John 2:1-11

¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² 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.”

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

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ 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.”

¹¹ 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.

 Billy Graham’s early days

The Rev. Billy Graham once shared a story from the early days of his ministry. He had arrived in a small town to preach and wanted to mail a letter. So, he asked a young boy where the post office was. The boy gave him clear directions.

Rev. Graham thanked him and said, “If you’ll come to the Baptist church this evening, you can hear me tell everyone how to get to Heaven.”

The boy replied, “I don’t think I’ll be there—how would you know the way to heaven if you don’t even know your way to the post office!”

Let me ask you: Why did you put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Messiah?Was it because you realized there’s nothing you can do on your own to enter Heaven? If so, you’re on the right path.

Why do we trust Jesus as Lord and Master of our lives?

Is it because we hope to live better lives than we could by our own strength? Is it because we believe He is the Creator who knows what is best for us? Or maybe it’s because we long to experience His miracles?

Early in my father’s Christian life, He began asking the question: What does faith in Jesus mean? What does it mean to put my faith in Jesus Christ? I’ve since pondered the same question when I was in my pondering era of my teenage years.

Does attending worship services mean I have faith in Jesus? Does doing good deeds, giving offerings, reading the Bible, or even leading in church prove I have faith?

I had been doing all those things for as long as I could remember. But did they truly mean I had faith in Jesus?

Those are all good things—and yes, they can be expressions or manifestations of having faith in Jesus Christ. But here’s the truth: people who don’t believe in God can do them too.

Take this mother, for example. She attends worship services faithfully. She’s kind-hearted, generous, and joyful. Even when people take advantage of her—grabbing her land, abusing her generosity—she never harbors hatred. She loves her children and neighbors, and they love her deeply in return. At first glance, you might assume, she must be a Christian.

Then there’s another man. He seems to have all the marks of a Christian: regular in worship, kind, gentle, deeply familiar with Scripture, and full of the fruit of the Spirit. But then hardship strikes. And suddenly, he stops attending worship. He puts down his Bible. He shuts down spiritually.
What happened? Did he ever truly believe?

Let’s assume he did.

This shows us something vital: Christianity isn’t an overnight transformation—it’s a lifelong journey.

Christian faith is not blind or shallow. It’s intelligent. It’s rooted in understanding, in knowing God, in encountering His presence in real life. Only then can we truly say, I have faith in Jesus Christ.

So here’s a test: Is there someone in your life—whenever they cross your mind—you feel disturbed or uneasy? Would you call that person an adversary or an enemy? Can you imagine loving that person? Shaking their hand? Giving them something precious? Can you pray for them?

That is the kind of challenge where faith is tested.

Ask yourself: Where is Jesus in my problem?

You might say, “Jesus has nothing to do with this problem!”

But if you claim Jesus as Lord, then you must believe He is present in everything—your joys, your struggles, your everyday life.

There are countless testimonies of people who have seen Jesus working in the impossible. Unless we’ve experienced some miraculous transformation as a fruit of trusting Jesus, it’s hard to fully say, I trust Him as Lord.

I’m not just talking about earth-shaking miracles. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, impossible things: healing a hardened heart, restoring broken relationships, giving peace in the storm, that show us Jesus truly is Lord.

What I want to stir in you is this: Jesus is always doing something great or small to lead you to a place where you can fully trust Him as your Lord your Master .. your Guide.

What is the purpose of Jesus’ miracles? Why did he perform these miracles?

1.  Jesus’ Miracles Revealed His Glory

^11a What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory..

The story of Jesus turning water into wine raises several important and sometimes challenging questions for Christians today.

First, we read that Jesus attended a wedding. Was it a Christian wedding? Of course not, Christianity had not yet been established. But Jesus was there, affirming the beauty and sanctity of marriage and celebration. His presence tells us that He values relationships and community, even in ordinary, joyful moments.

Then there’s the moment when Jesus responds to His mother Mary by saying, “⁴ Woman, why do you involve me?…”
At first glance, this may sound harsh or disrespectful. But was Jesus being rude to His mother?

Let’s not forget: as He hung on the cross, Jesus looked upon His mother with love and concern. Despite His suffering, He said, “Woman, here is your son,”and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” Clearly, He deeply cared for her—even in His final moments.

