Jesus Honors His Mother

Homegrown Faith: God’s Plan for Marriage and Motherhood

TURNING SHAME INTO HONOR BY TURNING WATER INTO WINE

Jesus Honors His Mother

John 2:1–11

Intro: Jesus' first miracle isn’t flashy. No huge crowd. No thunder. He’s simply at a wedding in a small town. Honestly? It looks more like a family reunion than the launch of a world-changing ministry. But then—boom. Jesus quietly turns ordinary water into extraordinary wine. Not a bottle or two—more like 150 gallons of it. And not the cheap stuff, either. This wine was luxury. Top shelf. Five-star restaurant level.

 

Here’s the twist: most of the guests never knew anything was wrong. They had no idea the wine almost ran out—a huge social disaster in that culture. But Jesus stepped in—quietly, kindly, effectively. Only Mary, the servants, and a few disciples knew the miracle had even happened. At first glance, it seems like an odd way to begin a public ministry. But when you understand how honor and shame shaped that society, this miracle makes all the sense in the world.

 

A Wedding... and a Crisis

 

John 2:1–2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

 

Mary’s not just a guest—she’s probably involved in hosting. She knows what’s going on behind the scenes.

 

John 2:3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

 

It doesn’t sound like a big deal to us. But in that culture?

 

A family running out of wine at a wedding was like your catering company forgetting to show up at your daughter’s wedding—and everyone’s watching.

 

In that moment, the family’s name, legacy, and reputation were all on the line. They were on the verge of a scandal.

 

Cultural Glimpse #1:

In honor-shame cultures, a wedding was about the family’s reputation, not just the bride’s dream day.

 

To run out of wine wasn’t just embarrassing. It was shameful. Guests could actually sue the host family for not delivering on expectations. Outrageous, right?

 

illus: A missionary friend of mine, Jeff Jackson, told me about something he saw while living in Mexico. His neighborhood had an HOA, and hardly anyone was paying their dues. So the board sent out official letters saying, “Hey, you’re violating the rules—you need to pay up.” No one paid. Then someone had the idea to post a list of the people who hadn’t paid—right by the mailboxes where everyone picked up their mail. Within a week, all the missing payments came in. Why did the letter fail but the public list work? It’s the difference between two worldviews. The letter said, “You’re guilty.” The list said, “You should be ashamed.” Mexico is an honor-shame culture, where losing face hits harder than being told you broke a rule. That’s a major theme in the Bible too—and yet, in our Western culture, we often miss it. We think in terms of guilt and innocence, but Jesus stepped into a world where shame and honor were everything. And honestly? That still rings true for a lot of us today. Especially when you feel like your life is on display and you’re just trying not to drop the ball.

 

What Is Honor? What Is Shame?

 

Honor is when the people around you recognize your value. It’s your “public credit score.” It’s dignity, respect, and a sense of belonging.

 

Shame is the fear of being exposed—as inadequate, unworthy, or unwanted. It’s the fear that others will see the cracks we work so hard to hide.

 

Some of us know that feeling well. Maybe not from wine at a wedding, but from that marriage that feels like it’s just holding together or those parenting moments where you feel like a failure or that financial stress that makes you want to disappear.

Some of us might say: "I feel invisible, exhausted, and like I’m never enough." That is shame.

 

What is Mary’s First Move? She Brings It to Jesus

 

She goes to Jesus and simply says, “They have no wine.” That’s not just information—it’s a request.

 

Cultural Glimpse #2:

In honor-shame cultures, words aren’t just about facts. A statement can carry deep implications.

 

Mary’s sentence may seem like a comment, but Jesus knew—it was a call to action.

 

John 2:4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

 

Don’t let “Woman” throw you—it wasn’t rude. It was respectful but direct. Jesus is gently saying,

• This isn’t My place—I’m just a guest.
• It’s not yet time for Me to reveal Myself.

 

He’s not brushing her off. He’s showing that He’s on God’s timetable, not anyone else’s.

 

John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

 

Mary trusts Him. She doesn’t argue. She just prepares the way. She is confident that Jesus will do something helpful. That’s faith.

