You Are More Than What You Think You Are
My brother shared with me a question that a fellow believer and friend had asked him. “What’s the point in being saved if all I am still going to have struggles?” his friend asked. This could be a likely question that many believers our age would ask. You may have asked this question a
In today’s sermon, I want to focus on the first miracle of Jesus for just a moment. I want to take a look at the things that were used to perform this miracle to show you that you are more than what you think you are. For too long we have looked at things worldly when we need to start looking at things through a spiritual lens.
Turning water into wine
When we think about this miracle, we mostly think about the end part – the water no longer being water but some kind of sweet water (wine). However, I want to dive deeper into this miracle and let’s take a look at some other things first.
Lower class wedding
We often forget that this miracle took place during a wedding celebration. We are told (John 2:1) of this wedding taking place on the third day and we are even told where this wedding took place – Cana of Galilee. I point out the location specifically because Galilee was not thought highly of when compared to those who lived in a place like Jerusalem. Jesus, we recall, was from Nazareth of Galilee. Nathanael, one of Jesus’ disciples, asked the question (John 1:46), “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Galilee, famous for its sea, is a place filled with what we would consider to be the blue collar and lower class citizens. Fishermen lived in Galilee. Joseph, Mary’s husband, was a carpenter. Both Cana and Nazareth were considered to be small villages especially when compared to places like Jerusalem. When we take a look at the wedding, the class of these people are clearly shown.
In ancient times, the Jewish wedding typically lasted anywhere from 5 to 7 days. There would be a ceremony followed by a wedding feast for celebrating the marriage. At a typical wedding feast, the family would be able to provide wine for the 5 to 7 days. However, we see that is not the case at this wedding feast as they seemingly run out of wine quickly (John 2:3).
Jesus performs miracle
Mary, in my opinion, voices her concern with Jesus because she knows exactly who her son is – God in the flesh. (In a way, we could think of this as a type of prayer from Mary.) Mary wanted for Jesus to perform a miracle. This much seems to be made clear to me when she tells the servants to follow and do whatever He says (John 2:5).
Jesus tells the servants to take the six stone waterpots and fill them with water. We are told that these waterpots can hold up to twenty to thirty gallons apiece (John 2:6). The servants, we are told, filled the waterpots up to the brim. (I believe they let the water run over!) When they serve the master of the feast (not the groom), he calls the groom over and remarks just how good the wine is.
10 And he said to him, “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!”
John 2:10 NKJV
More than meet the eyes
While many of us will take this miracle at face value for what it is, there is more here than what we see. For example, the waterpots we are told were stone pots. This again was evident of the wealth class of this family in that they were not using a higher class pots. The stone pots were likely beaten and worn instead of being pretty and fancy. Not only were these pots likely beaten and worn, but they typically held water used to wash the feet of visitors (John 2:6). These stones, I feel, are representative of something!
Another example of a deeper meaning can be found with the water. Water, we know, is a very common compound that covers most of this earth. We use water for cleaning, cooking, and drink. Most importantly, water is considered to be responsible and a sustainer of life. Again, I will tell you, that I believe this to be representative of something much deeper.
The deeper representation and meaning
Have you ever noticed how the Lord always seemed to use the lowly and least? We always overlook the lowly and least but God always seemingly used them. (Noah, Moses, David, Mary, and the apostles just to quickly name a few.) I pointed out to you the stone waterpots, the water, and said that they are representative of more.
The old worn out and beaten stone waterpots, I believe, are representative of us (believers and those who are meek and lowly). I want to tell you that Jesus is not concerned with your outer appearance or how society judges you! Jesus is fully capable of using you no matter the shape that you believe you are in! The Holy Spirit (God) replenishes us each every day. (He fills us with His water.) This all comes together to produce this miracle that is you – the true believer!
You are more than this world
We look at our situation and our struggle and we often let it burden us. Again, some will ask, what have I been saved from if I keep struggling in this world? Well, we have been saved from the second death – that is the spiritual death. We have been saved from that outer darkness known as hell. Did you say that you believed in Christ because you thought things were going to get easy?
We are in this world to be used by the Lord for how He see’s fit to use us! Some may say, “here he goes again, preaching about how we should be happy having struggles or happy with being poor!” I honestly don’t know what the Lord has in store for anybody, but what I can say is that your struggle might be for a cause higher than you think. This life that we are so blessed to live is not simply for ourselves as we are still workmen of the Lord.
The Lord has poured Himself out into us and filled us to the brim. Some of us may be worn and beaten; we may not be that high class pot, but I tell you that God is using you for a purpose. Too often we let where we are and what we are doing overwhelm us in this life.