WEBVTT

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 Turn with me in your Bibles, if you have one, or look along on the screen.

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 We'll be reading from John chapter 2, verses 1 to 12,

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 as we continue in our series through this gospel account.

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 John chapter 2, starting at verse 1.

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 On the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee.

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 And the mother of Jesus was there.

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 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

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 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him,

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 They have no wine.

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 And Jesus said to her,

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 Woman, what does this have to do with me?

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 My hour has not yet come.

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 His mother said to the servants,

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 Do whatever he tells you.

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 Now there were six stone water jars there,

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 for the Jewish rites of purification,

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 each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

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 Jesus said to the servants,

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 Fill the jars with water.

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 And they filled them up to the brim.

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 And he said to them,

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 Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.

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 So they took it.

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 When the master of the feast tasted the water,

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 now become wine,

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 and did not know where it came from,

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 though the servants who had drawn the water knew,

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 the master of the feast called the bridegroom,

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 and said to him,

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 Everyone serves the good wine first,

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 and when people have drunk freely,

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 then the poor wine.

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 But you have kept the good wine until now.

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 This the first of his signs Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,

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 and manifested his glory,

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 and his disciples believed in him.

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 After this, he went down to Capernaum,

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 with his mother, and his brothers,

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 and his disciples,

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 and they stayed there for a few days.

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 Things fall apart.

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 The center cannot hold.

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 Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

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 The blood-dimmed tide is loosed,

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 and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

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 The best lack all conviction,

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 while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

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 Now, if you've never heard those words before,

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 you might think somebody wrote them

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 at some point in the past year,

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 to describe something that happened.

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 But actually, these words were written

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 a hundred years ago, in 1919,

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 by the Irish poet W.B. Yeats.

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 He was writing in the aftermath

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 of the First World War,

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 that had left 20 million dead

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 and 21 million wounded.

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 He was writing as political tensions

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 were high in his own country,

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 leading to the Irish War for Independence.

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 And he was writing in a time

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 of personal distress related to a pandemic.

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 His pregnant wife was slowly recovering

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 from a bad case of the Spanish flu

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 that nearly took her life.

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 But over the last century,

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 Yeats' words have resonated with many people.

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 They've been quoted or alluded to

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 in books, songs, essays,

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 novels, poems, movies.

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 Because isn't this what we often see

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 when we look around at the world?

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 We see things falling apart.

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 We see the world around us

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 gradually or even more quickly unraveling.

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 And that's the natural course of things

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 in this fallen world.

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 Empires rise,

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 and then eventually they fall.

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 Schools of thought

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 become all the rage for a time,

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 and then they fade

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 into the footnotes of history.

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 Great buildings are constructed,

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 and then they begin to deteriorate.

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 Even on a personal level,

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 every one of us is living in a body

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 that is in the process of aging,

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 decaying, and eventually dying.

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 Running low and one day running out.

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 Even the best things in this world

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 will come to an end.

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 But the story we're looking at this morning

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 shows us that Jesus Christ came

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 into an unraveling world

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 to bring new and everlasting joy.

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 So let's walk through this story together,

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 and then we'll consider what it means.

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 So first, let's look at the story

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 of this wedding at Cana.

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 Right?

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 At the beginning, we see Jesus

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 and his family members

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 and his disciples invited to a wedding.

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 Perhaps it was a family relative

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 or a family friend.

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 But at some point soon,

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 they're confronted with a miniature crisis.

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 The wedding is falling apart

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 because the wine has run out.

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 Now, let me give a little historical context

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 to put this situation in perspective.

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 Three bits of historical context.

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 First, back in the day,

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 wedding celebrations often lasted for seven days.

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 Now, not everyone would stay for the whole time,

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 but a wedding was an occasion of great joy.

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 And people would normally invite

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 as many guests, family, friends, neighbors,

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 distinguished personalities as possible.

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 And it would be an extended feast.

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 Second, the groom was the designated host.

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 So the groom and his family

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 were responsible to provide food and drink

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 for all the guests.

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 And back then, hospitality

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 was a very important cultural value.

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 I grew up at my mom's side of the family is Italian.

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 And, you know, I mean,

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 when you go to an Italian household, right?

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 You know, grandma asked you,

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 you've already had four portions,

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 but do you want a fifth, right?

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 Like, it's just the expectation.

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 You don't ever run out of food

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 in an Italian family.

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 And it's the same thing back in the Middle East, right?

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 You would never run out of food

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 or drink for your guests.

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 That would be extremely embarrassing.

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 In fact, there's even some evidence

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 that in a situation like this,

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 the bride's family could have pursued a lawsuit

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 against the groom and his family

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 for failing to adequately provide

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 for the guests at the wedding

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 and dishonoring the bride in the process.

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 Sounds a little crazy to us,

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 but it underlines how important it was.

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 That hosting hospitality role.

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 Third, wine was the main beverage

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 served at weddings.

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 So wedding celebrations would last seven days.

