Water to Wine- The Miracles of Jesus Series
This week in Calvary Kids, we learned that Jesus turned water into wine and could do amazing things. Jesus brought joy and obedience brings amazing results. Jesus revealed His glory and His disciples believed in Him.
Read John 2:1-11
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, and Cana was a town about half a day's walk away. Jesus already had some disciples at this point, so Jesus, Mary, and others all went together to this wedding. Now let me ask you this: would you invite someone fun to your wedding, or someone who's a grouch? Jesus got invited to a lot of dinners and gatherings, so He must have been pretty fun to hang out with. Hebrews 1:9 says that 'God has anointed You (Jesus) with the oil of gladness,' so Jesus was probably a really fun guy to hang out with. He was nice, loving, and friendly. Also, God created humor, so Jesus probably knew how to tell a good joke. Would you guys invite Jesus to your party or birthday?
Weddings were super important in Jesus' day. Families would save money for years to throw a great celebration. Everyone in town would be invited, and the party could last up to seven days! The host family was responsible for providing food and wine for ALL the guests for the WHOLE celebration. But here we see there's a big problem! They ran out of wine! It would be like not having forks or spoons at your birthday, or having no air in your balloons.
In that time, this would be a huge embarrassment and would cause shame on the family. Mary noticed the problem and wanted to help. So who did Mary go to? She immediately went to Jesus. This is what WE should do when we have a problem; go to Jesus first. She knew Jesus could help, and made a request to him. For us, it's as simple as saying a quick prayer for help, even if it's at a party. Mary didn't tell Jesus what to do or how to fix it - she just brought the problem to Him. That's what we should do too! When we have problems, go to Jesus first!
John 2:4-5 says, "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it."" Jesus' response seems strange, but He's teaching something important. "My hour has not yet come" - Jesus operated on God's perfect timing, not human urgency. It wasn't Jesus' time yet to be revealed as Messiah. But notice, even though He said this, He STILL chose to help! Mary trusted Jesus completely and she told the servants, "Whatever He says, DO IT!" She didn't know what Jesus would do, but she knew they should obey His words. This is HUGE! Mary gave the servants the best advice ever: "Whatever He says to you, do it." This is what faith looks like - obeying Jesus' words even before we see the results, even before to know how things are going to out!
Jesus told them: "Fill the waterpots with water." The servants might have been confused - "We need WINE, not MORE WATER!" But they obeyed anyway! They filled all six jars to the very brim. They could have been lazy and just filled them a little bit, but they gave a full effort, just like we should. The more effort they put in, the more faith and trust they showed, the bigger the reward was. Then Jesus said something even stranger: "Take some to the master of the feast" Again, they obeyed! Even though they were probably thinking "We're bringing just water to the wine expert?!" Think about how much work this was! Hauling 120-180 gallons of water from the well to fill those jars would take a LONG time. And they didn't know WHY they were doing it. But they obeyed Jesus' words simply because Mary said to do whatever He told them. Have you ever been asked to do something and you didn't understand why? Maybe your parents told you to clean your room, or do homework, or turn off the TV, or go to bed early, and you thought 'Why? This doesn't make sense!' The servants show us what to do: obey FIRST, even if you don't understand yet!
The master of the feast tasted it and it was WINE! Probably the BEST wine! Jesus had turned that water into wine! He did it! He saved the party and gave them exactly what they needed. Just like Jesus gives us what we're really needing when we need help. The master of the wedding didn't know where it came from, but the SERVANTS knew! The servants who were faithful and did the work knew who really did the work. Just like when we serve Jesus, we know who is really doing the work for us to accomplish tasks. This situation would have been shocking for the master of the feast because usually hosts serve the best wine first, then cheaper wine later. But this wine was SO GOOD, the master thought they'd saved the best for last! Jesus didn't just make wine, He made the BEST wine of the whole celebration! Somewhere between the jars and the master's cup, Jesus transformed water into wine! The servants saw it firsthand. They obeyed, hauled all that water, and then watched Jesus do the impossible, and blessed them in abundance!
This was Jesus' FIRST miracle - the "beginning of signs" of who Jesus was! This was the first of many miracles Jesus would go on to do that would prove He was the coming Savior. And from this, His disciples believed in Him - their faith grew stronger. They saw that Jesus isn't just a teacher, but has POWER over creation! Finally just to recap: A miracle was a "sign" - it pointed to something greater than just helping at a wedding. It revealed Jesus' glory - His divine nature, His creative power, His compassion, His abundance! This wasn't just about wine. This was about showing the disciples and us, who Jesus really is! He's not just a good person or a wise teacher. He's God in the flesh with power over all creation!
