September 17, 2006

Dying For a Drink

From Water to Wine

John 2:1-11

Opening Words: Did you know our physical bodies need about 3 quarts of water a day to operate efficiently. Water helps digest food. The blood, which is 90 percent water, carries nutrients to the cells. Water acts as a cooling agent on a hot day. Without water’s lubricating properties, our joints and muscles would grind and creak like unused parts of some old rusty machinery. Our spirits need water as well, the living water of Jesus! Without him our spirits become restless and parched. In the Gospel of John there are six wonderful stories about water. Each one reminds us how important Jesus is to our souls. It is for this reason I have called this sermon series Dying For a Drink.

This morning we are in the second chapter of John. The Master has been invited to a wedding, along with his mother, Mary. Everyone is having a great time at the reception. Then the unthinkable happens, the wine runs out! It is with the encouragement of his mother that he performs his first miracle. He turns simple water into good wine. His miracle saved the day and influenced the crowd. Let me call this message From Water to Wine.

Dr. John Geddie went to the South Pacific in 1848 and worked there for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed:

When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians. When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen. Dr John Geddie didn’t just influence his world. He was a Christian influence. May the same thing be said about you and me? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Do you consider yourself an influential person? I did not ask you if you are going to be on the cover of Time magazine. I asked if you are an influential person? Are you a person of influence in your little cover of the world? Do you have any influence over your spouse? Do you have any influence over your children? Do you have any influence over your parents? Do you have any influence over your neighbors or co-workers? Do you have any influence in your corner of the world? The answer to that question is “YES!” You influence the people around you all the time. What kind of an influence are you?

Let me state the obvious. Jesus was an influential person. The course of world history was altered on the day Jesus was born. More schools, orphanages, hospitals, soup kitchens and homes for the aged have been started in the name of Jesus then anyone else. Jesus was an influential person and still is. We should not be surprised. Jesus had been influencing the crowd from the very beginning. In the text this morning Jesus performs his first miracle. I don’t want to upset you temperance minded people and I know what the social principles of the United Methodist say. I am just being faithful to the text. The Bible says Jesus turned mere water into wine. He just didn’t turn it into wine. According to verse ten in the New International Version it is described as choice wine. In other words, it was the stuff with a kick. On that day everyone was influenced by Jesus. He saves the poorly planned wedding reception. The party continues! Jesus was and is an influential person.

Are you an influential person? My goal today is to help you strengthen your Christian influence in your little corner of the world. I am going to talk about three words today. Jesus will be our model this morning. He used them as part of his influence. Each one of these words begins with the letter A. When I am all done you are not be changing water into wine but you may change your world a little in the name Jesus. So if you influential people are ready for my three words say, “Amen!”

Articulate

The first word is the word articulate. In other words, our words are important. Our words are influential. In the Bible story this morning the wine had run out and the guests were starting to sober up. Mary believed in her boy. She knew there was something special about him. She knew he had the power to turn the water into wine and she encourages him to do it. In verse seven Jesus says, “Fill the jars with water.” In verse eight Jesus says, “Now draw some of the water out and take it to the master of the banquet.” Somewhere between verses seven and eight the miracle occurs. But if Jesus never would have said, “Fill the jars with water.” The miracle would not have occurred. Words are very influential.

If you have not heard Hewlett Park is having a few problems. They are on the cover of this week’s edition of Newsweek. The issue is Hewlett-Parker’s Patricia Dunn had been spying on her own Board members. She hired private investors. She wanted to find out who was leaking information. When this was released to the press there was a massive fallout. The end of the story has not yet been written and everyone is speculating on what will happen. On one of the cable stations this week they had an “expert” on who said the whole mess could have been stopped if Dunn would have simple said, “I am sorry!” They are still waiting for those words. Words are very influential.

Words are influential at church. When I was young I would follow my parents out the back door of the church. Every week we shook the preachers hand and said nice things about his long winded sermons. The preacher would always call my parents by their first names, Ron and Ruth. I always received a pat on the head and a smile, no name. On year a new preacher came to town. He was only there a couple of weeks. We walked out the back door. He called my parents Ron and Ruth. I was waiting for my pat on the head but instead he shook my hand and said, “Russ, How are you?” To this day I think of him as the finest pastor that church has ever had. Words are very influential.

The Greek poet Pindar (522 BC - 443 BC) once said, “Words have a longer life than deeds.” What is coming out of your mouth? What is not coming out of your mouth? Jesus said, “Fill the jars with water.” It was with words a miracle began. It was those words that he began to influence his little corner of the world. Words are very influential. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Attitude

The second word is the word attitude. Our attitude influences the people around us. There is really the attitude of two people that influences the whole group. First, there is Mary’s attitude. She believed in her son. She knew he could do it. Second, there is Jesus attitude. At first he is not so sure it is the right time but then he conceits. At no part of the story does Jesus say he can not do it. The Master had confidence in his ability. He knew this was a small miracle. He knew he could change that water into wine. Attitudes are very influential.

A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn't lose it--I gave it for a greater cause.” When people hear your name what pops into their minds? Do they think negative and grouchy? Do they think positive and content? Let me tell you something. You are a child of God! We should be positive optimistic people. We are called for a greater purpose. We are on the winning side. God will never abandon us in this world and we are going to spend eternity with God when we leave this world! Christians should have the best attitudes about life. We are children of God! Herm Albright once said, “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” Your attitude is very influential. And all of God’s children said, “Amen!”

Actions

The third word is the word actions. Our actions influence the people around us. Jesus knew he could change the water into wine. He asked the jars to be filled and most importantly he did it. Actions are very influential. Herbert Hoover said, “Words without actions are the assassins of idealism.”

In the spring of 1887 Anne Sullivan arrived at the Keller home in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was hired to be the tutor for their deaf daughter, Helen. Expectations were a little low. Many considered Helen an idiot. The truth is she was just deaf. Tirelessly, Anne Sullivan worked with Helen. Many would have given up but not her. The famous break through can in the family’s well house. Anne poured water into a mug and over Helen’s hands as she spelled out the word water, W-A-T-E-R. Suddenly the light came on and doors began to open for the little deaf girl. In time Helen Keller would graduate from Radcliff. She would meet kings and queens. She would inspire the whole world. The whole time Anne Sullivan would sit by her side helping and encouraging her.

We know that story because we know the play, The Miracle Worker. Anne Sullivan worked a miracle by what she did. Perhaps you can work a miracle where you are? I don’t mean turning water into wine. I mean by influencing your world in the name of Jesus. Your words are influential. Your attitude is influential. Your actions are influential. And all of God’s influential people said, “Amen!”