November 19 Lesson Plan

November 19th FFC-OCFire Small Group

The Wedding at Cana

This week we are in the Gospel of John Chapter 2.  Please read through the Scripture of the Wedding at Cana.  Right away you will see in verse 2-“ Jesus was also invited to the wedding with his disciples.”  This brings up the question- a lot of people think God is not fun, we don’t want Him there because  He will dull our lives.   But this story is a perfect example of how when you invite God into the events of our lives- watch the blessings that can happen.

First Discussion question- What are events in my life I should be including Jesus in more?  If I cant invite Jesus into this event because of what it is- Should I should be doing it at all?

It then goes on in verse 3- “When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”- A wedding in the Jewish culture was and is a huge event. To run out of wine was a big deal.  It was a real embarrassment for the entire family.  In verse 4 is says, “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” – Jesus is calling his mother “Woman” – he is addressing that this is the beginning of His public ministry- they have a different relationship now- Jesus’ relationship with His Heavenly Father comes 1st- He will consult with Him first before he performs any miracle.  It says that Mary told the servants of the wedding- “Do whatever He tells you”- Isn’t this how we should always live our lives.  Whatever our Heavenly Father tells us to do- we should do it.  And when you read on in verse 7, “Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.”- you see the servants did exactly what they were told.  David Guzik brings up a great point- he says “The servants didn’t cut any corners.  Those were large jars (20-30 gallons each) and they filled them to the brim as they were told.  Jesus could have filled the jars himself- but God loves to invite us to participate in His miracles!  How amazing is that?”  Guzik goes on and says- “By the servants filling them to the brim- there was no way for Jesus to add anything- He had to change the components of the water completely.  This is the radicle change that Jesus wants to perform in our lives!  He wants to change us from the inside out completely.”  I love in verse 8 it says, “Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” -This is showing how God tests his miracles in our lives- he proves they are proven and real which builds our Faith.  If we don’t include God in the situations in our lives- how will we know it came from Him?

This is the 1st recorded miracle from John that Jesus performed- it was about conversion- transforming what is in front of Him.  We are water jars- let Jesus transform us.  Jesus made this party the best it could be-  as a child of God, the future will only get better- the best is yet to come.  It says at the end, “11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”  It was proven and real- it revealed His glory- which then helped people believe in Him.

Discussion Question 2:  What are things in my Life that I’m not following/ obeying Christs’ instructions completely?  Where am I cutting corners?  Where have I seen true change when I have obeyed?

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

The Passover was a time for thousands of visitors to come to Jerusalem.  There were many forms of money then, but the temple tax (which was equivalent to 2 days wages) could   only be paid with the special temple coin. Many commentators say the reason why foreign coins were not allowed in temple contributions was because they bore the image of the emperor or pagan gods. But “Tyrian coinage was not only permitted, but expressly prescribed (Mishnah, Bekh. 8:7), and this bore heathen symbols.” (Morris). It seems that the issue was not what was on the coin, but what was in the coin, and only coinage that had a reputation for being of good weight and content was allowed.  Everyone felt this was ok until Jesus arrived and felt zeal for His Father’s House.  It says the disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me”- this is from Psalm 69:9.  Jesus was not ok that dishonest practice was keeping people from coming to worship God.  So by making a whip of cords, driving them out the temple, flipping tables and pouring out their coins was his intense commitment/Zeal for his Heavenly Father.  David Guzik says -John began with a miracle of conversion (changing water into wine). Then he showed Jesus performing a work of cleansing (the cleansing of the temple). This is always how Jesus works in His people: conversion first, then cleansing.  What an awesome picture of how Jesus works.

Next in verse 18 it says, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things? -This wasn’t necessarily a bad question. Anyone who drove the merchants out from the temple courts claimed the authority to do it. The Jews wanted to know if Jesus really had this authority.  Some would say that Jesus just performed a sign by flipping the tables.  But Jesus responded, “Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up.”  The Jews thought he was talking about that literal temple they were standing in, but Jesus was talking about himself and his body being the temple that they would crucify and he would be resurrected in 3 days. Jesus makes this claim many times in the Gospel of John which he explains to both the disciples and the pharisees. It then says in verse 22, “His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture”: It was only after the death and resurrection of Jesus that His disciples understood and believed both the Scriptures and the specific promises of Jesus.

Discussion Question 3:  What are things, habits or practices that we need cleansing in our life?  How about at the Fire Station or even more- when we are riding in the rig?