 

Mary Places Her FACE in Jesus’ Hands

 

This is where things get deep.

 

By speaking to the servants, Mary does more than give instructions. She places her FACE—her honor—into Jesus' hands.

 

Cultural Glimpses #3–9:

3. FACE is everything—it’s your honor, your dignity.
4. Dependence on others is a sign of connection, not weakness.
5. Everyone in the group is responsible to protect each other's FACE.
6. Failing to do so means you lose FACE too.
7. The older you are, the more FACE you carry.
8. Honoring parents includes protecting their FACE—it’s a commandment with a promise.
9. You can place your FACE into someone’s hands—it’s the ultimate request.

 

To place your FACE in someone’s hands means you trust them to protect your dignity, your name, your value in the eyes of others.

 

When Mary does this, she’s essentially saying, “Son, I’m trusting You to protect my honor—and theirs.”

 

illus: In rural China, a groom’s family once ran out of food. Instead of admitting failure, they locked the kitchen and told the guests the next dishes were “being specially prepared.” People waited for hours. It wasn’t about hunger—it was about saving face.

 

The Miracle: Quiet Power, Overflowing Grace

 

John 2:6–8 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.

 

Those pots weren’t for drinking—they were ceremonial wash pots. Jesus took something associated with ritual and made it a symbol of joy.

 

 

John 2:9–10 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

 

The master of ceremonies is stunned—and the groom gets the credit. His honor goes up, not down.

 

That’s what Jesus does—He doesn’t just cover shame; He replaces it with honor.

 

Crisis is averted. And nobody but a few people even knew.

 

What Really Happened?

 

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother…

 

This miracle isn’t just about wine. It’s about obedience. Jesus fulfilled the fifth commandment in real time.

 

Mary brought Him a problem—not with drama, but with quiet confidence. And Jesus didn’t ignore her. He didn’t roll His eyes or shut her down. He responded.

 

That’s not just good theology—that’s good family.

 

He stepped in and took care of the situation in a way that preserved her FACE and upheld her honor.

 

Was it flashy? No. Was it loud? No. Was it loving? Yes!

 

Moms, can you see what this moment in John 2 does for you? It elevates your role. It dignifies your voice.

 

When Jesus honored His mother, it reminds all Christian moms:

• Your motherhood is not invisible, it is influential
• Your stress is not silly, it is seen in heaven
• Your desire to protect your family’s dignity and future is not just maternal instinct, it is sacred partnership with God

 

If you constantly feel like you are not enough. Not enough time. Not enough energy. Not enough spiritual credibility. Then John ch.2 is a message for you!

 

Must I have all the answers? No. You just bring the need to Jesus and trust Him with it.

 

Did Mary fix the wine crisis at the wedding? No. She just pointed it out to the One who could fix it.

 

Moms: You can stop trying to be the fixer and start being the funnel. You can bring your family’s needs to Jesus, not in panic but in confident trust.

 

Jesus didn’t just honor his mother. He honored the groom’s whole family. In doing so, He showed His disciples His glory.

 

John 2:11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

 

APPLICATION:

1. Pray Like Mary: Simple, Honest, Expectant

 

Start each day whispering a Mary-style prayer: "Jesus, we’re out of wine again. I’m tired. I feel stretched. Please show up. I trust You.”

2. Release the Pressure to Be Everything

 

You can reflect: “If Jesus honored His mother in her quiet influence, maybe I, too, can honor God without having to be loud, perfect, or Pinterest-worthy.” Let go of the guilt-fueled hustle. Trade it for grace-fueled trust.

3. Look for the Quiet Miracles

 

Did Jesus make a scene? No. Most people had no idea a miracle even happened.

 

We can start looking for the quiet signs of Jesus’ honor in her life:

• A surprisingly sweet moment with your spouse.
• A meltdown averted with your kids.
• A moment of calm in a chaotic day.

 

All of these can be “new wine” moments—evidence that Jesus is still working, even when no one notices.

 

4. Give Jesus Your FACE

 

You may often feel like your dignity is one bad day away from collapse.

 

But just like Mary placed her FACE in Jesus’ hands, you can say: “Jesus, I entrust my reputation, my parenting, my marriage, and my emotional stability to You. Honor me as I trust You.”

