The Gospel of John

Meeting Notes for 2/3/05

Don started the meeting by asking if any of us has ever attained a Jewish wedding. Of the group, only Don and Larry responded yes. Don pointed out that the Jewish wedding is a joyous time of celebration and to run out of wine is not a good thing. In the Jewish culture, wine represents joy and it is your religious duty to be joyful (Psalm 104:15 and Isaiah 55:1). Running out of wine at a wedding, in the Jewish culture, could be cause for a law suit.

We then discussed what Jesus meant by the phase "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" First Don pointed out that the term “woman” was formal and polite. Jesus addressed Mary not as a son talking to his mom but as the Messiah able to bring her salvation. This brought up the next point her blood relation to Jesus would not save her but the blood of Jesus on the cross can only save.

Next we discussed the phase voiced by Jesus "My hour has not yet come" or "My time has not yet come". Don called this a testing of faith question. Jesus commonly test our faith with questions or actions. Mary was quick to understand this and allowed Jesus access to her servants by commanding them to “do what ever He tells you to do”. Many times we tell God how to answer our problems but Mary stated the problem and then submitted to the answer. Don gave a antidotal story about a Naval officer that was instructed to just ask – don’t give instructions, just report for duty.

Thus our call to action – what problems do we need to bring to God?

Next we discussed miracles and how they are signs in the Gospel of John.

The other point that Don brought to the table was how the changing of the water to wine was purification to joyous transformation - the power of a changed life. Jesus offers life more abundant as was the abundance of the wine. (ref Joel 2:24) – Life without Jesus is like life without joy (wine). If we drink of the worlds wine, that wine will run out, but the joy of Jesus will endure forever.

The best is yet to come!!!

posted by Ray Andrade @ 1:53 PM