Christ Connection:
1. What it reveals about Jesus (How it connects to Jesus' character):
• Jesus is the Creator with power over all creation. Only God can transform water into wine. This miracle wasn't a trick, it was creative power that belongs to God alone. John 1:3 (NKJV) reminds us, "All things were made through Him." The same Jesus who spoke the universe into existence, showed His authority at this wedding. Water obeyed Jesus when He calmed the storm ("Peace, be still!" — Mark 4:39), when He walked on water (Matthew 14:25), and when it became wine, because all creation recognizes its Maker (Colossians 1:16-17).
• Jesus cares about every part of our lives, not just "religious" things. Jesus' first miracle wasn't healing the sick or raising the dead; it was helping at a wedding celebration. He cared about this family's joy, their reputation, and their special day. This shows us that Jesus doesn't only care about church, prayer, and Bible reading, He also cares about our friendships, family moments, and everyday joys. Nothing in our lives is too small for Jesus to care about.
• Jesus fulfills the Law and brings the New Covenant. Jesus' first recorded miracle was chosen on purpose to show what He came to do. The Law, given through Moses, was already established, but "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6, NKJV). Moses' first miracle turned water into blood and was connected with death, but Jesus' first miracle turned water into wine and brought joy and celebration. While the Law points out sin, Jesus brings life through the new covenant. By filling the purification jars, Jesus showed that He fulfills the old law and that only He can truly cleanse us and fill us with lasting joy.
2. The Heart (How it connects to our hearts):
Jesus brings joy to hearts that trust Him. Wine in the Bible often represents joy (Psalm 104:15). When Jesus turned water into wine, He turned a moment of sadness into celebration. Jesus can do the same for us- when our hearts feel sad, worried, or empty. He can fill them with joy.
Jesus wants us to trust Him before we see the answer. Mary brought the problem to Jesus, and the servants obeyed before the miracle happened-that's faith. Jesus wants us to trust Him with our hearts even when we don't know how things will turn out. Faith means trusting Jesus right now, not after everything is fixed.
3. The Gospel (How it connects to the gospel)
Jesus transforms us from the inside out. Just as Jesus turned water into wine, He completely transforms sinners into new creations. We can't change ourselves, but when we trust in Jesus -His death and resurrection- He gives us a new heart. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).
The same power that made wine gives new life. The power Jesus used to turn water into wine is the same power that brings dead hearts to life. By dying and rising again, Jesus showed He has power over death. Everyone who trusts in Him receives new, eternal life -abundant and overflowing, the best gift of all.
Application:
1. Obey Jesus' Words Immediately: Like the servants who filled the waterpots even when it didn't make sense, obey what Jesus tells you in the Bible right away. Don't wait until you understand everything - trust and obey first! Whether it's being kind to someone mean, forgiving someone who hurt you, or obeying your parents, do what Jesus says even before you see why.
2. Bring Your Problems to Jesus First: Mary didn't panic or try to fix the wine problem herself - she went straight to Jesus. When you have a problem at school, with friends, or at home, pray about it FIRST before trying to solve it your own way. Jesus cares about everything in your life!
3. Trust Jesus Even When You Don't Understand: The servants didn't know WHY Jesus wanted them to fill jars with water or WHY they should bring water to the wine expert. But they trusted and obeyed anyway. When God's plan doesn't make sense to you, trust that Jesus knows what He's doing!
4. Do Whatever Jesus Says: Mary's advice to the servants is advice for us too - "Whatever He says to you, do it!" Read your Bible to find out what Jesus says, then DO it! Don't pick and choose - obey ALL of Jesus' words.
5. Expect Jesus' Best: Jesus didn't make okay wine - He made the BEST wine! When you obey Jesus and trust Him, expect His blessings to be abundant and good. God doesn't give us leftovers - He gives us His best!
Small Group Questions:
1. Why did Mary tell Jesus about the wine problem? What does this teach us about prayer?
2.What did Mary tell the servants to do? Why is this important advice for us?