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 The groom was the designated host

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 and wine was the main beverage.

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 Now, back then,

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 wine was normally mixed with large amounts of water.

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 So it had a much lower alcohol content

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 than it does today.

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 Even less than beer today.

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 So guests at a wedding

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 could drink quite a lot of wine.

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 It would keep them hydrated

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 and they would not be immediately

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 getting very drunk.

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 But wine was seen as an essential beverage

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 for celebrations.

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 That was sort of what was expected.

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 So if the wine ran out,

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 it meant two things.

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 First, it meant the party would be over early.

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 And maybe some of those guests

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 who might have come later on

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 during those seven days

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 would have not even got to participate at all.

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 But it also meant that the new husband's reputation

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 in the village,

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 especially a small village like Cana in Galilee,

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 would be damaged for years to come.

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 He's the one who was a stingy, skimpy host

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 and didn't even have enough

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 to properly provide for his guests.

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 So that's the problem that we see

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 at the beginning of the story.

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 But when the problem is brought to Jesus' attention,

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 Jesus seems initially reluctant to do anything.

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 Mary comes to Jesus and says,

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 they have no wine.

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 Now, it's not clear exactly

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 what Mary was expecting Jesus to do.

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 John tells us in verse 11

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 that this was Jesus' first miracle.

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 So presumably, Mary wasn't used to seeing Jesus

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 perform miracles every time something happened

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 or there was a need.

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 But it is likely that by this time,

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 Mary was a widow.

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 Why, you might say,

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 well, Joseph and Mary appear together

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 in the Gospel accounts when Jesus is born

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 and when Jesus is a child,

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 when he's 12 years old.

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 For example, going to the Passover

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 and the temple together.

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 But when Jesus is an adult,

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 Mary continues to appear in the Gospel

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 several times,

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 but Joseph is never present.

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 And so many commentators think

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 that by this time,

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 Joseph had died

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 and Mary was raising her family alone.

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 And so perhaps in the absence of Joseph,

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 Mary had come to depend on Jesus,

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 her oldest son,

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 to help her out in a pinch,

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 to help her find a way

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 through hard situations.

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 And so she comes to him

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 and sort of says,

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 what do we do here, Jesus?

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 But in verse 4,

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 Jesus' response is a little unexpected.

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 Woman, what does this have to do with me?

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 My hour has not yet come.

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 Now that term woman

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 was not a rude term.

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 It was a respectful term,

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 sort of like ma'am,

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 but it was not a term

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 that anyone ever used

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 in the ancient world

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 to address their mother.

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 It was not an affectionate term.

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 It was not a term

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 that you would normally use

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 when speaking to your mom.

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 And every other time in the Bible

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 that somebody says,

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 what does this have to do with me?

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 The expression always indicates

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 some kind of challenge or rebuke.

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 So there are actually

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 at least four times

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 in the Gospel of John

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 when somebody comes to Jesus

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 with a request

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 or with some advice

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 and initially

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 he pushes back against it.

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 So there's a situation here

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 in chapter 4.

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 There's an official at Capernaum

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 who comes to Jesus and says,

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 come down to my house

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 before my son dies.

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 And Jesus says,

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 no, you go back home.

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 Or in chapter 7,

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 Jesus' brothers come to him

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 and they say to him,

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 you should go to Judea.

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 You should show yourself

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 to the world.

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 And Jesus says,

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 nope, time's not right yet.

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 And in chapter 11,

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 Mary and Martha

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 send word to Jesus,

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 come, Lazarus is sick.

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 Come and heal him.

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 And Jesus stays where he is

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 for two more days.

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 It's striking if you compare

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 all these incidents.

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 People come to Jesus

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 with what seem like

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 legitimate needs and requests

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 and initially Jesus seems

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 to push back against them.

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 And often we think,

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 if I'm in a pinch

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 and I'm turning to Jesus for help

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 and if my request is reasonable,

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 he should come right away

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 and fix my situation.

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 And we might think that

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 of all people that could ask him for help,

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 at least Jesus would do so for his mom.

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 But John wants us to see

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 that Jesus does not act

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 on our timetable.

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 Jesus will not be controlled

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 or manipulated by any human being,

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 not even by his mother.

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 Jesus came to earth

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 to carry out the will of God,

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 his heavenly father.

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 Not the will of any other human being.

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 So sometimes we may come to Jesus

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 with a problem

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 or a situation

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 or a request

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 and he may seem to push back

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 on that request

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 or not to respond immediately.

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 But even if Jesus

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 doesn't initially respond

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 in the way that we desire

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 or hope,

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 John wants us to know

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 that he does care

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 and he will act

00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.339
 on behalf of those

00:11:54.339 --> 00:11:55.879
 who wait for him.

00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:59.179
 So every one of those four times

00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:00.960
 that Jesus initially pushes back

00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:01.879
 on someone's request

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:02.799
 in the Gospel of John,

00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.799
 he actually comes through for them,

00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:07.120
 but often in a way

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.939
 they don't expect.

