WELCOME- DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

MIRACLE DEFINITION

  EXTRAORDINARY WORK PERFORMED DIRECTLY BY THE POWER OF GOD IN OUR NATURAL WORLD FOR HIS GLORY AND TO ATTEST TO HIS WORD, PRESENCE AND LOVE.

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 11:2-3

   2. “WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS IN PRISON, HE HEARD WHAT JESUS WAS DOING. HE SENT HIS FOLLOWERS. THEY ASKED, “ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME, OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?”

 SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 11:4

   4. JESUS SAID TO THEM, “GO AND TELL JOHN WHAT YOU SEE AND HEAR.

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 11:5

   5. THE BLIND ARE MADE TO SEE. THOSE WHO COULD NOT WALK ARE WALKING. THOSE WHO HAVE HAD BAD SKIN DISEASES ARE HEALED. THOSE WHO COULD NOT HEAR ARE HEARING. THE DEAD ARE RAISED UP TO LIFE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS PREACHED TO POOR PEOPLE.

VIEWS ON MIRACLES CONTINUUM

• THERE ARE NO MORE MIRACLES

PICTURE OF YOUNG MAN

• MANOJ YADAV- SURGERY 18 YRS/YEAR REWIRING

SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:1-2

1. “AS HE WENT ALONG, HE SAW A MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH. HIS DISCIPLES ASKED HIM, “RABBI, WHO SINNED, THIS MAN OR HIS PARENTS, THAT HE WAS BORN BLIND?”
2. FEAST OF TABERNACLES- THOUSANDS GATHERED

BLINDNESS WAS A COMMON ISSUE THEN

SCRIPTURE RECORDS JESUS HEALING 5 DISTINCT EPISODES- TOTAL OF 7 BUT WE KNOW MOR

SUFFERING=SIN

• THE GENERAL THOUGHT IS THIS
• SOME JEWS THOUGHT BABIES COULD SIN/WOMB
• NO DOUBT CONSEQUENCES FOR SIN
• THE STORY OF JOB REFUTES THAT

SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:3-4

• “NEITHER THIS MAN NOR HIS PARENTS SINNED, SAID JESUS, “BUT THIS HAPPENED SO THAT THE WORKS OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED IN HIM. AS LONG AS IT IS DAY, WE MUST DO THE WORKS OF HIM WHO SENT ME. NIGHT IS COMING, WHEN NO ONE CAN WORK.

THE DISCIPLES NEED TO LEARN HES NOT A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BUT A PERSON TO BE HELPED AND HEALED

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:5-6

   5. WHILE I AM IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. “AFTER SAYING THIS, HE SPIT ON THE GROUND, MADE SOME MUD WITH THE SALIVA, AND PUT IT ON THE MAN’S EYES.

• NOT SUPPOSED TO SPIT ON SABBATH
• DEFINITELY CAN’T MAKE MUD AND RUB OR KNEAD
• JESUS DOESN’T NEED MUD-
• CONNECTS HIMSELF CREATION FORMED YOU
• AGAIN USES WHAT IS PROVIDED PERFORMS MIRACLE.
• CONTRAST “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” AND THIS MAN LIVING IN TOTAL DARKNESS
• MOM EVER USE SALIVA FOR YOUR HAIR?

 PICTURE OF MAN BEGGING

• ALMOST LIKE THIS WAS DEFAULT JOB

JOHN 9:7

   7. “GO, HE TOLD HIM, “WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM (WHICH MEANS SENT). SO THE MAN WENT AND WASHED, AND CAME HOME SEEING.

PICTURE OF MAP

• THE DISTANCE A BLIND BEGGER TRAVELED
• HOW DID HE GET THERE? HALF MILE MAYBE
• JESUS AGAIN PARTNERS WITH PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE MIRACLE

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:8

   8. HIS NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO HAD FORMERLY SEEN HIM BEGGING ASKED, “ISNT THIS THE SAME MAN WHO USED TO SIT AND BEG?”

• THIS IS THEIR INTERPRETATION

 THE CHOSEN                                

• THE REACTION OF THE MAN
• SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME

NEIGHBORS THINK THEY RECOGNIZE HIM

• THESE AREN’T MAGIC TRICKS
• WHO DIDN’T SEE WHO HERE? WAS HE INVISIBLE?