3. How much work did the servants have to do before they saw the miracle?
4. What does this miracle reveal about Jesus' character?
5. How does Jesus transforming water into wine show us He can transform our hearts?
Read John 2:1-11
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, and Cana was a town about half a day's walk away. Jesus already had some disciples at this point, so Jesus, Mary, and others all went together to this wedding. Now let me ask you this: would you invite someone fun to your wedding, or someone who's a grouch? Jesus got invited to a lot of dinners and gatherings, so He must have been pretty fun to hang out with. Hebrews 1:9 says that 'God has anointed You (Jesus) with the oil of gladness,' so Jesus was probably a really fun guy to hang out with. He was nice, loving, and friendly. Also, God created humor, so Jesus probably knew how to tell a good joke. Would you guys invite Jesus to your party or birthday?
Weddings were super important in Jesus' day. Families would save money for years to throw a great celebration. Everyone in town would be invited, and the party could last up to seven days! The host family was responsible for providing food and wine for ALL the guests for the WHOLE celebration. But here we see there's a big problem! They ran out of wine! It would be like not having forks or spoons at your birthday, or having no air in your balloons.
In that time, this would be a huge embarrassment and would cause shame on the family. Mary noticed the problem and wanted to help. So who did Mary go to? She immediately went to Jesus. This is what WE should do when we have a problem; go to Jesus first. She knew Jesus could help, and made a request to him. For us, it's as simple as saying a quick prayer for help, even if it's at a party. Mary didn't tell Jesus what to do or how to fix it - she just brought the problem to Him. That's what we should do too! When we have problems, go to Jesus first!
John 2:4-5 says, "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it."" Jesus' response seems strange, but He's teaching something important. "My hour has not yet come" - Jesus operated on God's perfect timing, not human urgency. It wasn't Jesus' time yet to be revealed as Messiah. But notice, even though He said this, He STILL chose to help! Mary trusted Jesus completely and she told the servants, "Whatever He says, DO IT!" She didn't know what Jesus would do, but she knew they should obey His words. This is HUGE! Mary gave the servants the best advice ever: "Whatever He says to you, do it." This is what faith looks like - obeying Jesus' words even before we see the results, even before to know how things are going to out!
Jesus told them: "Fill the waterpots with water." The servants might have been confused - "We need WINE, not MORE WATER!" But they obeyed anyway! They filled all six jars to the very brim. They could have been lazy and just filled them a little bit, but they gave a full effort, just like we should. The more effort they put in, the more faith and trust they showed, the bigger the reward was. Then Jesus said something even stranger: "Take some to the master of the feast" Again, they obeyed! Even though they were probably thinking "We're bringing just water to the wine expert?!" Think about how much work this was! Hauling 120-180 gallons of water from the well to fill those jars would take a LONG time. And they didn't know WHY they were doing it. But they obeyed Jesus' words simply because Mary said to do whatever He told them. Have you ever been asked to do something and you didn't understand why? Maybe your parents told you to clean your room, or do homework, or turn off the TV, or go to bed early, and you thought 'Why? This doesn't make sense!' The servants show us what to do: obey FIRST, even if you don't understand yet!
The master of the feast tasted it and it was WINE! Probably the BEST wine! Jesus had turned that water into wine! He did it! He saved the party and gave them exactly what they needed. Just like Jesus gives us what we're really needing when we need help. The master of the wedding didn't know where it came from, but the SERVANTS knew! The servants who were faithful and did the work knew who really did the work. Just like when we serve Jesus, we know who is really doing the work for us to accomplish tasks. This situation would have been shocking for the master of the feast because usually hosts serve the best wine first, then cheaper wine later. But this wine was SO GOOD, the master thought they'd saved the best for last! Jesus didn't just make wine, He made the BEST wine of the whole celebration! Somewhere between the jars and the master's cup, Jesus transformed water into wine! The servants saw it firsthand. They obeyed, hauled all that water, and then watched Jesus do the impossible, and blessed them in abundance!
This was Jesus' FIRST miracle - the "beginning of signs" of who Jesus was! This was the first of many miracles Jesus would go on to do that would prove He was the coming Savior. And from this, His disciples believed in Him - their faith grew stronger. They saw that Jesus isn't just a teacher, but has POWER over creation! Finally just to recap: A miracle was a "sign" - it pointed to something greater than just helping at a wedding. It revealed Jesus' glory - His divine nature, His creative power, His compassion, His abundance! This wasn't just about wine. This was about showing the disciples and us, who Jesus really is! He's not just a good person or a wise teacher. He's God in the flesh with power over all creation!