00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.720
 So with the official

00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.379
 who comes to him

00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:11.639
 and says,

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.939
 please come down to my house

00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:13.679
 and heal my son,

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.120
 Jesus says,

00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:14.960
 no, you go home.

00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.340
 And guess what?

00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.039
 When he gets home,

00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:17.799
 his son is healed.

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.000
 Jesus can heal remotely.

00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:21.860
 Okay?

00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.259
 There's even a biblical example

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.080
 of Jesus' ministry

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:26.899
 is not hindered

00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:28.500
 by physical distance.

00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:31.840
 When Jesus' brothers

00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:32.639
 come to him and say,

00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.960
 show your glory to the world,

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:34.439
 Jesus says,

00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:35.080
 no, not now,

00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:36.139
 but then he does go up

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.220
 to that feast later on

00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:37.960
 and of course

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.100
 he will show his glory

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.720
 to the world

00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:40.960
 through his death

00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.639
 and resurrection

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:43.080
 and through the sending

00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:43.939
 of the Holy Spirit

00:12:43.939 --> 00:12:44.720
 in ways that are

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.559
 far more glorious

00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:46.159
 than they would have

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.799
 ever imagined.

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.000
 And of course,

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:50.879
 he doesn't just heal

00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:52.000
 Lazarus from sickness,

00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.200
 he comes and raises

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.040
 him from the dead.

00:12:56.800 --> 00:12:57.680
 And here,

00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:59.800
 he turns water

00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:00.440
 into wine.

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.440
 We don't know exactly

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.879
 what Mary was expecting,

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:06.040
 but surely

00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:08.200
 this would have surpassed

00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:10.320
 anyone's normal expectations.

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.980
 And Mary here

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.780
 is an example of faith,

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.640
 an example of the posture

00:13:17.640 --> 00:13:18.660
 that we should adopt

00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:19.220
 toward Jesus

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:20.360
 even when he seems

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.820
 to not respond

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:23.900
 immediately to our requests.

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:26.400
 She's not turned off

00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:27.500
 by Jesus' word of rebuke.

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.300
 She doesn't go away

00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:28.780
 in a huff.

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.580
 No, she says to the servants,

00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:34.300
 do whatever he tells you.

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:38.800
 Now, Jesus didn't tell Mary

00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:39.340
 in advance

00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:40.500
 what he was going to do

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.520
 or how he was going

00:13:41.520 --> 00:13:42.480
 to handle the situation,

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.160
 but she says,

00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:46.500
 just do whatever he says.

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.399
 I trust him.

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.419
 I trust him.

00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:50.419
 And you should too.

00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:53.080
 You see,

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.360
 that's what faith is.

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.720
 We may not always

00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.759
 understand why

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.720
 Jesus does the things

00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.960
 he does when he does them,

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.200
 but faith is trusting

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.039
 that he's worthy

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:04.659
 of our trust

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.240
 and obedience.

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.500
 obedience.

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.659
 Now, the story goes on.

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.139
 Jesus says to the servants,

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.919
 fill these six stone water jars.

00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.539
 And of course,

00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.139
 like Mary,

00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.600
 the servants probably are like,

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:19.940
 what?

00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.299
 What's,

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.259
 what exactly?

00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.100
 Why?

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.600
 What are you going to do?

00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.259
 How does this relate?

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.220
 You know,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.659
 you're not taking up

00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.100
 a collection

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.799
 and going out

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.360
 to the store.

00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.879
 You're telling us

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.220
 to fill these huge water jars.

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.139
 But no,

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:35.920
 they just go ahead

00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:36.480
 and do it.

00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:37.759
 Right?

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.660
 They don't seem to,

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:40.320
 they don't stop

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.639
 and say,

00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:40.800
 well,

00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.540
 I'm not going to do it

00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:42.180
 unless you tell me

00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:42.820
 why you're telling me

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.240
 to do this.

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.379
 No,

00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.040
 they just go ahead

00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:44.500
 and do it.

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.080
 And then Jesus says,

00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.779
 draw some water

00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.519
 and take it to the

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.379
 master of the feast.

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:49.980
 Now,

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.899
 the master of the feast

00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.300
 was the head waiter.

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:53.639
 So,

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.000
 the master of the feast

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.379
 would have been

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.620
 the person responsible

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.399
 for seeing

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.720
 for all the food

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.160
 and drink

00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:01.820
 and for all the sort

00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:02.779
 of catering

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:04.100
 associated with

00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.440
 the wedding.

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.820
 And the master

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:06.159
 of the feast

00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.560
 would have been

00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:07.100
 in charge of

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:07.740
 supervising

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.779
 the rest of the servants.

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.460
 So,

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.060
 the servants go

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.680
 to their boss

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.139
 and say,

00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:13.540
 here's this,

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.740
 here's,

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.860
 here's this water

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:18.019
 that Jesus told us

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.000
 to bring to you

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.600
 and he tastes it

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.700
 and he calls

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.300
 the bridegroom.