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. ¹⁴ Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. ¹⁵ Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

¹⁷ Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

¹⁸ They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ¹⁹ “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

²⁰ “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹ But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.

²⁴ A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:25

  25. “HE REPLIED, “WHETHER HE IS A SINNER OR NOT, I DON’T KNOW. ONE THING I DO KNOW. I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE!”

SO HOW’D HE OPEN YOUR EYES?

²⁷ He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”  (JOHN ADDS HUMOR)

²⁸ Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

BLIND STATS

• JOHN  IN 1 CHAPTER- 13 TIMES USES WORD BLIND
• JOHN SAY 5 TIMES HE WAS BORN BLIND

THE MAN WITH NO NAME SAYS:

 ³² Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

UP TO THIS POINT- THE MAN HASN’T SEEN JESUS

SCRIPTURE 9:35

  35. JESUS HEARD THAT THEY HAD THROWN HIM OUT, AND WHEN HE FOUND HIM, HE SAID, “DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF MAN?”

 SCRIPTURE JOHN 9:36

  36. “WHO IS HE, SIR?” THE MAN ASKED, TELL ME SO THAT I MAY BELIEVE IN HIM.” JESUS SAID, “YOU HAVE NOW SEEN HIM; IN FACT, HE IS THE ONE SPEAKING TO WITH YOU.”

SCRIPTIRE JOHN 9:38

  38. THEN THE MAN SAID, “LORD, I BELIEVE, AND HE WORSHIPPED HIM.

 MIRACLE TWICE.                                          

• A PHYSICAL HEALING- SIGHT IS RESTORED
• THE GREATER MIRACLE IS A SPIRTUAL ONE
• THERE IS AS MIRACLE BEHIND THE MIRACLE

VIDEO

• MAN SEES COLOR FOR FIRST TIME
• THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT YOU COULD NOT SEE BEFORE
• SPIRTUALLY-

IS ANY AMONG YOU SICK? LET THEM CALL THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH TO PRAY OVER THEM AND ANOINT THEMN WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. 15. AND THE PRAYER OFFERED IN FAITH WILL MAKE THE SICK PERSON WELL; THE LORD WILL RAISE THEM UP. IF YOU HAVE SINNED, THEY WILL BE FORGIVEN.

THEREFORE CONFESS YOUR SINS TO EACH OTHER AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER SO THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.

WAYMAKER LYRICS

You are here, You’re moving in our midst
I worship You I worship You
You are here, You’re working in this place
I worship You I worship You

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are 

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are

• THOUSANDS JESUS NOTICES THIS MAN
• JESUS GOES AFTER ONE- TWICE

MIRACLES – John 9 Jesus Heals Man Born Blind 

Introduce – Angela Kohl – Harrisonburg Campus… 

How many of you are currently asking “WHY?” to something you are facing in life? 

           If you have kids – you likely deal with answering “why” often.  

Some at my house lately –  

Why can’t I have a treat right before bed? 

Why do I have to go to bed now? 

Why can’t we do it now? 

Why are bubby and sissy on summer break and I’m not? 

I’ve even asked… Why can’t I eat cookies and they … 

Why did God create stink bugs? (In case you are wondering – I tell my kids, those likely came after the fall?) 

Or  it may come from a more tender space? 

Why is my child struggle with this challenge? 

Why is his business successful and I am struggling to make ends meet? 

Why hasn’t God healed me? 

Why is my marriage in such a mess? 

Why will this difficult season not just end? 

Why? Why? Why? 

“Why” is ultimately necessary, important question for us to navigate life. 

But I would also ask you has the “why” ever blocked your view, blinded you, or kept you stuck? 

As we continue the series on the MIRACLES of Jesus and look at the story of healing the man born blind–  

I am going challenge us to ask a different question.  “What …What can God do? 

As we dive into John 9:   Let’s shift our view from WHY to WHAT in Christ? 

 Let’s breakdown and talk through this powerful story! 

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 

           Right off the bat, we see this chapter starting off with a WHY.  Why is he blind – Jewish beliefs says it is sin.  Sin of the parents or sin of the man even bf birth. 