 

This miracle was not about wine. It was about dignity, honor, and the quiet power of a Savior who sees what others miss.

 

Jesus still shows up at weddings & messy homes, & mental breakdowns, & lay-off Fridays, & the daily lives of overwhelmed moms.

 

He still rescues people from shame and restores their honor.

 

To those of us who are overworked, overlooked, under-supported, and craving a sense of purpose—Jesus quietly says:

 

“Let Me hold your FACE. Let Me protect your dignity. I see you. And I honor those who trust in Me.”

 

Will you trust Him with your FACE today?

 

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Did you know this is our lowest Sunday attendance of the year? Does it feel that way? We shoehorned you in here this. This morning in the one service. We did that on purpose.

And the Memorial Day weekend is always a big travel time. And so we didn't want to feel like we were in two big services with a small group. We wanted to be in one where there's no elbow room. But if you're kicking the tires and looking for a new church, I hope you don't think. Man, they don't even have any room for me here.

Come back next week and we'll have fewer chairs out. You can probably take three chairs for yourself. Put yourself in one, your Bible in the other, your water in the other. We're going to give you some space, but, man, we're glad you're here today. And they asked me, hey, Pastor, we're gonna have one service.

We're gonna eat food trucks and fellowship afterwards. We got all these things we can do. What do you want to leave out? And I said, none of it. Let's do everything that we do.

We didn't come to leave. We came to stay. And we wanted just to show you the work of God in all the areas of our church. Hey, if you're one of our elementary school students, then you're normally in children's ministry, but for some reason, all your volunteers are in this service, and you're sitting in here, too, and you're not normally in here, and you're in elementary school. I want you to stand up.

I want to welcome you to our service today. If you're elementary, you stand up. Hey, look. Stand up. Oh, you are standing.

Sorry. Okay, some of you are. All right, look around. Stay standing. Stay standing.

Hey, don't they look great? Hey, how do you like big church so far? That's what they called it when I was here and when I was your age. And so, hey, we're glad you're here. And I'm going to say a special prayer for you.

So if you're standing up, if you sat Down, Stand back up. If you're anywhere near one of our kids and you're close enough, put your hand on their shoulder. Let's pray. God blesses the next generation. Yes, Father, we realize that we are looking at standing up the next leaders in local churches.

God. Some of them are going to be pastors and missionaries and elders and deacons and teachers and God. So our prayer right now. Lord, if these young people have not come to a knowledge of salvation, God, I pray that today that seed will be planted. God, we're asking you to give them a saving grace experience while they're young that will protect them from being polluted by the world.

God. So our prayer today is that every one of these children standing, you begin to set aside for your glory and that they would know your love and power early, earlier than most of us. God. Our prayer is that like Samuel, Lord, whose mother gave him right back to you when he was born. Lord, we give these children back to you.

We realize that we're borrowing them and we're stewarding them. And God, I pray they never be ashamed of the gospel. I pray when they go to school, Jesus will always be cool to them. God, I pray for their moms and dads as their parents disciple them in their homes. God, make those relationships count.

Make them stick for eternity. God, save these precious children. Let them always love Jesus and the church and never be ashamed. And a faith filled church said. Amen.

Hey, welcome to big church, kids. You can be seated. Awesome. Now look, should I just take a day off and, and just mail this sermon in? Do you want a TED Talk or a life coaching moment or would you like for me to teach you the word of God?

That was a rhetorical question. You didn't have to say anything, right? Find John chapter two in your Bibles. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. John chapter two.

We're completing our homegrown faith series, God's plan for marriage and Motherhood. And I thought we would end with Jesus honoring his mother. Does that sound like a good plan? John chapter 2. First miracle recorded in the Bible that the Lord Jesus did in his earthly ministry.

And what if I told you that Jesus first miracle wasn't flashy? There was no huge crowd there, There was no thunder and lightning from heaven, and he simply had a wedding in a small town. And not only that, it looks more like a family reunion than the launch of a world changing ministry. And did Jesus ministry change the world? Yes or no?

