The Gospel of John – March 13, 2022

The Gospel of John Part 3 (Steve)

March 13, 2022

The New Wine

John 2:1-11 (MSG)

What was Jesus trying to tell us about himself and his mission through this miracle?

1. Jesus identifies with the common person.
2. Jesus is concerned about common people’s problems.

John 2:3, When the wine was gone, Jesus Mother said to him, “they have no more wine.”

John 4: 4, “Woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My hour has not yet come.”

• Jesus saw his life in terms of purpose not wishes.
• This may have been an inconvenience but it was also an opportunity.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

3. Jesus came to give us a new life not a new religion.

John 2:5-8

● Jesus brought us grace, not religion with all of its rules, but life!

• Religion – I obey to be accepted.
• Grace – I am accepted & so I obey.
• Religion – My motivation in life is based on fear and insecurity.
• Grace – Our motivation is based on our grateful joy.
• Religion – I obey God in order to get things from God.
• Grace – I obey God to get God, to delight in Him.
• Religion – I get angry with God when things don’t go my way
• Grace – When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle, but know that while God may allow this for my training, he will exercise Fatherly love within my trial.
• Religion – When I am criticized I am furious & devastated because it is essential for me to think of myself as a good person.
• Grace – When I’m criticized I struggle, but my identity is not built on my performance rather on God’s love for me in Christ.
• Religion is DO.
• Grace is Done.

4. If the new wine is better, why are people resistant to it?

Luke 5:39 “And no one after drinking the old wine wants the new, for they say, the old is better.”

Galatians 5:4 For if you are trying to make yourself right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

• The old wine was about behavior modification, the New Wine is about life transformation.

John 2:11 What Jesus did in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.