL
WORK or SCHOOL
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL
FAMILY LIFE/
FRIENDS
SPIRITUAL/CHURCH
Physically – Do we feel ugly, overweight, underweight, drained or
burned-out?
Mentally – Do we feel dumb, unable to think clearly and well?
Emotionally/Psychologically – do we have struggles leaving us with
feelings or worthlessness and self-pity?
Family Life – Do we feel hassled or negligent? Do we wish we could
love our family members and friends more?
Work/School – Do we feel overloaded or unfulfilled? Do we badly need
money for our personal needs or for those in the family?
Spiritual life/Relationships – Are we nagged by guilt feelings and
overwhelmed by our struggles? Do we try but fail again and again?
Jesus
came to give us not only life, but life abundant (John 10:10). He can fill whatever we lack right now and
transform our water into wine.
What He could add to our present state is infinitely better than what we
have or need.
PERFORMANCE
Give
time for personal prayer after examining areas of life from the list on the
board. Let the class thankfully sing, He Giveth More Grace. If there are no copies available, the song
can be read instead.
This
song was written by Annie J. Flint when her mother died. Her mother had been taking care of her all
her life because she was an invalid.
HE GIVETH MORE GRACE
1.
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
Refrain:
His love has no limit;
His grace has no measure;
His power has no boundary known unto man.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
2.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance;
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