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:23.500
 Now,

00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:23.779
 again,

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.560
 the bridegroom,

00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.720
 the groom was responsible

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.040
 for providing

00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.440
 all of the refreshments,

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.060
 all of the food

00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:29.540
 and drink.

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.279
 So,

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:30.879
 that's why he goes

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.600
 to the bridegroom

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.580
 because the bridegroom

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.019
 is supposed to be

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:33.579
 in charge

00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:35.079
 and he says,

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.279
 wow,

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.179
 nobody else

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.059
 does this.

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.480
 You've saved

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.259
 the best wine

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:44.259
 for now.

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.100
 Usually,

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:46.679
 the quality

00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.419
 just goes down

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:47.699
 and down

00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:48.240
 and down

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.720
 over time

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.960
 as people

00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.139
 have been around

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.639
 for longer

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.179
 and longer.

00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:59.039
 you've saved

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.599
 the best

00:15:59.599 --> 00:16:00.579
 for last.

00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:01.259
 And that's the

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.299
 climax of the story.

00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:02.839
 You

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:04.079
 have kept

00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:04.659
 the good wine

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.379
 until now.

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.459
 The end of verse 10.

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.479
 So,

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.339
 that's how the story

00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:10.959
 goes.

00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:11.899
 Now,

00:16:11.979 --> 00:16:12.519
 let's consider

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.599
 what it means.

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.799
 And John

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.299
 tells us

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.839
 what it means

00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:18.579
 in verse 11

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:20.759
 because he says,

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:22.399
 Jesus manifested

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.580
 his glory

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:26.740
 by doing this.

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.740
 How did Jesus

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:31.240
 manifest his glory?

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:33.639
 Well,

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.539
 at one level,

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.220
 Jesus manifested

00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.799
 his glory

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.759
 very quietly

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.179
 and behind the scenes

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.240
 in this story.

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:42.720
 All right,

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.620
 verse 9 says,

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.159
 the master

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.759
 of the feast,

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.419
 the head waiter,

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.320
 didn't know

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.240
 where the wine

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.960
 had come from

00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.539
 even though

00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.639
 he thought

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.399
 that the groom

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.240
 deserved the credit

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:51.759
 for it.

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.360
 And aside

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.240
 from the servants

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.159
 and Jesus' mother

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:56.360
 and his own disciples,

00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:57.399
 it's not clear

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.039
 who else

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.820
 at the wedding

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.879
 even knew

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.720
 exactly what

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.220
 had happened.

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.099
 Many of the guests

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.619
 probably

00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:05.900
 didn't even

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:07.019
 know that the wine

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.700
 had run out

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.460
 or where

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.079
 the new wine

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.720
 came from.

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.660
 You see,

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.920
 sometimes in the Gospels,

00:17:14.080 --> 00:17:14.880
 Jesus acts

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.880
 quietly

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.720
 and behind the scenes,

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.580
 discreetly,

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:20.800
 without making

00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:21.519
 a public show

00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.180
 of what he's doing

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.740
 and sometimes

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.640
 even tells people

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:25.240
 don't make a big deal

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.200
 of this right now,

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.040
 right yet.

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.680
 Here,

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:31.180
 Jesus makes up

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.420
 and fills in

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.440
 for the deficiencies

00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.080
 of this unknown bridegroom

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.720
 and he enables

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.800
 the party to go on

00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:38.779
 for a few more days.

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.380
 He enables

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.720
 the groom's honor

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.320
 in the village

00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:41.980
 to be preserved

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.620
 for a few

00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:44.180
 more years.

00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.059
 And you know,

00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.799
 the Bible says

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.900
 that Jesus Christ

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.839
 in union

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.779
 with God the Father

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.980
 and God the Holy Spirit

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.559
 continues

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.960
 to sustain

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.559
 this fallen world

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.900
 by his common grace.

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.839
 Working behind

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.500
 the scenes

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.339
 discreetly

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.079
 and quietly

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:01.039
 in ways

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.920
 that most of us

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.039
 never even

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.779
 notice

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.259
 or know about

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.019
 to hold together

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.740
 this world

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.720
 that otherwise

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.779
 would have fallen apart

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.720
 a long time ago.

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:13.400
 long ago

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.299
 Augustine,

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.539
 the church father,

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:15.880
 said,

00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:17.440
 we look at this miracle

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.940
 and we think

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.600
 it's amazing.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.860
 Jesus turned water

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.579
 into wine.

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.880
 But Augustine says,

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.980
 look around

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.600
 at the world.

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.740
 God does the same

00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.700
 thing each year.

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.799
 The clouds

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.880
 pour forth water

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.600
 which sinks

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.339
 into the soil

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.059
 which makes

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.140
 the grapevines grow

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.120
 which human beings

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.079
 make into grape juice

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.539
 and wine.

00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.379
 He says,

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.019
 we've just gotten

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.419
 so used to that process

00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:42.460
 that we don't marvel

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.399
 at it anymore.

