Connect Who are you praying for that they would recognise Jesus and believe in him
Warm-Up
- What is the best wedding that you have ever been to? What role did hospitality play?
- When you are hosting a party, do you aim for “precision catering” or “over catering”? Which do you fear more: not having food leftover or having too much food leftover?
Read John 2:1-4
- What surprises you when you first read through the account of the wedding at Cana in Galilee?
- Who was at this wedding? Did Jesus, his mother, or the disciples appear to have any official role?
- What is the problematic situation? Why was running out of wine at a wedding at this time such a big deal?
- Who does Mary go to? What does she say? Why do you think Mary went to Jesus?
- Does Mary dictate what she expects Jesus to do? Is this instructive for our own prayer lives?
- How does Jesus respond in a threefold way? Why is addressing Mary as ‘woman’ significant?
- What are the ways in the Gospels that we witness people trying to shape Jesus’ agenda and timeline, be provocation, coercion, temptation, pressure, or persecution? Who does Jesus long to please?
- Why is it such good news for us that Jesus would not be provoked, co-opted, tempted, pressured, or pressed away from his ultimate mission? Do you ever feel pushed from following God’s leading?
- What does Jesus mean by “my hour has not yet come”? Where else does Jesus refer to his ‘hour’?
- What was Jesus’ ultimate hour? How would he be glorified on the cross and through his resurrection?
Read John 2:5-12
- What does Mary tell the servants to do? What are the quiet examples of obedience in this event?
- Do you ever find it difficult to obey God when you don’t understand everything? How is it more important to base our confidence on who God is rather than what we can understand?
- What were the jars used for? Why is it significant that Jesus deliberately chose these? What happens?
- What were the limits of the sacrificial and purification system? What need did they point to?
- How might Jesus be pointing to what he will do for us on the cross to ultimately wash us clean?
- How might this sign point us to the future that awaits all who trust in Jesus? (cf. Revelation 21:1-4)
- How does the abundance of the wine point to the type of future that awaits all who trust in Jesus?
- How do the disciples respond? How should this also strengthen our belief, too?
Apply How can you sip God’s joy now in anticipation of the future which he prepared for us in Christ?