³“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

          Jesus does not address the WHY here – He simply sees an opportunity to reveal His glory.  A platform to reveal to those around Him and to us – His power.  (Now of course, sin in our lives can result in illness and hardship but that is not the truth in this story) 

⁶After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.  

          Jesus sees a need. A blind beggar. 

He has just reminded them of His purpose on Earth – to be the light of the world.  We have just heard that he will bring light and He spits on the ground and makes mud and then puts it on the mans eyes. 

           Now, I have to tell you 2 things came to mind when I first read vs 6 

1. I hated being “spit-washed” as a kid.  I can still see my mom lick her thumb – with what seemed like force and come at me ready for a fight!  I made a solemn vow – I would never do that to my kids… and I must admit I have not survived parenting without breaking out the spit wash! So now my kids are also scarred! 

2. And 2, Jesus will go through spit and mud to me us.  He has surely met me in the dirt.  This is not in any commentary you will find – but just a reminder for my heart. 

⁷“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 

This is often an instruction of Jesus in scripture … GO. Take the first step and then see “What God can do in His power”  

Jesus also uses the opportunity of the Feast of Tabernacles. The city would have been packed and the blind man had to make his way through the crowd with mud still caked on his eyes to get to the pool of Siloam.  He went eagerly and as he did He displayed the grace of God as he went.   

⁸His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹Some claimed that he was. 

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” 

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 

¹⁰“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 

¹¹He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 

¹²“Where is this man?” they asked him. 

“I don’t know,” he said. 

Lets take a step back and take note that the man did not see Jesus but He obeyed and did as He said.  Nothing held him back in light of hope.  

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing 

¹³They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. ¹⁴Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. ¹⁵Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”  I love this about our Lord, he can’t be limited and he can and will use anything to accomplish His mission of love.  Let me repeat that… Our Lord, he can’t be limited and he can and will use anything to accomplish His mission of love. 

¹⁶Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”  Jesus healed on the Sabbath because needs know no calendar. It’s important to know Jesus did not break the law, he used this opportunity to show the religious leaders that their interpretation of the law put policy before people.  He acted out against their hypocrisy. 

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 

¹⁷Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 

The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 

¹⁸They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ¹⁹“Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 

²⁰“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” ²²His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

Can we say, the WHY had them stuck. The Pharisees tried to muddy the story bc they wanted to disprove that Jesus was the Messiah. Throughout their investigation they prove over and over their spiritual blindness. 

²⁴A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 

²⁵He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”  

²⁶Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

²⁷He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 

I Love this!! So much! The truest miracle begins – Though he had not yet seen Jesus, his heart had chosen Jesus. He is proclaiming I see and I want more of this! This grace. This truth. This Hope. This Jesus.   

²⁸Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ²⁹We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 

             Blind, afraid, stuck! 

³⁰The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. ³¹We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. ³²Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

        Exactly, What can God do?  The Impossible. 

³⁴To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 

Spiritual Blindness 

³⁵Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

³⁶“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 

³⁷Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 

³⁸Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 

         Praise Jesus!!! Jesus met Him again in His need.  

³⁹Jesus said,^[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 

⁴⁰Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 

⁴¹Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 

What we have the privilege of witnessing here as this story wraps up, is truly the greatest MIRACLE of all.  

The eyes of his heart are open. 

This is exactly how I met Jesus – in my need. He met me there and then beyond the momentary need my greatest need was met – I received a Savior. 

The same is true of the blind beggar, Jesus saw him and  EVEN before He could see Jesus – He trusted Him.  That’s simply Faith.  

He let Him meet Him where He was and when He said GO – the man obeyed.  At that point His Journey of Faith began!!   

And then against culture, religion, family. He says I don’t want to miss whats in front of me – the power, hope, and love of Jesus.  The healing the man experienced was Gods grace on display.  Pointing each of us to an even greater grace that Jesus has to offer.  

         The healing of the man born blind is proof of who Jesus is, but it is also a picture of our salvation.        -Forgotten Jesus 

Let us not miss this – the man could see for the first time in his life and in a matter of what seems like minutes – the scales on the eyes of his heart also fell away. 

