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When The Wine Runs Out

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. JOHN 2:1-11 NIV

In your life, the wine always runs out

Where in your life is the wine running out?

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
JOHN 2:3 NIV

In Jesus, there is a wine that never runs out

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. PSALM 104:14-15 NIV

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias. JOEL 3:18 NIV

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” JOHN 7:37-38 NIV

How do we experience this?

We invite Jesus into the seemingly insignificant parts of our lives

We embrace that Jesus’ miracles often happen through our obedience

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 NIV

When we embrace the mundane work of filling the jar, we position ourselves to see water turned into wine

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place and allow yourself to slow down in your thoughts and feelings. When you are ready, ask God to guide you through this time of reflection. Think about the sermon and the question about where the wine has run out in your life. Where do you sense you need Jesus' healing presence and work to restore joy and peace to your life? Describe your experience of Jesus recently that gives you hope that He is a better place to go than somewhere else, like more money, another job, or better health. Ask Jesus what ordinary things He wants you to do to cooperate with Him in His doing a miracle in restoring the wine that has run out in your life. Close your time thanking and praising Him for His life in you that satisfies your needs as you trust in Him.

Discussion Questions

  1. BEGIN GROUP: Have everyone become still and silent. Then read JOHN 2:1-11 NIV out loud, slowly, and carefully. Pause, then read it again. After the second reading, ask your group members: “How is the Spirit of God leading you to share in this moment?”
  2. Where do you typically go when the wine runs out in your life?
  3. Faith is trusting that even a “no” from God is abundantly more than a “yes” from the world. Where do you need faith in the abundance of Jesus right now?
  4. We can sometimes fail to bring our biggest (and smallest) requests to God. But if Mary can bring a relatively “unimportant” request to Jesus, what obstacles prevent you from bringing your requests to Him?
  5. NEXT STEPS: Filling the jars with water was a labor-intensive and mundane job (not a quick fix), demonstrating that Jesus’ miracles often happen through our sustained obedience. What steps can you take this week to “pour more water in the jar” so that you can see the miracle at the end?