Well, here's how it started. All of a sudden, regular wedding and then boom. Jesus quietly turns ordinary water into extraordinary wine. And I'm not talking like a bottle or two either, more like 150 gallons of it. And it's not the cheap stuff.

This was luxury wine. This was five star hotel worthy. This is top shelf spirits here. And look, here's the twist, though. Most of the guests never knew anything was wrong.

They had no idea the wine almost ran out, which would have been a huge social disaster in that culture. But as we shall see in our text today, Jesus steps in and he does so quietly and he does so with kindness. And you know, he does so effectively. And listen to this. Only his mother, Mary, a few of the servants, the waitstaff at the wedding, and a few of Jesus disciples.

That's the end of the list of those who even knew the miracle happened. So at first glance, at least to me, this seems like an odd way to begin a public ministry. But when you understand how honor and shame shape that society, then this miracle makes all the sense in the world. So here's where we start. We start with a wedding and a crisis.

John, chapter two, verses one and two. If you're ready, say yes. On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. What's the mother of Jesus name?

Mary. See, you know more of the Bible than maybe you thought. Now, both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. So here's what the clues from the verse tell us this. Mary's not just a wedding guest.

She's there. She knows the family. They've got her helping out. She was there. Jesus and the disciples are invited.

She's hosting. So she knows what's going on behind the scenes. That's why verse three says this. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. That is not a throwaway sentence.

It doesn't sound like a big deal to us. But in that culture, a family running out of wine at a wedding would be like your catering company forgetting to show up to your daughter's wedding at all. And everyone's watching. Now, do you feel it A little better. You see in that moment, the host family's name, their legacy, their reputation, all of those things are on the line.

In fact, they were on the verge of a scandal that would have spread out throughout the community. Everyone would have known about it. Now, for you to understand John 2:1 11, we have to get on a boat. We've got to cross the ocean, we've got to get in A time machine. We've got to go back to the first century in Israel.

And I've got to give you a glimpse into the culture of that time, because if you don't know their culture, you won't understand this text. Here's how I'm going to do it. I'm going to give you nine cultural glimpses throughout this sermon. I'm going to give you the first two and talk about them. I'm going to give you three through nine in rapid succession.

Now, if you can't write fast, you're not going to be able to get all these notes. But I have good news for you. At the bottom of your worship guide is my email address. If you send me an email this afternoon or sometime this week saying I would like the notes of this sermon, I will reply with the file. It's all free and it's for open public use.

I'll be glad for you to have it. Cultural glimpse number one in honor shame cultures, a wedding was as much about the family's reputation as it was being the bride's dream day. Now, our culture, it's just bride's dream day, but not back then. So to run out of wine wasn't just embarrassing, it was shameful. And did you know that guests who showed up to the wedding, they could actually sue the host family for not delivering on expectations?

That's outrageous. Right? I told you we had to get on a boat and get in a time machine to do this. A missionary friend of mine, an acquaintance that I met on the phone, Jeff Jackson, told me about something that happened to him while he was living in Mexico. And as a missionary, his neighborhood in Mexico had something like a homeowners association, an hoa.

How many of you live in a homeowner's association? How many of you have said bad words because of that in your life? Right? Okay. Hardly anyone in the HOA was paying their dues.

I bet you can relate. And it's always the ones that violate the covenants that also don't pay the dues. Well, it happens in Mexico, too. So the board of the homeowners association sent out official letters that said something like this, hey, you're violating the rules. You need to pay up.

And guess what? Nobody paid. Then someone on the board had an idea. They said, look, let's take all the folks that are overdue on their dues and let's list them on a sheet of paper and stick it by the mailboxes where everybody goes to get their mail. And when they did that, all the payments came in within a week.

It worked. Why did the letter fail, but the public listing of the names do the trick. Well, that's the difference between two worldviews. The letter said you're guilty. The list said you should be ashamed.

Mexico is an honor shame culture, where losing face hits harder than being told you broke a rule. And that's a major theme in the Bible too, by the way. And yet in our Western culture, we often miss this. We think in terms of guilt and innocence. But Jesus in John chapter two steps into a world where shame and honor were everything.

So let me give you some terms here. What is honor and what is shame?