Christ Connection:
1. What it reveals about Jesus (How it connects to Jesus' character):
• Jesus is the Creator with power over all creation. Only God can transform water into wine. This miracle wasn't a trick, it was creative power that belongs to God alone. John 1:3 (NKJV) reminds us, "All things were made through Him." The same Jesus who spoke the universe into existence, showed His authority at this wedding. Water obeyed Jesus when He calmed the storm ("Peace, be still!" — Mark 4:39), when He walked on water (Matthew 14:25), and when it became wine, because all creation recognizes its Maker (Colossians 1:16-17).
• Jesus cares about every part of our lives, not just "religious" things. Jesus' first miracle wasn't healing the sick or raising the dead; it was helping at a wedding celebration. He cared about this family's joy, their reputation, and their special day. This shows us that Jesus doesn't only care about church, prayer, and Bible reading, He also cares about our friendships, family moments, and everyday joys. Nothing in our lives is too small for Jesus to care about.
• Jesus fulfills the Law and brings the New Covenant. Jesus' first recorded miracle was chosen on purpose to show what He came to do. The Law, given through Moses, was already established, but "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6, NKJV). Moses' first miracle turned water into blood and was connected with death, but Jesus' first miracle turned water into wine and brought joy and celebration. While the Law points out sin, Jesus brings life through the new covenant. By filling the purification jars, Jesus showed that He fulfills the old law and that only He can truly cleanse us and fill us with lasting joy.
2. The Heart (How it connects to our hearts):
Jesus brings joy to hearts that trust Him. Wine in the Bible often represents joy (Psalm 104:15). When Jesus turned water into wine, He turned a moment of sadness into celebration. Jesus can do the same for us- when our hearts feel sad, worried, or empty. He can fill them with joy.
Jesus wants us to trust Him before we see the answer. Mary brought the problem to Jesus, and the servants obeyed before the miracle happened-that's faith. Jesus wants us to trust Him with our hearts even when we don't know how things will turn out. Faith means trusting Jesus right now, not after everything is fixed.
3. The Gospel (How it connects to the gospel)
Jesus transforms us from the inside out. Just as Jesus turned water into wine, He completely transforms sinners into new creations. We can't change ourselves, but when we trust in Jesus -His death and resurrection- He gives us a new heart. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).
The same power that made wine gives new life. The power Jesus used to turn water into wine is the same power that brings dead hearts to life. By dying and rising again, Jesus showed He has power over death. Everyone who trusts in Him receives new, eternal life -abundant and overflowing, the best gift of all.
Application:
1. Obey Jesus' Words Immediately: Like the servants who filled the waterpots even when it didn't make sense, obey what Jesus tells you in the Bible right away. Don't wait until you understand everything - trust and obey first! Whether it's being kind to someone mean, forgiving someone who hurt you, or obeying your parents, do what Jesus says even before you see why.
2. Bring Your Problems to Jesus First: Mary didn't panic or try to fix the wine problem herself - she went straight to Jesus. When you have a problem at school, with friends, or at home, pray about it FIRST before trying to solve it your own way. Jesus cares about everything in your life!
3. Trust Jesus Even When You Don't Understand: The servants didn't know WHY Jesus wanted them to fill jars with water or WHY they should bring water to the wine expert. But they trusted and obeyed anyway. When God's plan doesn't make sense to you, trust that Jesus knows what He's doing!
4. Do Whatever Jesus Says: Mary's advice to the servants is advice for us too - "Whatever He says to you, do it!" Read your Bible to find out what Jesus says, then DO it! Don't pick and choose - obey ALL of Jesus' words.
5. Expect Jesus' Best: Jesus didn't make okay wine - He made the BEST wine! When you obey Jesus and trust Him, expect His blessings to be abundant and good. God doesn't give us leftovers - He gives us His best!
Small Group Questions:
1. Why did Mary tell Jesus about the wine problem? What does this teach us about prayer?
2.What did Mary tell the servants to do? Why is this important advice for us?
3. How much work did the servants have to do before they saw the miracle?
4. What does this miracle reveal about Jesus' character?
5. How does Jesus transforming water into wine show us He can transform our hearts?
Posted in Calvary Kids