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.659
 But Augustine wrote,

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.619
 who is there

00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.539
 that considers

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.619
 the works of God

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.819
 whereby this whole world

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.480
 is governed

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.639
 and regulated

00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:52.879
 who is not amazed

00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.599
 and overwhelmed?

00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.199
 When we look at

00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:57.299
 how our human bodies

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:57.899
 function,

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.480
 even if you study

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.220
 how

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.419
 when you get a cut

00:19:03.419 --> 00:19:04.359
 how your blood

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.000
 clots

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.899
 and yet doesn't

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.899
 completely

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:10.399
 clot all of the blood

00:19:10.399 --> 00:19:11.059
 in your whole system

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.539
 and then how your skin

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.240
 repairs itself.

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.740
 It's an amazing process.

00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:15.899
 It's quite complicated

00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.519
 and

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.859
 none of us,

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.139
 almost none of us

00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:20.500
 except maybe the med students here

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.959
 really think about that

00:19:21.959 --> 00:19:23.240
 and really give attention

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.699
 to that.

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.159
 But it's something

00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.279
 we depend on every day.

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:27.619
 Otherwise,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.319
 every time you get

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:28.740
 a little cut

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:30.000
 you'd bleed your

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.979
 entire blood out

00:19:30.979 --> 00:19:31.740
 and you'd be dead.

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:34.599
 But there's all kinds

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:36.000
 of things that are amazing

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.559
 that God does

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.519
 to sustain

00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.839
 this broken

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:42.019
 and fallen world

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.579
 on a day-to-day basis.

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:46.839
 There's all kinds

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.640
 of things that God

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.740
 does behind the scenes

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.640
 in our own lives

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.420
 to preserve us

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.920
 from troubles

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.559
 that we don't even realize

00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.720
 that we might otherwise

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:57.420
 be brought down by.

00:19:57.420 --> 00:20:02.220
 Now, while that's important,

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.039
 that's not all

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.100
 that John wants us to see.

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.300
 The main point

00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:05.820
 of this story

00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:06.660
 is not how Jesus

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.000
 works behind the scenes

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.880
 to sustain the world

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.980
 by his common grace.

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.740
 No, John says

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.500
 this is the first

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.720
 of Jesus' signs.

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.100
 Think about

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.180
 what is a sign.

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.039
 Well, a sign

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.880
 points

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.240
 to the reality

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.720
 of something greater.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.920
 And this is the word

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.680
 that John uses

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.539
 most frequently

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.279
 to describe

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.240
 Jesus' miracles.

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.940
 He doesn't use

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.820
 the word wonder,

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.500
 sort of something

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.120
 that emphasizes

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.980
 how astonished

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.340
 we are at it.

00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:35.120
 He says

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.140
 they're signs.

00:20:36.580 --> 00:20:37.299
 They're pointing

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.060
 to the reality

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.180
 of who Jesus is.

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.019
 He wants us

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.720
 to see something

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.860
 about who Jesus is

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.920
 in every one

00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:43.600
 of the miracles

00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.340
 Jesus does.

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.580
 He does seven of them

00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.620
 throughout the gospel.

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.700
 So every time

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.600
 Jesus does a miracle

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.700
 that is recorded

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.600
 in John's gospel,

00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.360
 we need to ask

00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.500
 what is this sign

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.359
 pointing to

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.380
 about Jesus himself?

00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.700
 And the answer

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.819
 to that question here

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:02.259
 is that John

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.400
 wants us to see

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.839
 that Jesus

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.059
 is the true

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.140
 bridegroom

00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.660
 who has come

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.359
 to establish

00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.299
 a new and better

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.740
 covenant

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.400
 with his people.

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:14.099
 Now you might say,

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.880
 how do I get that

00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:16.480
 from this story?

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.119
 Well,

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.720
 John gives us

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.420
 three hints

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:22.079
 that point us

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.940
 in that direction.

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:26.559
 verse 1,

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.000
 John gives

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.059
 a subtle hint

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.960
 indicating that

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.640
 Jesus has come

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.319
 to begin

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.599
 something new.

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.759
 And most of us

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.859
 might miss this hint,

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.180
 but when we look

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.519
 closer,

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.579
 it is there.

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.319
 When it talks

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.319
 about the timing

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.900
 of the wedding

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:43.180
 being on the third

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.700
 day.

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.059
 Now,

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.839
 two weeks ago,

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.640
 Pastor Nick

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.140
 pointed out

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.220
 that the first words

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.240
 of John's gospel

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.400
 are also the first words

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.420
 of the book of Genesis

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.519
 in the Old Testament,

00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:56.460
 in the beginning.

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.320
 And if we look

00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:58.920
 more closely,

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.600
 we might notice

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:01.080
 another potential

00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.160
 parallel between

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.400
 the first two chapters

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:03.960
 of Genesis

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:05.019
 and the first two

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.900
 chapters of John.

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.840
 They both begin

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.680
 with a week

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.660
 of events

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.480
 culminating

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.340
 in a wedding.

