The Joy-Producer

Coming into the radium church. Our focus is making Christ is providing worship come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. or visit us online. I leave you be.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop. We talked to some Christians.

It seems that to be a good Christian you have to be miserable. Have you met people like that if you really want to be godly you have to be miserable.

In fact, the more miserable you are the godly are you are or so they think it reminds me of a group of Christians who were gathered on a Friday evening prayer meeting and one lady prayed, dear God, please bless us your people weren't here trying to serve you about when the world is out there having a wonderful time at this doesn't sound right. In other words, to be a good Christian. You cannot have wonderful times only miserable times that this is completely contrary to what the Bible says, with the word of God says what Jesus said in John 15 verse 11.

Listen to what he said. He said these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Jesus did not come to make us miserable. He came to bring joy. He is the great joy producer. If you have your Bibles with you in our series on miracles become the John chapter 2, starting in verse one.

Let's all stand for the reading of God's word on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there.

Now both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding and when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him said to Jesus, they have no wine. Jesus said to her, woman, what does your concern have to do with me.

Another words, what does this have to do with you and with me. My our has not yet come.

His mother said to the servants, whatever he says to you, do it now. There were said there six water pots of stones. According to the manner of purification of the Jews containing 20 or 30 gallons a piece.

Jesus said to them, fill the water pots with water and they fill them up to the brim to the very top and he said to them, draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast in the took it when the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from but the servant who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and he said to him, listen to what he said every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests have well drunk then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now listen to verse 11 this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him you look at this passage in detail in just a few moments. But before we do that, let me ask you a couple questions of convicting questions is your Christian life more resembling a for funeral service, or if a wedding ceremony you when you have Jesus in your life regardless of your circumstances, you will have joy. Joy is not liberty.

Joy is not. I'm happy today joy. Something deep within that no one and nothing can steal away.

Do you have the joy in your life by receiving Jesus as your Savior.

You can now before I begin this message. Let me clarify one thing. Typically this passage is invoked either in support of or against drinking. Some people say you know Jesus turned water into wine so it's okay to drink as long as you don't get drunk.

That's all it is just a drop them. People are on the other side of the issue and they'll say something like this. Jesus would never endorse alcohol, the only turned water into unfermented grape juice like welshes hate to break it to them they got drunk. Read the passage again, not true, but I want you to understand very carefully as this, no matter where you stand on this topic. This passage is neither for drinking or against drinking. You cannot misuse this passage to support for or against it has a much deeper meaning that I believe we have been missing for way too long in this morning's message will fill your soul. Are you ready for that to fill your soul with true joy so this begin instead of starting in verse one we need to drop down to verse 11 first and then walk away back to verse one all the way down. Listen again this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him.

The key word in that statement is this signs it comes from the Greek word same eon I'm giving that word to you for a reason you know John the apostle, or the writer of this fourth gospel use this word for Jesus miracles not Matthew Mark and Luke also use the word science but when they use signs was always in a negative tone, the Pharisees and the scribes came to him, demanding a sign in Jesus refused them open.

John uses the word signs is for a whole different reason and faculty concludes his gospel with these words. Listen carefully on the screen.

Verse 30 he says.

Chapter 20 and truly Jesus did many other signs means what you see recorded in John's Gospel are just a handful. He did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name. Seven. John use the word signs he had more than miracles in mind you get that is more than old Jesus healed a blind how Jesus raised the dead while Jesus walked on water while it's more than just those supernatural natural miracles that save people's lives a raise them from the great. They were much more than that.

What did John have in mind when he used the word signs he used in the way the Old Testament Septuagint used in the use of what is that Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament the Jewish people there were scattered all over the Greek speaking world, and they were forgetting the Hebrew language. They knew more Greek than Hebrew. So they said let's translate the Bible into Greek from Hebrew so we can understand. But here's the amazing thing many times in the Old Testament the word same eon is found.

The word signs is found in the Septuagint, where is it fell is found when it is important to prove the power of God and his work on behalf of his people.

For example, after the flood, you know God said in Genesis chapter 9 verse 13 is that I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

God use the word sign for the rainbow. Another example of the many more after God delivered his people out of Egypt out of slavery in Deuteronomy chapter 26 verse eight. Listen to what they're saying. This said, so the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders there again is the word same eon. I'll give you one more example in Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14 where there is a prophecy of the coming of Jesus. Listen to what it says, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and I'm starting to back it up there for the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. It was a sign. The point I'm making here is this when John use the word signs he meant those incidents those events that proved that Jesus was and is God and he was the one who was to come is not just miracles to help people there were proofs that were proofs of who Jesus was and why he came so what was the sign behind this miracle.

The wedding at Cana.