First, honor. Honor is when the people around you recognize your value. When the group does, it's your public credit score. It's dignity. It's respect.

It's a sense of belonging to the group. The problem that we miss on this is in our Western culture, we don't value the group. We value rugged individualism and personal accomplishments. Well, that's what honor is. What's shame?

Shame is the fear of being exposed. It's the fear of being exposed that you might be inadequate or that you might be unworthy or that you might be unwanted. It's the fear that others will see the cracks that we work so hard to hide in our lives. And can I tell you, some of us know this feeling too well. And it might not be from wine at a wedding, but from your marriage that feels like it's hanging on by a thread.

Or those parenting moments when you just can't get them to stop crying, when you just can't console them, when you just can't get them to do their homework and you feel like a failure. Or when that financial pressure that is pushing down on you and your wife in such a way that you would just like to disappear.

You know, some of us might say, I feel invisible. I feel exhausted. I feel like I'm never enough. That is shame. And that's what's happening here at this wedding in Cana.

So what's Mary's first move? Mary's first move is very simple. She brings it to Jesus. She goes to Jesus, and she simply says four words in the English. They have no wine.

Do you understand that? That's not just information. It's also a request. See here's cultural glimpse number two. In honor shame cultures, words are not just about facts and information.

A statement can mean something very deep, or it can carry deep implications. So Mary's sentence, they have no wine to you may look just like a Comment. But Jesus knew it was something else. It was a call. Action.

She wanted him to do something. So here's verse four. Jesus said to her, woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. Now, I read the word woman wrong.

That was mean of me to do that. Don't let woman throw you. It wasn't rude. It was respectful and direct. Jesus is gently saying two things here.

First, he's saying, this isn't my place. I'm just a guest. I'm not on the wedding staff. I just came for the meal and watching the vows. But he also was saying, it's not yet my time to reveal myself.

My hour hasn't yet come. So look, Jesus is not brushing his mother off. He's not pushing her away. Jesus is showing his mother that he's on God's timetable. He's not on anyone else's.

So now we come to verse five. Look, if you thought this was going to throw that lady off, you're wrong. His mother said to the servants, not to Jesus, the servants. But whatever he says to you, do it. That is a.

The whole text In John, chapter 2, verses 1 to 11 turns on that verse. That is a stick of dynamite in 1st century Israel. Whatever he says to you, do it. Listen to me. Mary trusts him.

And she doesn't argue. She just throws the doors open and prepares the way. Mary is confident that Jesus will do something helpful. You know what I call that? Faith.

When you're confident that Jesus will do something helpful and you're confident enough that you ask him, and you ask him in front of others and put some pressure on it and trust. That's some faith right there.

Let me say it this way. Mary places her face in Jesus hands.

This is where we're going to go a little deeper.

When Mary speaks to the servants in the hearing of Jesus, she does more than give some instructions.

She places her face, her honor, and into Jesus hands. And he's like, all right, big boy, it's all yours. Let me give you cultural glimpses three through nine. You see, you need to understand that face is everything. It's your honor, it's your dignity.

You've heard of saving face before, right? You ever wonder where we got that phrase? Number four, dependence on others is a sign of connection, not weakness. You see, in honor, shame, cultures, which by the way, is 80% of humanity. Being a rugged individualist is not what you want.

You want to be accepted as part of the group and someone who helps the group go forward. So depending on others is a good thing. Number five, everyone in the group is responsible to protect each other's face.

When she says, whatever he says to you, do it. She's indicating to her son, I'm going to lose all my honor if you do nothing.

Now, number six, failing to do so means you lose face, too. Well, thanks a lot, Mom. I got to save your face. Their face. And now mine.

Number seven, all you gray hairs, you're gonna love this. The older you are, the more face you carry. Amen. You earned it. You've lived it.

You've lived enough that you have more dignity and honor to lose.

Number eight, honoring parents includes protecting their face. It's a commandment with a promise. I'll come back to that. And number nine, in the honor shame world, you can place your face into someone's hands. It's the ultimate request.

In John, chapter 2, verse 5, Jesus Mother hands her son, who happens to be also the son of God, the most valuable thing she can give to him.