He was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime – he had been given true vision. 

My hope is that all of us in this room can say, “ I once was blind, but now I see” 

I would beg of you if you have not let Jesus restore your spiritual sight – Don’t leave this place without inviting Him in.  Let Him make you the MIRACLE on July 13, 2025.  If there … 

Now, if I am completely honest, I would love for this message to end right there.  (some of you might be wishing the same thing!) Let’s celebrate the victory and go home! 

But I know, that as much as this scripture brings the greatest truth of all time – it leaves some of us back at the WHY.  

You may be saying, Angela, I believe in His power.  He’s my Lord this morning. I am His – but WHY hasn’t He touched me with mud and removed the cancer, the illness, healed the broken relationship, why is my child still wayward, WHY? 

First, don’t stop approaching his throne of grace, believing and knowing – proclaiming His power.   

I fully believe, and we as Nazarenes, believe He is a MIRACLE WORKING LORD.  

But the lingering “WHY” of sometimes His answer is NO or WAIT – I don’t fully know. But I do know He is sovereign, and He works for our good. He loves you deeper than anyone and wants the truest miracle – you in relationship with our Lord and Savior. 

What I can share with you, is that regardless of what I have faced, His grace has been sufficient for me. He is in our details and even in the mist of a broken-down, sin-filled, hurting world – His grace is sufficient for me, for you. 

As I prepared for this message, the Lord reminded me that I have developed a habit in prayer that feels a bit embarrassing to admit.  It usually goes something like this… 

            Lord, we need you in this area, please draw us closer to you – AND… Lord, if we don’t have to go through “something painful” to get there, that would be great. And then often reluctantly, I add, your will be done. 

Here’s what I know in my heart this morning (though its not always what I request) that I grow closer to Jesus in my need and pain. It’s been true of me – all of my life.  It is the way I have stayed dependent on Him. And I wouldn’t change a thing. Nothing I have face would be worth the exchange of truly knowing Him. In those places that is where I received TRUE HEALING.  He is at work and with great purpose – HIM. 

And while He is at work, He never left me, and I discovered His grace is sufficient for me.  As we close, let’s take a quick look at our friend Paul, In 2 Corinthians 12 – we find Paul had cried out 3x to remove the thorn from His flesh and the Lord responded 

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Lord, help us to believe and know that even in the waiting you are at work.  As we, seek and see  “what all God can do” we experience Miracles all along the way. 

Who needs to continue to seek a miracle this morning, who needs to trust for His miracle strength in the waiting and trusting.  

WELCOME- HAPPY 4^TH OF JULY WEEKEND

START NEW SERIES

START SERIES ON FEBRUARY 22, 1980

LAKE PLACID NEW YORK

 USA HOCKEY

• UNDERDOG USA TEAM- COLLEGE PLAYERS
• SEMI-FINALS VS SOVIET UNION
• RUSSIA WAS THE 4 TIME DEFENDING CHAMP
• RUSSIA TEAM CONSIDERED FINEST IN WORLD
• THEY HAD WON 4 IN A ROW
• AL MICHAELS ANNOUNCER SAID “WE PRAYED ON WAY TO GAME ONLY LIKE a 3-1 LEAD”
• 10,000 LIVE FRENZIED SPECTATORS
• 35 MILLION PEOPLE WATCH ON TAPE DELAY
• 3 DAYS BEFORE OLYMPICS-SOVIETS BEAT THEM 10-3
• USA WAS SEEDED 7^TH– TRAILED IN GAME 3 TIMES
• SOVIETS OUTSHOT US TEAM 39-16.
• THEY BEAT THE SOVIETS AND 2 DAYS LATER BEAT FINLAND TO CAPTURE GOLD MEDAL.

MIRACLE DEFINITION

  EXTRAORDINARY WORK PERFORMED DIRECTLY BY THE POWER OF GOD IN OUR NATURAL WORLD FOR HIS GLORY AND TO ATTEST TO HIS WORD, PRESENCE AND LOVE.