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.340
 So the book

00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:13.759
 of Genesis

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.800
 describes a week

00:22:14.800 --> 00:22:16.019
 of God's creation

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.259
 culminating in

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.120
 the wedding

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.220
 of Adam and Eve

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.980
 when God brings

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.660
 Eve to Adam.

00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.339
 And there's this

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.140
 sort of wedding

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:24.620
 ceremony

00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:25.160
 in the Garden

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.559
 of Eden.

00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:28.140
 And John

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.200
 also begins

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.940
 with a week

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.180
 of God's action,

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.100
 a week of Jesus

00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.539
 coming on the scene

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.600
 in chapter 1.

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.460
 So four times

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.180
 in chapter 1,

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.839
 verse 29,

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.680
 it says,

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.559
 the next day.

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.860
 Verse 35,

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.079
 the next day again.

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.279
 Verse 39,

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.799
 they stayed with him

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.380
 that day.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.720
 Verse 43,

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.880
 the next day.

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.240
 And then chapter 2,

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.819
 verse 1,

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:50.039
 on the third day.

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:52.980
 A week has passed

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.600
 and guess where

00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.480
 we find ourselves?

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.039
 At a wedding.

00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.319
 And so if you

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.900
 had been familiar

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.660
 with that pattern

00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:01.259
 in Genesis

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.720
 and you see this

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.420
 pattern in John,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.860
 you think,

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.740
 huh,

00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.940
 that's an interesting

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.500
 echo.

00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:08.740
 John must be saying

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.759
 that Jesus has come

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:11.880
 to make a new

00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:12.299
 beginning,

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.019
 to start something

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.400
 new.

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.539
 And you might

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.039
 even think,

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:19.740
 maybe he's

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.720
 the new Adam

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:23.159
 over a new creation.

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.420
 Well,

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.960
 verse 6,

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.480
 John gives us

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.220
 another hint

00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:29.259
 indicating that

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.099
 Jesus has come

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.619
 to establish

00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.399
 not just something

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.559
 new,

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:32.920
 but something

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.319
 better.

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.599
 Something better

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.299
 than the old

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.200
 covenant provided.

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.839
 John mentions

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.700
 that these six

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.740
 large stone

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.379
 water jars

00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.920
 were used

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.480
 for Jewish

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.019
 rites of

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.720
 purification.

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:42.799
 purification.

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.600
 That is,

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.200
 they represented

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.860
 the rituals

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.720
 of the old

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.140
 covenant.

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.660
 But Jesus

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.240
 has come to

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.799
 bring something

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.240
 new.

00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:52.620
 Right?

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.140
 Jesus says,

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.240
 fill them to

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.660
 the brim.

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.559
 In other words,

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:58.500
 they've come

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:58.839
 to their

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.339
 fulfillment.

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.039
 And Jesus

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.100
 has come to

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.980
 bring something

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.640
 even better.

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.600
 A kind of

00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.420
 purification that

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.079
 wasn't previously

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.519
 possible,

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.200
 a kind of joy

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.779
 that won't run

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.079
 out.

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.359
 But the

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.179
 clearest hint

00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:12.879
 is in verse

00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.939
 10 at the

00:24:13.939 --> 00:24:14.720
 climax of the

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.119
 story,

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.720
 when the

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.339
 master of the

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:16.919
 feast says to

00:24:16.919 --> 00:24:17.519
 the bridegroom,

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.039
 you have

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.559
 kept the good

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.139
 wine until

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.500
 now.

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:22.859
 Now,

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.799
 think about

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.259
 that statement.

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:24.980
 We know

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.679
 that the

00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.299
 master of the

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.000
 feast is giving

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.699
 the credit to

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.439
 the bridegroom

00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:29.259
 that he should

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.859
 be giving to

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.359
 Jesus.

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.259
 Right?

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.279
 Because the

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.759
 unknown bridegroom

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.379
 has actually

00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.419
 failed to be a

00:24:36.419 --> 00:24:37.319
 proper host to

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.960
 his guests.

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:39.460
 he doesn't

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.100
 deserve any

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:40.940
 credit at all.

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.640
 But where the

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.960
 unknown bridegroom

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.480
 failed,

00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.640
 Jesus has

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:47.519
 provided all

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.620
 that was

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.000
 needed.

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.420
 And more,

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.079
 even something

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.620
 even better.

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.299
 So Jesus

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.900
 hasn't only

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.460
 fulfilled what

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.000
 was already

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.900
 expected of a

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.700
 host, he has

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.740
 surpassed all

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.600
 expectations.

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.759
 His provisions

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.079
 are unquestionably

00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:01.880
 superior.

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.059
 Jesus is the

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.779
 true and better

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.700
 host, the

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.400
 true and better

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.940
 bridegroom.

