John 2:1–11 (NIV)

¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

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.

Celebration

Jesus’ first miracle takes place at a wedding celebration. Before the crowds gathered to hear him teach, Jesus was at a wedding. He entered into the joy of ordinary human life. He sat at the table. He shared the feast. He delighted in the celebration. Jesus loved gathering with people. He shared meals, attended celebrations, and entered fully into the goodness and beauty of human life.

Wins and Losses

Soul friendship looks like celebrating one another’s victories as if they were our own. When one of us wins, we all win.

• “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 
• “If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26

“In celebration the high and mighty regain their balance and the weak and lowly receive new stature. Who can be high or low at the festival of God? Together the rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless all celebrate the glory and wonder of God. There is no leveler of caste systems like festivity” — Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

More Wine

• “...so they filled them to the brim.” John 2:7

True Celebration, which includes self-forgetting, laughter, acts of kindness, table fellowship, music, and dancing, is one of the few things in life that multiplies when we give it away. Celebration creates more celebration.

“There is a lovely idea in the Celtic tradition that if you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. In the kingdom of love there is no competition, there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” — John O’Donohue, Anam Cara

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 



Before beginning your time in the passage this week, create intentional time getting acquainted or re-acquainted with one another. Prompt: Share about a celebration in your life. What was meaningful about it? Did you feel seen and cared for? Why or why not?

CONNECT WITH GOD 

Prayers as Friendship with God: “A Simple Regimen of Private Prayer” from George Buttrick. This week, we will focus our attention on quieting ourselves before the Lord. Read the section on “orderly quietness” from the link below. Then, spend a few minutes in silence. After an extended time of quiet contemplation, close with the words below:

“We say to ourselves, ‘His light fills the world. It fills this room.’ Thus we meditate.”

https://renovare.org/articles/hints-for-how-to-pray

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER

• Together: Pray in expectation of the passage being read. Read together John 2:1-11.

• Alone: Read John 2:1-11 once more, individually. 
• Reflect/journal on the following prompt:
• What captures my attention about friendship and celebration through this passage?
• Are there places in my life (or in this world) where I feel like “it’s not enough?” Where is Jesus in those places?

• Together: Share your reflections in pairs or as a whole group. 

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE 

If needed, read the passage again. Then select the best questions or customize the questions for your group.  

• Review the message notes. 
• What stands out to you about this story? 
• What themes of friendship do you notice in this passage? 
• What might this setting for Jesus’ first sign reveal about the heart of God? 
• Consider Jesus’ response to his mother’s comment. Why do you think he responded that way? 
• Consider the steward’s response in verse 9-10. When has God provided something unexpectedly in your life, and how did it deepen your trust in him?
• What is unique about this sign? Reflect on other miracles and signs in Jesus’ ministry. How is this one similar or different? 
• How did God meet you in the message this week?  

ENGAGE AND EXPLORE 

Together: explore the quote below, using the following prompt to deepen your conversation. How does our current culture make it easier or harder to enter into true celebration with one another?  

"There is a lovely idea in the Celtic tradition that if you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. In the kingdom of love there is no competition, there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have." - John O'Donohue, Anam Cara

PRAYER 

Pray together for eyes to see God’s glory in table fellowship and celebration and for the courage to invite Jesus into both our joys and struggles.