   BRIAN CHARETTE

THOMAS JEFFERSON

• 3^rd PRESIDENT IN OUR COUNTRY
• BORN IN SHADWELL VA- DIED IN MONTICELLE VA
• AGE OF 83
• JEFFERSON-WAS A DEIST- GOD YES-ME NO

 JEFFERSON BIBLE

• JEFFERSON CREATED HIS OWN BIBLE
• HE ON PURPOSE CUT OUT MIRACLES
• HE BELIEVED WASN’T INTELLIGENT TO BELIEVE
• TITLE GIVES AWAY JESUS IN HIS LIFE

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? WHY? NOT?

MATTHEW 4:23

  23. “JESUS WENT THROUGH GALILEE, TEACHING IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM, AND HEALING EVERY DISEASE AND SICKNESS AMONG THE PEOPLE.

 MATTHEW 4:24

  24. NEWS ABOUT HIM SPREAD ALL OVER SYRIA, AND PEOPLE BROUGHT TO HIM ALL WHO WERE ILL WITH VARIOUS DISEASES, THOSE SUFFERING SEVERE PAIN, THE DEMON-POSSESSED, THOSE HAVING SEIZURES, AND THE PARALYZED; AND HE HEALED THEM.

MATTHEW 4:25

  25. LARGE CROWDS FROM GALILEE, THE DECAPOLIS, JERUSALEM, JUDEA AND THE REGION ACROSS THE JORDAN FOLLOWED HIM.”

• WEDDINGS ARE INCREDIBLE EVENTS/DAYS
• BRIDES DREAM THESE DAYS MORE THAN GROOMS
• LOTS CAN GO WRONG AT A WEDDING

WEDDING

• JUNE 28^TH-2003.    EASTON MD
• RUTH RODRIGUEZ IS SUPPOSED TO MARRY ME
• PICTURE TAKEN BEFORE WEDDING
• TOOK MOST BEFORE SO WE COULD FELLOWSHIP
• PACKED OUT CHURCH-EARLY AFTERNOON
• BIGGEST MOMENT OF THE WEDDING IS?
• REHEARSAL WENT WELL – PICTURES BEFORE
• PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER
• FOOD IS PREPARED
• MUSIC STARTS “HERE COMES THE BRIDE”
• IT’S THE BIGGEST MOMENT- WHEN SHE ENTERS
• PACKED OUT CHURCH IS STANDING
• LOOKING ME-LOOKING DOWN THE AISLE-NOTHING
• PLAY SONG AGAIN-  GROOMSMEN IN PLACE
• BRIDESMAIDS ARE IN PLACE- NOTHING

WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS MIRACLE IS WORSE

THIS WAS A TRAGEDY AND EMBARASSMENT

COULD GET SUED- EVEN BE A GUEST

JOHN 2:1

1. “ON THE THIRD DAY A WEDDING TOOK PLACE AT CANA IN GALILEE. JESUS’ MOTHER WAS THERE, AND JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES HAD ALSO BEEN INVITED TO THE WEDDING. WHEN THEY WINE WASA GONE, JESUS’ MOTHER SAUD TO HIM “THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE”
2. 3^RD DAY IS TUESDAY- DAY OF DOUBLE BLESSING
3. GOD DECLARES IT IS GOOD TWICE ON 3^RD DAY
4. NAZARETH ABOUT 500 PEOPLE-CANA SMALLER

 JOHN 2:4-5

   4. “WOMAN, WHY DO YOU INVOLVE ME? JESUS REPLIED. “MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.” HIS MOTHER SAID TO THE SERVANTS, “DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.”

WOMAN- “MAAM”

 JOHN 2:6-7

   6. NEARBY STOOD SIX STONE WATER JARS, THE KIND USED BY THE JEWS FOR CEREMONIAL WASHING, EACH HOLDING FROM 20-30 GALLONS. JESUS SAID TO THE SERVANTS, “FILL THE JARS WITH WATER”; SO THEY FILLED THEM TO THE BRIM.