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.940
 And if we

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.720
 had missed all

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.440
 of those hints,

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.240
 in chapter 3,

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.660
 John says even

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.480
 more explicitly,

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.319
 if you look in

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.279
 chapter 3,

00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.000
 verse 28,

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.839
 John the

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.360
 Baptist says,

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:17.920
 I'm not the

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.559
 Christ, I'm not

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.259
 the Messiah, I've

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.000
 been sent before

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.539
 him, and in the

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.220
 next verse he

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.039
 compares himself

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.900
 to the friend of

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.279
 the bridegroom,

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.579
 who rejoices

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.880
 greatly at the

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.460
 bridegroom's

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:27.839
 voice.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.799
 And John says,

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.700
 he must increase,

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.299
 but I must

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.799
 decrease.

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.519
 So John the

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.259
 Baptist points to

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.759
 Jesus and says,

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.720
 the long-awaited

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.500
 bridegroom has

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.339
 finally arrived.

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.939
 So that's what

00:25:36.939 --> 00:25:37.539
 John wants us

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.779
 to see in this

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.439
 story about

00:25:39.439 --> 00:25:39.799
 Jesus.

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.839
 That's what this

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.599
 sign is pointing

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.679
 to about Jesus,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.199
 that he's the

00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:44.220
 true and better

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.439
 host, the true

00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:45.959
 and better

00:25:45.959 --> 00:25:46.799
 bridegroom who

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:49.059
 has come for

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.599
 his people.

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.099
 You see,

00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:51.579
 throughout the

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.159
 Old Testament,

00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.139
 the prophets

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.959
 had spoken of a

00:25:53.959 --> 00:25:54.679
 future day when

00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:55.799
 the Messiah would

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.679
 come and when

00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.459
 feasting would

00:25:58.459 --> 00:25:58.980
 abound.

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.480
 We heard one of

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.619
 those prophecies

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.539
 read earlier to

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.419
 us from Amos.

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.880
 Amos said,

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.480
 the kingdom of

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.100
 David will be

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.259
 rebuilt and the

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.900
 mountains shall

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.980
 drip sweet wine

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.460
 and all the

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.220
 hills shall flow

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.759
 with it.

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.680
 There will be

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.759
 wine and milk

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.740
 and honey in

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.200
 abundance.

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.800
 It's imagery of

00:26:17.800 --> 00:26:18.779
 an unending

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:20.240
 feast where

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.120
 Jeremiah says,

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.900
 they will rejoice

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.779
 in the bounty of

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.180
 the Lord,

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.779
 the grain,

00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.500
 the new wine,

00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:25.420
 and the olive oil.

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.080
 They will be like

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:27.019
 a well-watered

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.960
 garden and they

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.800
 will sorrow no

00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:29.200
 more.

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.120
 Jeremiah 31,

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.600
 12.

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.839
 And just a few

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.539
 verses later,

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.379
 Jeremiah wrote,

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.839
 behold,

00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:35.439
 the days are

00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:36.879
 coming when I

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.480
 will make a new

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:39.299
 covenant with the

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.000
 house of Israel

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.659
 and the house of

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:40.919
 Judah.

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.699
 Not like the

00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:43.679
 covenant that I

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:44.259
 made with their

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.019
 fathers when I

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.599
 brought them out

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.059
 of Egypt,

00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:47.199
 they broke that

00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:48.359
 covenant though I

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.059
 was their

00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.500
 husband.

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.699
 But this time he

00:26:51.699 --> 00:26:51.980
 says,

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.759
 I will write my

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.379
 laws on their

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.719
 hearts and I

00:26:54.719 --> 00:26:55.439
 will forgive their

00:26:55.439 --> 00:26:56.939
 sins and remember

00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.859
 their wickedness

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.980
 no more.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.639
 You see,

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.420
 Jesus is that

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.240
 long-awaited

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.940
 Messiah,

00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:04.000
 that long-awaited

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.040
 bridegroom who

00:27:05.040 --> 00:27:05.940
 came to establish

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.500
 a new and

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.120
 better covenant,

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.080
 who came to

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:09.060
 bring new and

00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:11.300
 everlasting joy to

00:27:11.300 --> 00:27:11.960
 the hearts of his

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.300
 people.

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.680
 That's what John

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.480
 wants us to see.

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.320
 But you know,

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.980
 when we read this

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.680
 story and if we

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.380
 see that,

00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:23.300
 we might ask a

00:27:23.300 --> 00:27:23.940
 question.

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:26.039
 we might say,

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:29.360
 but how does

00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:30.380
 Jesus seal the

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.660
 deal?

00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.840
 Jesus doesn't,

00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:34.860
 you know,

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.500
 this is somebody

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.160
 else's wedding.

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.180
 Jesus doesn't

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.140
 establish a new

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.840
 and better covenant

00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:40.860
 with his people by

00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:41.779
 turning water into

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.420
 wine at somebody

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.160
 else's wedding in

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:43.440
 Cana.

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.420
 Nope.

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.820
 But remember what

00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:47.640
 Jesus said in verse

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:47.960
 four.

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.100
 He said,

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.299
 my hour has not

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.859
 yet come.