If you're following me, say yes.

All right, listen to me very carefully. To place your face in someone's hands means you are trusting them to protect your dignity, to guard your name in the community, and to carry your value in the eyes of others. So when Mary does it, here's what she's saying. Son, I'm trusting you to protect my honor and this family that has me helping at their wedding, theirs too. This week I read about in rural China, a groom's family once ran out of food at the wedding ceremony reception, and instead of admitting failure, they locked the kitchen doors and told all the guests that just be patient, the next dishes are being specially prepared by our chefs.

And the people waited for hours, and the food never came. Because it wasn't about hunger. It was about saving face. Now, I know that doesn't make any sense to you, but God wants you to grow in your understanding of how the world works.

Now, what comes next in our text is the miracle happening, the one that only a few people saw. But it happens with quiet power, and we find out that it's overflowing with God's grace. Here's verses 6, 7, and 8. Now, there were there set. Now there were set there six water pots of stone according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing 20 or 30 gallons apiece.

Big buckets. Jesus said to them, fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. Imagine carrying those things. And he said to them, draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast, and they took it.

Now, you got to understand, the water pots were there for people to prepare themselves to worship God in temple rituals. They weren't for drinking. They probably weren't even all that sanitized. They were ceremonial washing pots. Jesus took something associated with religion and quiet reverence, and he made it a symbol of explosive joy.

And now verses nine and ten, when the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew, the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, every man at the beginning sets out the good wine. And when the guests are well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now. You understand what that means?

The master of ceremonies goes through the bridegroom and he says, look, you did this backwards. Everybody else puts the good stuff out, gets people tipsy. Then you can send the watered down stuff, and they don't even know. But we've never had anything like what you just brought out. The master of ceremonies is stunned, and the groom and his family gets the credit.

You saved the best for last.

So the bridegroom, instead of being sued by all his friends, now his honor goes up and not down. Listen to me. That's what Jesus does. He doesn't just cover shame. He replaces it with honor.

Testify.

He doesn't just give you a free ticket to heaven when you die. He gives you abundant life while you live.

So the crisis is averted, and only a few people knew. But, Pastor, what really happened? What's this really about? Thank you for asking. Let's go back to the Ten Commandments.

Remember those Exodus, chapter 20? Do you remember the fifth one? Honor your father and your mother.

This miracle isn't just about wine. It's about obedience. Jesus kept all the laws of God. He said, I only do what I see my father doing. I only honor my Father.

I do his whole will well. Are the Ten Commandments the will of God, yes or no? And Jesus kept those. And he honors his mother. He fulfilled the fifth commandment here in John 2, in real time.

So Mary brings him a problem, and she brings it to him. Not with drama, not with fanfare. She does so with very respectful, quiet confidence. And the Lord Jesus does not ignore her. He didn't roll his eyes.

He didn't shut her down.

He responded. Can I tell you, that's not just good theology. That's good family.

He stepped in. He took care of the situation in a way that preserved her face and Upheld her honor. And I want to ask you, was it flashy? No. Was it loud and obnoxious?

No. Was it loving? Yes.

Moms in the room, can you see what this moment in John chapter two does for you?

Well, first, it elevates your role as a mom. Honor your mother, and it also dignifies your voice. When Jesus honored his mother, it reminds all Christian moms everywhere. Number one, your motherhood is not invisible. It is influential.

Number two, your stress is not silly. It is seen in heaven.

Number three, your desire to protect your family's dignity and future is not just maternal instinct. It is sacred partnership with God.

You know, if you constantly feel like you're not enough, if you're constantly telling yourself there's not enough time. I don't have enough energy. I don't even have enough spiritual credibility, then the message of John Chapter two is for you. Moms, dads, children, college students. Hey, here's what it tells you.

Must I have all the. Must I have all the answers? No. You just bring the need to Jesus and you trust him with it. That's all.

Mary, did they have no wine? Whatever he says to you to do, do it. My goodness. Let me ask you this question. Did Mary fix the wine crisis at the wedding?