STONE WATER JARS

• NOT SURE THEY ALL 30 GALLON CONTAINERS
• PICTURE HAS DIFFERENT SIZES
• PERSPECTIVE- THIS IS 30 GALLON DRUM
• 6 IS EITHER 120-180 GALLONS OF WINE

LETS ADDRESS THIS WHILE WE ARE HERE

JESUS DOESN’T DO THIS TO MAKE THE PARTY BETTER

HE DOESN’T DO THIS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SIGN OFF ON WINE CONSUMPTION FOR ALL TIME

   PEOPLE SERIOUSLY AND JOKINGLY POINT TO THIS PASSAGE AND USE IT FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.

THERE ARE ONGOING DEBATES ABOUT HOW FERMENTED THE WINE ACTUALLY WAS, OR IF IT WAS EVER FERMENTED AT ALL. (THIS MUCH WE KNOW- IT WASN’T LIKE OUR CURRENT WINE AND CERTAINLY WHAT MADE IT THE MOST AMAZING WINE THEN WASN’T HOW FERMENTED OF THE PERCENTAGE PROOF IT WAS.

AT FACE VALUE THOUGH- WE TAKE IT THAT THIS WAS WINE.

JESUS DOESN’T USE HIS POWER HERE TO INCREASE THE CHANCES PEOPLE WOUD GET HAMMERED.

SCRIPTURES FROM BEGINNING TO END HOLD VERY CONSISTENT PROHIBITION OF INTOXICATION FROM ALCOHOL (BE INSTEAD FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IN FACT IT SAYS) JESUS ACTIONS HERE DON’T CONTRADICT THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES, OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH LOVED ONES, FRIEND- NEIGHBORS OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL, SHOULD IMPACT HOW WE APPROACH ANY DRINK WITH EXTREME  CAUTION AND RESPECT FOR THE POWER THIS SUBSTANCE HAS IN OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

OUR CHURCH TAKES A POSITION OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL- WE BELIEVE IT’S THE MOST FAITHFUL RESPONSE WE CAN HAVE AS JESUS SANCTUARIES.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE A DRINK IS GOING TO KEEP A PERSON OUT OF HEAVEN

YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH OUR POSITION SURELY AND YOU ARE MOST WELCOME HERE- BUT WE DO COMMIT TO TAKE IS SERIOUSLY.

JOHN 2:8-9

  THEN HE TOLD THEM, “NOW DRAW SOME OUT AND TAKE IT TO THE MASTER OF THE BANQUET.” THEY DID SO, AND THE MASTER OF THE BANQUET TASTED THE WATER THAT HAD BEEN TURNED INTO WINE. HE DID NOT REALIZE WHERE IT HAD COME FROM, THOUGH THE SERVANTS WHO HAD DRAWN THE WATER KNEW. THEN HE CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM ASIDE

JOHN 2:10

   AND HE 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.”

 JOHN 2:11

  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.

 JOHN 20:30-31

  “ THE DISCIPLES SAW JESUS DO MANY OTHER MIRACULOUS SIGNS IN ADDITION TO THE ONES RECORDED IN THIS BOOK. BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN SO THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING IN HIM YOU WILL HAVE LIFE B Y THE POWER OF HIS NAME.”

MIRACLES

   THIS IS THE FIRST OF 8 “SIGNS” JOHN CALLS THEM

    FITTING JESUS CHOSES A WEDDING- 1^ST MIRACLE HE AFFIRMS COVENANT OF A WEDDING

• WHY DOESN’T HE JUST BLINK AND OR “POOF” AND HAVE THEM CHANGED?
• TAKES ORDINARY AND MAKES IT EXTRA ORDINARY
• HIS GRACE OVERFLOWS IN THE MIRACLE
• 5 LOAVES- 2 FISH ( END OF WITH 12 EXTRA BASKETS)
• WHEN HE SUPPLIES- ITS NOT SPARINGLY
• 37 MIRACLES INVOLVING JESUS DIRECTLY

THE GREATEST MIRACLE IS THAT GOD BECAME A MAN

AND THAT MAN DIED AND ROSE AGAIN

TOP 10  CREATION OF ALL THINGS- MIRACLE

THE FLOOD.     PARTING OF THE RED SEA- JERICHO ELIJAH AND FIRE ON MT CARMEL.    JESUS FEEDS 5000.  JESUS WALKS ON WATER

LAZARUS RASIED FROM DEAD JESUS RAISED FROM DEAD

QUOTE BILLY GRAHAM

   “GOD IS NOT LIMITED, AND HE IS CERTAINLY ABLE TO WORK IN MIRACULOUS WAYS TODAY JUST AS HE DID IN BIBLICAL TIMES, IF HE SO CHOOSES.” B GRAHAM