00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:54.299
 And nine times

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.279
 Jesus refers to

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.819
 his hour in the

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.679
 gospel of John.

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.399
 And every time

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:01.379
 he's referring to

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.919
 the hour of his

00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:04.059
 death on the cross

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.939
 at Calvary.

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.699
 That's where

00:28:08.699 --> 00:28:10.179
 Jesus would seal

00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:10.859
 the deal.

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.039
 That's where the

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.919
 glory of his

00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:14.199
 saving love would

00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.819
 be revealed.

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.879
 That's where he

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:18.019
 paid the price so

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.819
 that we could be

00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:20.000
 ours or he

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.880
 could be ours and

00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.720
 we could be his

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.380
 forever.

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.480
 You see, at every

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:26.019
 wedding, two people

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.859
 make a promise to

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.339
 one another.

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.720
 And they basically

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.720
 say, what's mine is

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.759
 yours and what's

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.420
 yours is mine.

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.900
 For better, for

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.660
 worse, for richer,

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.500
 for poorer, in

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.220
 sickness or in

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.519
 health.

00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.460
 And that's the

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.319
 promise Jesus made

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:41.740
 to us, to all who

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.599
 would turn and

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.299
 believe in him.

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.500
 John 19

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:49.099
 describes the

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.720
 hour of Jesus

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.559
 crucifixion.

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.220
 And it says

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.819
 this, as Jesus

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.460
 was hanging on

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.980
 the cross, it

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.400
 says, Jesus,

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:57.100
 knowing that all

00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:57.980
 was now finished,

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.380
 said to fulfill

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:00.860
 the scripture,

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.680
 I thirst.

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.100
 A jar full of

00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:05.500
 sour wine stood

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:05.839
 there.

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.079
 So they put a

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.819
 sponge full of the

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.680
 sour wine on a

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.420
 hyssop branch and

00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.059
 held it to his

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.360
 mouth.

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.279
 When Jesus had

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.140
 received the sour

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.779
 wine, he said,

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.420
 it is finished.

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.559
 And he bowed his

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.180
 head and gave up

00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:17.640
 his spirit.

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:19.539
 And he

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.980
 you see, what

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.700
 does John want

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.319
 us to see there?

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.980
 He wants us to

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.640
 see that Jesus

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.759
 drank the cup of

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:28.140
 our bitterness so

00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.559
 that we could

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.460
 drink of his

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.579
 everlasting joy.

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.319
 He received

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.620
 condemnation in

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.779
 full so that we

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.319
 could receive

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.620
 forgiveness in

00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.000
 full.

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.640
 He took on all

00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.920
 that was ours so

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.460
 that we might

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.500
 enjoy all that is

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.640
 his now and

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.039
 forever.

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.139
 forever.

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.240
 Friends, that's

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.039
 the good news of

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.539
 the gospel.

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.139
 And it brings

00:29:51.139 --> 00:29:53.019
 joy like nothing

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.899
 else in this world

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.379
 does.

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.920
 To know that

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.379
 Jesus is yours

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:58.539
 and we are

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.000
 his.

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.700
 That will carry

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.200
 us through all

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.879
 of our days.

00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.480
 So come to

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.339
 Jesus, receive

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.299
 his promise today,

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.240
 taste and see

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.920
 that he is good.

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:09.920
 Let's pray.

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:09.940
 Let's pray.

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:09.960
 Let's pray.

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.000
 Let's pray.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.019
 Let's pray.

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.039
 Let's pray.

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.680
 Father, thank

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:19.359
 you for the

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:19.920
 grace that you

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:21.180
 show us day

00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:23.079
 by day in

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.859
 sustaining this

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.039
 world, in

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.720
 sustaining our

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.619
 bodies, in

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.259
 giving us moments

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.500
 and days and

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:32.619
 weeks of joy and

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.019
 laughter.

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.539
 Thank you for

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.359
 all the ways that

00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.299
 you keep this

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.799
 world from

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.659
 immediately falling

00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:42.399
 apart as it

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:42.960
 would do without

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.279
 you.

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:45.940
 Lord, thank

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:47.079
 you not only

00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:47.579
 for that.

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.579
 Thank you for

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.559
 sending Jesus to

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.619
 unite us to

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:52.759
 yourself, to

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.379
 bring us new

00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:54.039
 and everlasting

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:57.940
 joy, to renew

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.740
 us and heal us

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.319
 from the inside

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:00.720
 out.

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.859
 Lord, we pray

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.500
 that you would

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.220
 grant us today

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:05.879
 the joy of

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.779
 knowing that we

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.740
 are yours and

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.299
 you are ours

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.680
 forever.

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.000
 Lord, give us

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.640
 a taste of

00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:16.319
 that joy that

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.880
 we will have

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.279
 for all

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.700
 eternity.

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.559
 We pray this in

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.119
 Jesus' name.

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:21.579
 Amen.

00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:21.680
 Amen.

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.680
 Amen.