The answer is no. She just pointed it out to the one who could fix it. And the stuff you're dealing with, you probably can't fix either. So you need to go to Jesus and say, they have no wine. I don't have any wine left.

I'm in big trouble. And soon everybody's going to know.

I want to tell you that Jesus didn't just honor his mother. He honored the groom's whole family. And in doing so, the verse says, he showed his disciples his glory. Here's the last verse of our text. This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory.

And his disciples believed in him.

You know, not everything Jesus does is for everybody. Everybody kind of gets blessed by it, but they don't all know. And the stuff that you know about the Lord, that special revelation from God that He brought to you because of his special love to you today. You know that Jesus saves sinners from their sins. And.

And most of planet Earth doesn't know that you're on the inside at the wedding of Canaan in Galilee. And you know who turned that water into wine? You're no longer in the guest list. And all you're doing is receiving the blessing without any idea. You're no longer clueless.

You are now responsible for the light that you have, for the knowledge of Jesus that you have. Well, how do I apply this message to my life, preacher? Can I suggest four ways? Number one, pray like Mary. Simple, honest, expectant.

What does that mean? Start each day whispering a Mary style prayer. Jesus, we're out of wine again. I'm tired. I feel stretched to my limits.

Please show up. I trust you.

Number two, release the pressure to be everything.

You know, if you apply John chapter two right, then you can just reflect. You can think. If Jesus honored his mother in her quiet influence, then maybe I too can honor God without having to be loud, without having to be perfect, without having to be Pinterest worthy or Instagram. Right.

Can I tell you? Let go of the guilt fueled hustle and trade it for grace fueled trust. Release the pressure to be everything. Number three. This is my second favorite one.

Look for the quiet miracles. Did Jesus make a scene at the wedding in Cana of Galilee? No. Most people had no idea the miracle even occurred. We can start looking for the quiet signs.

Jesus honor in our lives. Ladies, how about a surprisingly sweet moment with your spouse that maybe doesn't show up all the time? Or how about the meltdown with your kids that was averted at Kroger Finally. Or how about a moment of calm in a chaotic day? Or are you old enough to remember the Calgon take me away commercials?

All of those and many more can be new wine moments. Evidence that Jesus is still working even when no one else is noticing.

And finally, and most important, and this is how I'm ending this service, give Jesus your face.

You know, you may often feel like your dignity is just one bad day from total collapse.

But just as Jesus. Excuse me. Just as Mary placed her face in Jesus hands, you can say this. Jesus, I entrust you with my reputation. I entrust you with my parenting.

I entrust you with my marriage. I entrust my emotional stability to you. Honor me as I trust you.

Hey, can we talk? Jesus still shows up at weddings and at messy homes and mental breakdowns and layoff Fridays and daily lives of overwhelmed moms or preschoolers. He still rescues people from shame and he still restores their honor. That's what John chapter two teaches. And so I wanted to say something to you.

If you feel overworked, if you feel overlooked, if you feel under supported, if you feel like you're craving a sense of purpose in your life that you don't have, if that's you In John chapter 2, Jesus quietly says to you, let me hold your face.

Let me protect Your honor and dignity. I see you and I honor those who trust in me. So here's what I'm going to ask you today. Will you trust Jesus with your face, with everything that makes you. You can't do that until you know him, until you become a believer.

You know the Bible says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone who cries out to God will become a Christian. And here's who it's for.

It's for those who come to him in repentance and faith. Here's repentance. We found two sinners prayers in the New Testament. The prayer of repentance is God have mercy on me, a sinner. The man who prayed that in Jesus parable Jesus says he went home justified.

The prayer of faith is, I believe there's something more than just this life. I believe there's a kingdom of God in the future that Jesus rules over. And like that repentant thief on the cross, you can say to Jesus, lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. That's a prayer of faith. I turn away from my sins.

I trust you with my present and my future. Has that ever happened to you?

Well, you can call on the Lord today. I'm going to lead us in a quiet prayer. And if this happens to you and you feel strangely drawn to be closer to Jesus, then cry out to him in repentance and faith. And if you do, on this card it says I'm ready to trust Jesus or I want to rediscover my faith in Jesus. If you do that, I want to know about it.