The term “woman” may sound distant to us, but in the original Greek, it carried a tone of honor and respect. The term “woman” in Jesus’ time was similar in tone to how we might use “ma’am” today. While it may sound distant to modern ears, it was a polite and respectful form of address. By using this term, Jesus was gently signaling a shift—He was beginning to step into His divine mission, independent of His mother’s direction. However, His words were in no way disrespectful or dismissive.

If we take a look at the North American culture of children addressing their parents by first names. This is a part of the social norm and not out of disrespect.

Now consider the miracle itself. Jesus didn’t just make a bottle or two of wine. He turned six stone jars of water (each holding 20 to 30 gallons) into wine. That’s roughly 120 to 180 gallons in total! In Jewish culture, wedding feasts could last for several days, even a full week. Running out of wine would bring shame to the host family. But Jesus stepped in not just to provide but to abundantly provide.

Not only did He prevent the couple from being embarrassed, but He gave them something extraordinary: wine of such quality that the master of ceremonies said, “You have saved the best till now!”

That leads to another question many ask:
Does this mean it’s okay to drink wine?

It’s a valid concern. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are to honor God with our bodies, not destroy them. The issue isn’t necessarily the wine itself but how it’s used. Jesus didn’t make wine to promote drunkenness; He used it as a sign, a revelation.

In fact, the Gospel of John says:
¹¹ 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.

This miracle was not just about saving face at a wedding; it was about revealing the glory of Jesus. He took an ordinary moment and infused it with divine power. He met a practical need, but in doing so, He pointed to a deeper truth: that He is the Lord of abundance, of transformation, and of joy.

Jesus used that moment to show who He truly was not just a guest at the celebration  but the source of joy, the provider of grace, and the revealer of glory.

So the question we’re left with is NOT just, “Can we drink wine?” The deeper question we should be asking ourselves should be: Will we recognize Jesus when He reveals His glory in the ordinary places of our lives?

Mambunong

In 1996, my father visited a sick Mambunong, a spiritual priest in the animistic society of the Igorot people in the northern Philippines. This elderly Mambunong was gravely ill and had not eaten in three days. As he lay weak and near death, a pastor who spoke his native dialect shared with him the message of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life. The Mambunong answered, “I will listen to everything you say. But I will only believe in your God if I recover. If I regain my strength, I will command my children and grandchildren to attend your church.”

While the pastor spoke with him, my father joined two other missionaries in quiet prayer nearby. The pastor then approached  my father and the two other missionaries and shared the Mambunong’s words. They were challenged.

My father, together with the other two missionaries agreed to let the pastor continue sharing the gospel while they interceded in prayer. A few moments later, the Mambunong asked for something to drink. That same day, he placed his trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life.

Two weeks later, the pastor told us the good news: The Mambunong had recovered. True to his word, he ordered his children and grandchildren to attend the Christian fellowship, a two-hour walk from their home.

When God performs miracles, they are not merely acts of power—they are revelations of His magnificent glory and splendor. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned water into wine. This miracle was not about encouraging indulgence; it was a sign meant to reveal His glory and invite belief.

Likewise, the healing of the Mambunong was more than physical restoration. It became a doorway through which an entire family could encounter the grace of God. A great reminder that prayer is not just a recital of words but us exercising our faith and trust in our God, believing that he will reveal His glory as he answers our prayers according to His will.

The miracles of Jesus are not just meant to magnify His glory—they are also invitations for His disciples, for you and me, to put our faith in Him.

 2.  Jesus’ Miracles Led People to Put Their Faith in Him.

¹¹ 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.

Mary had already seen the glory of God at work in her life. She conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, believed her and stood by her, knowing she had not been unfaithful. God spared their family from Herod’s deadly wrath. She witnessed her 12-year-old son, Jesus, astonishing the teachers in the temple with His wisdom and understanding.

Mary, more than any of Jesus’ disciples, had firsthand experience of who Jesus truly was. She had every reason to believe He could do something extraordinary even in a seemingly ordinary situation like a wedding running out of wine.

Why was Mary so concerned about this shortage of wine?

Some scholars suggest she may have been related to the couple. Perhaps she was involved in organizing the celebration and didn’t want them to face shame. Weddings in those days were community events that could last a week, and running out of provisions would be a social disaster, a disgrace to the couple and their families.