Let's look at that for a few moments, Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding and back in those days the Jewish weddings were a time of great joy and celebration. Unlike the Roman weddings which are very simple Jewish weddings where extravagant I mean depends on how much money you have, you would spend a lot and the wedding celebration would actually last a whole week. Can you believe that and if you were wealthy you would invite the whole village of matter and imagine inviting everybody and Henderson to show up at your house to eat and by the way, according to an ancient Jewish source if you invited someone to a wedding and didn't show proper hospitality. You are no better than a thief. What happened at this wedding. The drinks ran out. How embarrassing. How shameful for this family. But in the midst of their wedding. The guests and the family members in the bridal party and the groom's party. They don't have any drinks.

So what does Mary do the mother of Jesus.

She goes to her son and says hey they don't have any wine. It ran out. What is Jesus's response to her listen to verse four we just read this. He says woman. What does your concern have to do with me, my hour has not yet come what Jesus was saying is this, do you really think that I left my heavenly throne and came down to fix drinks, my hour has not come. This is this is not the main event. What does she do well.

She does what many mothers do. She assumes he's gonna do it anyways. She says to the servants, whatever he says do you do it now. Please don't misunderstand, I don't thing is just that I think is more than that, I believe more than anybody else. During Jesus's ministry. Mary understood who he was. The Angels came to her. The shepherds came to her than that incident when he was 12 years old at the temple he was arguing and discussing with the doctors of the faith.

What does the Bible say Luke.

Luke says that Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart means you get thinking about it and thinking about it. Who is this man.

He is more than my son. There is something different about him that she understand that he was God in flesh completely.

I don't know, but she knew something that this event of wine running out may be an opportunity for her son who is very different to do something. She says to the servants listen to him now.

Jesus is about to do the first signed by the way, did you notice that in this series on miracles. I did not begin with this miracle. Sometimes people think that the wedding at Cana is the first miracle that Jesus performed. Not true is the first sign that John has Rick ordered but I believe Jesus was being miracles all along.

This is the first sign. There's a difference. It is more than a miracle to help people.

There is something deeper locked inside of it.

What is the deeper listen to verse six now there were set there. Six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews containing 20 or 30 gallons a piece. Do the math 6×30 you're close to about hundred and 50 gallons of water. That's a lot of water and what kind of water is this what is the purpose behind it is according to the manner of purification of the Jews is used for ceremonial handwashing.

This is not just watery can dip and then drink this is for certain ways you have to wash your hands.

This is for how you wash the dishes before you cook and after you cook there's a certain way to do things during the time of Jesus. These kind of rituals of purification's where at an all time high. How do you know that archaeology archaeology tells us that during this time there were a lot of these purification vessels found in Israel. In fact, about 20 years ago, archaeologists found in Jerusalem these big hearts in a big and hard figures like why were these pots doing so many of them and somebody said have you read John chapter 2. These are purification parts.

This is where this storm water so they can wash their hands a certain way and washed the dishes in certain with business ceremonial water pots now keep in mind Jesus told these servants to fill the water pots with water.

He could have very easily said okay. Bring the wine jars no, instead he sees the purification parts and he asks them to be filled. Keep in mind this is a sign with the John say this is the beginning of signs that he performed.

There is a deeper meaning behind it. What is the deeper meaning what Jesus is telling them is this, he has come to replace all those purification laws and rituals with something much better. I have come, and you no longer need this. What an insult. Think about it.

Somebody came to her house and had a special special. You know, instrument or vessel or something that you feel like my this is this is a special thing. No one should touch up and somebody walked is okay on the use that stuff right there to to do my work is the owner not that limit you something else. But Jesus said that purification parts I want those filled with water because I want to do something with them. It's a sign he is about to replace something. What is he doing this in the John chapter 1 verse 17.

You gotta remember these these passages so the screen for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. What Jesus is doing here is much more than okay.

Do you have any vessels. Well, we have the.

No, he is intentionally replacing a ritual, a tradition, what is he replacing it with with grace and truth that we can come to that a few moments will keep that in mind what happens next. He told them now to get some out of the same water pots same one and taken to the master of the fees and with the master of the feast tasted. He is a managed and he says to the bridegroom. What is he saying is that every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests have was aware there was a mean and they are having a good time.

They are well drawn. The southern people say what is not really about fermented know it is it is there drunk. Apparently what they would do back then. Is this new start with the good wine.

I mean really good wine and get people all lose their senses the get but not really get wasted. But they really are into the mood, having a good time than the czar. Let's get the cheaper stuff now, so this master.

The fee says they listen. Typically what I've noticed is you bring the best and then you go to the inferior.

When people cannot think or care what their drinking what is really saying is this man I thought the party was all boy I was wrong. A party is about to begin, you were saving all this good stuff for now member. This is a sign you know what Jesus was saying to them, then John the Baptist tell you about me. The something better was coming.

