uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩ in Cana

Here is a link to last week’s series, uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩

“Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

John 2:10 (CSB)

When you read the Gospels about Jesus’ life, you see how He used miracles, parables, scripture, His attributes, and God’s promises to open the hearts of His disciples and others during His time on Earth. He enabled them to believe.

Today, you and I have all of that plus the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, the basis for our Upside-down study is about belief. Don’t forget to look for the word believe. We found it three times in chapter one. Don’t just look for the word. Read it in context.

So, let’s step back to an event that happened before Jesus actually began His ministry.

You probably know the story. Jesus turned the water into wine.

You know, back in Jesus’ time, running out of wine while entertaining guests would have been such a dishonor to the host.

Let’s take a look as the story unfolds.

“On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 

When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 

“What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 

“Do whatever he tells you,” His mother told the servants. 

Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 

“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim.  

Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” 

And they did. When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.“

John 2:1-11 (CSB)

So, what’s upside down about this story? The headwaiter told us specifically that the host presented the best of the wine before the inferior wine was served. That is what mystified the guests.

But what is really upside down to the world is right side up to you and me. We know Jesus has a purpose for doing everything the way that He does.

Jesus used this upside-down miracle as a teachable moment.

• It was the beginning of the disciple’s belief.
• It had to be a blessing of belief to Mary because she knew that her son was indeed her Messiah.
• It is a blessing of belief for you and me because although our faith in believing comes from the drawing of the Holy Spirit today, every kindness of Christs’ earthly ministry enhances our faith.
• It makes us love Him more.
• Jesus cares about our daily day!
• Jesus used the ordinary to display His extraordinary-His supernatural power.

Now, there is another story in chapter two. It also has an upside-down feature. I’ll give you a few details, but why not do a self-guided study on this story. Look at the passage more intentionally than you ever have before.

Jesus was perfect and Holy. But He has wrath for sin. People who only know about Jesus don’t get this. They think Jesus was just a tender, loving person. They don’t understand that His judgement of sin is perfectly just.

Then, the second upside down feature in this passage is the actions of the religious leaders. They should have been overseeing the Temple and teaching the Truth they were entrusted with.

Instead, they turned it into financial leverage. They capitalized on demoralizing religious rules and devalued God’s people.

They committed these sins having full access to the scripture that was available at the time. They knew. They simply rejected the truth.

John 2:13-16

One more thing that is upside down, but in a good way. Jesus often makes statements that reinforce the belief in the disciples. Look at the passage below that came to their hearts.

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.” John 2:17 (WEB)

The Holy Spirit had not come to live permanently in the hearts of the disciples yet. But because the disciples had watched Jesus perform miracles and wonders, and they saw how He loved and restored lives.

Because they planted God’s Word in their hearts and learned from Christ’s teaching, their faith to believe was growing stronger. They were able to recall the Messianic Psalm 66:9, that they referred to in John 2:17.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 

Deuteronomy 6:5 (WEB)

And look at the last upside-down passage

Jesus talked about raising the temple after three days, and the religious people scoffed. Even the disciples did not understand Jesus’ meaning-until…John 2:18-22 (CSB)

Here are the passages that contain the word believe:

John 2:11; 22; & 23

Share the Gospel in your world. It will never make sense to blind eyes. But remember Who made blind eyes to see-

Jesus!

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.