I want. I won't barge in your home or whatever. I'll pray for you. I'll put some resources in your hand and we can do that over the phone or by text or email. But I want to know if you've come to Christ today.

And then after I adjourn the service, we're going to pray for people. Lots of things are going to happen. But up here, three rows of chairs and up is going to be undisturbed. Our prayer teams are going to be here. I had two people walk in today saying, pastor, I need a healing in my body.

I'm like, you better go for prayer then. That's what Jesus wants to do do. We will pray for you to be healed. We will pray for you to come to know Christ. We will pray for you to have strongholds delivered.

We will pray for God to mend your broken heart. We will pray for God to encourage you today. We will pray for God to save your lost family. Whatever you need, we will pray for you. Don't let the enemy steal the seed of what's been planted in this sermon and in this service today.

Do something with it. Let's bow for prayer. Now, some of you are getting ready to call on Jesus right now. You're like, hey, I'm not a Christian. I don't know the Lord.

If I died today, I wouldn't be his. It'd be terrible. I have no confidence or assurance that I belong to God. If that's you, then just say what they said in the Bible. God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Just tell him that. Have mercy on me. I've messed it all up. I need your mercy and grace. God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Pray a prayer of repentance and then pray a prayer of faith. Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. I want to be a subject, a loyal subject to King Jesus. Pray a prayer of faith. And now thank God for making a way for your heart to be right with him and for you to become one of his children.

And for the rest of us, God, I pray in Jesus name. All those who need prayer, minister to them before I say amen. All my prayer team members, y' all come forward before I dismiss all the prayer team, come forward that's gonna be praying today.

Then I'm going to give very specific instructions so that we can enjoy the rest of our time together.

Amen. Listen to me. Have you enjoyed being here today? Flatter me a little bit. Yes.

Okay. All right. The worship is not over. We're going to worship God by praying for people. We're going to worship God by high fiving and hugging our friends and talking to them in the lobby.

Going to worship God by going and getting our kids expeditiously. Amen. Right? We're going to worship the Lord by everybody who stays to eat, fellowshipping and enjoying time together in the Lord's house with his people. The worship's not over.

Don't miss the moment. Let's stand together.

Come for prayer, guys. It's going to help us turn this building over. Do so in the back of the room. You're free to take all those chairs and take tables and move them around. Leave the first three rows intact so we'll have some time down here.

Thank you guys for coming. Happy Memorial Day. Your desire.

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Come and join us this Sunday at the Great Commission Church for a truly remarkable and uplifting experience. Great Commission Church is not just any ordinary place of worship; it's a vibrant community where faith comes alive, hearts are filled with love, and lives are transformed. Our doors are wide open, ready to welcome you into the warm embrace of our congregation, where you'll discover the true essence of fellowship and spirituality. At Great Commission Church, we are more than just a congregation; we are a family united by a common mission – to follow the teachings of Christ and spread His love to the world. As you step inside Great Commission Church, you'll find a sanctuary that nurtures your faith and encourages you to be part of something greater than yourself.

We believe in the power of coming together as a community to worship, learn, and serve. Whether you're a long-time believer or just starting your spiritual journey, Great Commission Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Our vibrant services are filled with inspiring messages, beautiful music, and heartfelt prayers that will uplift your soul. Every Sunday at Great Commission Church is an opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and connect with others who share your faith and values.

At Great Commission Church, we believe that faith is not just a solitary endeavor but a shared experience that strengthens and enriches us all. Our church is a place where you can find purpose, belonging, and the encouragement to live a life in accordance with Christ's teachings. Join us this Sunday at Great Commission Church and experience the transformative power of faith in action. Be part of a loving and supportive community that is committed to making a positive impact in our world. Together, we strive to fulfill the great commission to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We look forward to having you with us at Great Commission Church this Sunday, where faith, love, and community intersect in a truly amazing way.

Great Commission Church is a non-denominational Christian church located in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We are a short drive from Germantown, Southaven, Collierville, Horn Lake, Memphis, Fairhaven, Mineral Wells, Pleasant Hill, Handy Corner, Lewisburg and Byhalia.

See you Sunday at Great Commission Church!