WHAT WE BELIEVE STATEMENT

   WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF DIVINE HEALING AND URGE PEOPLE TO OFFER THE PRAYER OF FAITH FOR THE HEALING OF THE SICK. WE ALSO BELIEVE GOD HEALS THROUGH THE MEANS OF MEDICAL SCIENCE.

• THIS IS THEIR INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HAPPENED
• NOBODY REALLY KNOWS THE MOMENT CHANGE TOOK PLACE

 THE CHOSEN

• GOD DOESN’T NEED TO INVOLVE US- YET HE DOES
• HE INVOLVES THE SERVANTS- THEY KNEW
• JESUS TAKES WHAT IS THERE- AND USES IT          
• THIS ISN’T A SHOW- IT’S NOT A MAGIC TRICK
• JESUS BRINGS OUT BETTER THAN THEIR BEST

JOAN GWALTNEY- BREAST CANCER

• DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?
• DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU
• BELIEVE

THE POTS WERE USED FOR CEREMONIAL CLEANSING

DOESN’T ASK THEM CLEAN THE POTS

POTS WERE FOR HANDS AND FEET CLEANING

• HE DOES THAT- WATER CLEANSES THE OUTSIDE
• HIS BLOOD (THE WINE-  CLEANSES WITHIN)

When did I start to forget
All of the great things You did?
When did I throw away faith for the impossible?
How did I start to believe
You weren’t sufficient for me?
Why do I talk myself out of seeing miracles?

You are more than able
You are more than able (You are, You are)
You are more than able, yeah
(We’ve seen it) You are more than able
Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?
It’s easy for You, oh

And now I see all that I have
Oh, I’ve got my confidence back
I put my trust in the One who still does miracles
You do miracles (come on, sing)

²³The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

https://www.bible.com/events/49458757

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Miracles Part 1 

Water into wine… 

We are entering our new teaching series Miracles. 

Our goal is not only to study them in the scriptures, but to open our hearts and minds to the reality that Jesus is still doing miracles today. 

To understand that miracles aren’t just something we read about in the bible, or back then, they are for here and now. 

We want to be people who see the power of God at work in our lives and in our world, and see our faith rise up, to give God the glory he deserves. 

John 2:1-3 

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 

In chapter one, Jesus’ first disciples join him, and now they are heading to a wedding. 

We don’t know who’s wedding it was. That Jesus and his mother were invited suggests that it was the wedding of a family member or close friend. 

Running out of wine in this culture was far more serious than the pastor dropping the rings or the wedding party falling into the water. To run out was a major mistake, something that would have brought tremendous shame on this newly wed couple. 

Mary comes to Jesus with the news…While we don’t know how Mary said this, or what she was expecting, we do know that she trusted him. 

John 2:4 

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

Scholars aren’t exactly sure what this response meant culturally, but many do agree that Jesus is gently telling his mother that their relationship is different now. 

Even though the full hour of his glorification hasn’t come, he will only be guided and directed by the will of his Heavenly Father. 

John 2:6-7 

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 

The instruction to fill these massive stone jars with water had to seem like a strange solution to running out of wine. 

The passage suggests that each container held 20-30 gallons. 

If we take the conservative number of 20 and multiply it by 6- that’s 120 gallons of water. That is 24, 5 gallon buckets. 

John 2:9-11 

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 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 

Jesus uses his creative and transforming power to change the water into wine. We don’t know when exactly in the story it happened, we don’t know how he did it. 

But Jesus performed a miracle. He used supernatural power to change the trajectory of this story. 

What we are to see is that Jesus is the Son of God, mighty in power and glory, yet compassionate in caring for even the small details in the lives of his people. 

When his disciples saw all of this, it says they believed in him, their faith in him grew, and they saw his majesty as the son of God. 

Friends, that’s the power of a miracle. 

Do you believe in miracles?