We can add a lot of speculations after speculations as to what happened during the wedding but these may NOT lead us to the main point.

Verse 11 mentions this first miraculous sign Jesus performed in Cana in Galilee was intended to reveal His glory and the disciples put their faith in Him.

At this point we can name few of Jesus disciples: Can you name them? Can you remember the name of Jesus first disciples? Andrew and Peter, Phillip and Nathanael and the other disciple who was assumed to be John.

Jesus was beginning to teach them what it meant to trust in Him, to believe in His power, and to witness His glory.

Miracles are one of the defining marks of Christianity. Without miracles, Christianity will be like any other religion that merely follow certain ethics and conducts. Only Jesus, unlike any other founder of a religion, performed miracles that only God can do because Jesus is God.

The first miracle Jesus performed in Cana was astounding, amazing! Jesus didn’t even touch the water. He simply told the servants to fill the jars and take a sample to the master of the banquet.

The servants likely assumed He wanted the master to wash his hands. But the master of the banquet didn’t perform the ceremonial washing, he poured wine for the guests. And when he tasted it, he was astonished. This was the best wine he had ever tasted.

In this miracle, Jesus was not dismissing culture—He was using it. He preserved the couple’s reputation. He revealed His glory. He called His disciples to put their faith in Him. And today, He calls us too.

Trusting in Jesus will never put us to shame.

It opens the door to blessings we can’t measure by human standards—blessings that ultimately reveal the glory of God.

ILLUSTRATION:

My father shared to another missionary named Phillip about our journey and adventures in China. When we decided to go, our contact warned us that he couldn’t promise work or financial support, but only ministry opportunities. Even with that in mind, my father e-mailed our contact person in China and told him that if he can promise our family a place to lay our head at night, we still wanted to go. So we moved to China with just a $300 budget for our family of 5 to survive on.

But “survival” isn’t the right word for our 30-month stay in China. Surviving means scraping by or stretching your monthly pay to get by. What we experienced was provision beyond measure.

Our stay in China was one of the many revelations of God’s miraculous and wonderful works in our life.

A teaching work at a Teacher’s College, to our surprise was prepared for Maribel, not by our contact but person we never meet before. A teaching job at a teacher’s college was prepared for my mom arranged not by our contact but by someone we hadn’t even met. My father taught at a vocational and kindergarten school.

My older sister taught in a Christian prep school while Lyka and I ministered to short-term missionaries and students who went to our home.

We did not survive with only $300 because; we did not even spend that $300. We enjoyed our stay in China abundantly by the grace and miraculous acts of God.

After my father shared his testimony, he told Phillip that in places where you cannot do anything God’s miracles are clearer, more apparent. Phillip agreed and said that the first time he landed in Korea, Koreans hardly spoke English. He wondered and asked God for help because he did not know what to do and where to go.

Phillip did not know how to get to the city he is supposed to go to. He did not know which bus or train to ride. He asked two young girls who  cannot even speak English about  the city he wanted to go. The girls held on to Phillip’s hand, rode a bus with him for three hours and brought him safely to his destination. God sent angels in the person of two girls to bring Phillip safe to the city where he wanted to go.

 Miracles are meant for us to trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ miracle of turning the water into wine is not a licence for you to get drunk. Don’t destroy the temple of God. This miracle was performed for us to put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord.

But let us NOT dwell lengthily on the miraculous things or abundant life here on earth. These are included but not the main focus. The main thing to do is to look forward to eternal life. Miraculous things are evidences that Jesus Christ can give us eternal life. Let’s put our trust in Him in a deeper way—with more intensity!

Do you have any difficulty right now? Are you still struggling with your mortgage? Are you still looking for a job?

Give them all to Jesus!

Are you still having difficulty with your relationship with your partner, with your children or parents, with your church-mates or neighbour or co-worker or your employer?

Ask Jesus for help so that you will be able to bless them and to pray for them.

Are you still struggling to listen or paying attention to your teachers or to your pastor?

Pray for them and yourself to understand each other.

Are you still undecided to commit or not to commit for any ministry here at The Maples Evangelical Church?

Ask Jesus so that He will clearly show you His plan for you.

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