I'm taking all the verses all the references from the Gospel of John for a reason.

Go back to chapter 1 of John. What did John say John the Baptist say listen to verse 15 of chapter 1 John bore witness of him of Christ and cried out, saying this was he of whom I said, he who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me.

That's not enough. John says it again. Chapter 1 verse 26 is John the Baptist.

He says I baptize with water, but there stands one among you, whom you do not know it is he who coming after me is stored again preferred before me, whose sandal strap.

I am not worthy to lose. That's not enough. John the Baptist says it one more time and John the apostle records it one more time. John chapter 1 verse 29 the next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me. I don't misunderstand the word is awful before does not mean what I prefer this over that what he's saying is all is that you had, including me, John the Baptist, including me, is inferior. He is the one who is the best. He is the one you should be waiting for you when Jesus turned on the water pots into wine and he takes it back to the groom and says the master says listen, you have been holding out on the best. But Jesus is saying is I am the best all that you had your rituals your traditions your laws your purification's are inferior. I have commune with Jesus really saying I'm the best wine is a this passage is not about to drink or not to drink. This passage is about Jesus being the good wine who brings true joy and true celebration. Everything prior to him will leave you thirsty and wanting for more.

Get a bottle of Jesus, and you will never thirst again what is in verse 11 we looked at it earlier this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. And what does it say he did the signs and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in infancy. By doing this sign where he replace the purification of vessels with water that became best wine. What was he doing he was manifesting his glory.

What is the word glory it make you think when people think of the word glory to see a big line of bright light or this see a halo. Have you seen pictures the old medieval pictures Jesus with a dinner plate on his head. That's not glory.

If you want to know the definition of glory turn to John chapter 1 verse 14 she John tells everything. The clue to the miracle is in chapter 1. What is he say about glory. Listen to verse 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth. What he saying is this, the true glory is when God became flesh, and he was full of grace and truth that is glorious. What is it look like truth is that you are lost in your sins, but grace brings you forgiveness truth.

This you are an enemy of God, but grace makes you a child of God truth is that you are born to die, but grace gives you everlasting life know some people are reluctant to believe in Jesus because what they think is coming to Jesus in a mess of their party man got saved and now I don't have one anymore someone has misled you. You get high on these truths, and you will never thirst again you get intoxicated with Christ and his glory and his grace and his truth coming together and that one bottle and you fill yourself with that and that's when the party really begins. By the way, this party never ends. This is what Jesus said in John 1511 opened with this passage. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Don't misunderstand, when you hold this this bottle of Jesus is not the kind of joy that is what we call levity making fun of people making fun of yourself.

This is a joy that is D this is the joy that no matter what you're facing in your life. No one can steal away your Highland Christ was on what you believe about drinking or not drinking passage is not about that is about something much, much more. It's about Jesus being the wine the best wine. Have you drank from that fountain armor growing up there was this family and church. But the man had a drinking problem and you knew that it was paycheck time because he would come rolling in, singing in her saying in and having a good time and he would walk in that house wife and two little boys, just about a mile from our home and I knew the family. We knew the family very well and the neighbors would pull out there lawn chairs and literally watch the show because the show is about to begin the show was usually he would scream and cuss and then he would start beating his wife. People sat there and watched. It was fun for them to watch a woman being slapped around kicked around hair pulled Dragon around them is lights are on the wrong thing and see everything is happening you bring her out and do that they would call the police. Police would come on their own time they were. They knew what this woman is going to do. She's gonna beg and say no let them go. So they like and we can do anything unless you let us take him in and do that when he is done beating his wife but he will start on the boys.

I don't know what you believe about drinking or not drinking.

People have their ideas and they have the believes in you are entitled to that just tell you one thing, and I want to move on from that point.

The point is this. Don't let your freedom in Christ because your brother or sister to do this, you are free to live your life but but keep in mind there someone out there who is getting beat up someone getting abused. Someone who is going up saying Christianity by God doesn't work because it did not work in my dad's life so you think about that twice. Get drunk on Jesus and by the way, if you do have the joy in your heart. Be aware of the joy killers there people who will come in your life.

There'll be people, places, or passions, they will try to steal the joy from you. Stay intoxicated with Jesus having given your heart to Christ every accepted them in your life have you drank from that cup. If you've never done that you don't know what you're missing.

You can go back to church membership, you can go back to. I was baptized. You can go back to my confirmation. You cannot go back to any of those things those water pots are no longer for purification. They have been replaced with the true wine essay. You do have the joy in your heart you have taken hold of that, that is price someone or something has stilled comes in the morning, drink more on price.

Thank you so much for joining us for this message. The Christian life should be one of measuring his Jesus is the joy producer drink on him and receive full and lasting joy. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org for the sermons, notes to Exercise blog but on shop.com