Transcript
Here’s a question: what’s the difference between self-improvement and transformation?
Water into wine.
This is one of the most well-known of Jesus’ miracles. It is also one of the least understood. And I include myself in that latter comment. For most of my life, I have not understood this passage – this “sign” as it is called in the Gospel of John.
Here’s the key: Jesus does not improve the situation. He transforms it.
Let’s set the scene. There are very few details, but the details are carefully chosen. Wedding feast. The whole village would have been invited. Jesus, the disciples, and Mary are there. The wine gives out. That’s a disaster. Mary says, in effect, Jesus you’re going to fix this.
Now… she doesn’t technically tell him what to do; but, well… she tells him what to do. It’s very clever, she announces to the servants, do whatever he tells you. And from there, Jesus acts. His first miracle, which launches his ministry. So, watch this: Mary, the woman, the mother, who carried Jesus and birthed into the world, is now ‘birthing’ him into his ministry. Delivering him into this new public phase.
Ok but, so what does Jesus do? He’s got options.
- He could abandon the situation. Just, leave. Irish Goodbye…
- He could try to improve the situation. Maybe direct everyone to the food. Maybe tell a story to distract everyone from the fact that there’s no wine. Maybe, take the water… and I don’t know, run it through a first century Brita filter… make it really good water.
- Or he could transform the situation. Change, completely, the water into wine. Not just in appearance. In actuality. Change a desperate situation… into an abundant situation. Change a disaster into a triumph.
What does it mean? Here’s the argument: the Gospel is not a promise of self-improvement. The Gospel is a promise of transformation.
So, three things:
What is Christian transformation?
Why is it so hard?
What’s the key?
What is Christian transformation?
There is a quotation by CS Lewis, and I was going to build to this, but, it’s just too good. This is from Mere Christianity, and it says everything. This is CS Lewis talking about how God transforms your life.
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
Did you catch all that? God doesn’t just want to do window dressing. He’s interested in wholesale renovation.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
There is this scene in the show The Chosen…
Jesus calls Matthew, the tax collector, to become his disciple. And Simon Peter says to Jesus: A tax collector? What are you doing? Jesus says, “Well, Simon, I called you.” Simon says, “But this is different.” To which Jesus replies, “Get used to different.”
It’s the line of the season, maybe even the line of the show. Someone might say, but it’s not in the Bible. True, but… 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Christian transformation is God (subject of the sentence) coming into our lives – our hearts, souls, attitudes, desires, priorities – and changing us from the inside out.
Why is it so hard?
I don’t know how long you’ve been a Christian, or maybe you’re not sure if you’re a Christian. Reminder: there is no judgement here about how long or short your journey is. You are here – we are glad that you are here – full stop.
But in your Christian journey, you have probably found that there are parts of your life that you whish would change, but they stubbornly refuse to give way. Maybe… I won’t go through a whole list… but just to say: there are things in your life, things about yourself, that you wish were different, but as of right now, they’re not.
And you’ve probably noticed this about other people too – perhaps especially Christians. You think, well shouldn’t Christians be better? But I know someone who is a Christian and they are irritable or short-tempered, or a jerk, or whatever.
Why?
Simple answer. Everyone has their own starting point. This is just true, it’s true, it’s true, it’s true. If there are teenagers here, I want you listen to this so carefully, because I wish I had understood it when I was younger: Everyone has their own starting point.
Illustration. I drive around in my car, and I always notice runners or joggers. I like to run myself, and… I also just can’t help noticing things. But, I’ll see someone and think: “Wow that person is really cruising,” or, “Wow, that person is struggling.” (You can always tell by the arms, by the way. When a runner is really struggling, the arms come up tight, with very little swing.) This is how I know I’m a sinner, by the way. I’m comfortably driving in my car, this person is exerting, and I’m passing judgment on their arm swing. But here’s the point. I have no idea… when and where that person started running. He or she could be on mile number 1. He or she could be on mile 21. Could have been doing marathons for years; could have started jogging two days ago. Could have just overcome an injury. I – don’t – know. That person has his or her own starting point.
It is the same in the Christian life. People have their own starting points. It’s not always where you are, but how far you’ve come. And the Bible says, Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Some things change quickly; some things take a long time to change. Some things, will only change in the resurrected life to come.
What’s the key?
Well, of course it’s Jesus. Spoiler alert.
Jesus Christ comes into our lives, like he comes to the wedding at Cana. First of all, he has to be invited. The text says that Jesus and his disciples were invited. He needs an opening. And he’ll come in, with great love and power, look around, and see that all is not well. The wine is out. Which means that joy is out, anxiety is up.
What does he do?
Leave?
Do some window dressing?
No. He stays and he begins a transformation. Which can be terribly painful at times, but it’s good.
And like the miracle at Cana, this process is totally free – for you and me. Though, it wasn’t free for Jesus.
You know, the moment Jesus did that sign, there was a clock that started ticking. That would lead to the cross in Jerusalem.
And so let me just show you one more thing. John chapter 19. When Jesus was on the cross, you have all the same elements as the wedding. Jesus is there. Mary, his mother, is there. One of the disciples, John is there. And there is… a jar of wine. You remember, a jar of wine, and they put it on a sponge on a stick, and they give it to Jesus because he says, “I thirst.” But here’s the thing, it wasn’t the best wine in the world; it was… sour wine vinegar, so the worst wine in the world. Jesus takes it. He says, it is finished. And he dies.
What does this all mean? On the cross, Jesus Christ took the worst that the world has to offer. He did that, so that you could receive the best that He has to offer. He is the true master of the banquet. And he gives Grace. Forgiveness. New life. Transformation.
Jesus took the sour vinegar, so that you could have the finest wine. In his love and power, Jesus takes the bitterness of Golgotha; So that you can have the sweetness of Cana.
He is the master of the banquet. And he is the blood poured out for the sins of the world. And He is the lamb that was slain. And he is the risen Lord. And he is the architect, not of self-improvement, but of transformation.
…who says, “If you invite me in, I am more than willing, to make you new.”