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John (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn the Book of John, the first sign performed by Jesus Christ is detailed as a significant event that reveals His divine nature and character. This initial miracle occurs at a humble wedding in Cana of Galilee, as recorded in John 2:1-11. During the celebration, when the wine runs out, the mother of Jesus informs Him of the shortage. Despite His initial response indicating that His hour has not yet come, He instructs the servants to fill six stone waterpots with water, which He then transforms into wine, amounting to between 120 and 180 gallons. The master of the feast, unaware of the miracle, praises the bridegroom for saving the best wine for last, contrary to custom. This beginning of signs, as John describes it in John 2:11, manifests His glory and leads His disciples to believe in Him. The event takes place not in a grand setting like Jerusalem or the Temple, but at a simple family occasion in a small town, demonstrating that God is concerned with the mundane aspects of life. Through this miracle, Jesus shows His willingness to be involved in the smallest details, saving a couple from embarrassment by meeting a genuine need with generosity. The use of the Greek word semeion, meaning sign, underscores that this miracle points to the character of God, revealing His desire to relieve burdens, deal generously, and enhance the quality of life for even the humblest individuals. This act sets a foundation for understanding that God is intensely practical and wishes to be part of every aspect of human existence, encouraging reliance on Him in all situations.
John (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn presents Jesus, not as a phantom emanation, but as the reality, transcending the shadows represented by the temporal physical life.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Water Into Wine (Part Two)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsIn performing the miracle at Cana, Jesus gave a command that may have seemed strange at the time. Jesus shows the connection between obedience and blessings.
Why 153 Fish? (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhy did Jesus provide exactly 153 fish? Apparently, the number stuck in John's mind for decades. This number must hold some significance, but what is it?
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Water Into Wine (Part One)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus' first miracle, turning water into wine, reveals principles of the nature of Jesus' miraculous power and God's purpose in performing such signs.
Why 153 Fish? (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeAt Cana, the wedding party (and the physical nation) had water for purification rites, but the wedding feast (and the nation) lacked the all-important wine.
Why 153?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe first sign in the book of John corrected the physical need for wine; the eighth sign of 153 fish corrected a spiritual need on the part of God's people.
My Hour Has Not Yet Come
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerJesus' response to His mother at the wedding—'My hour has not yet come'—was not disrespect but perhaps a challenge to attach real faith with mere knowledge.
Back to Life (Part Five)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAll of us who are called by God are so precious in His sight that Jesus Christ, before we were even born, died for us, saving us from oblivion.
Why 153 Fish? (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhy did Jesus provide precisely 153 fish? Few commentaries suggest any explanation for the number, and fewer still advance a theory of any substance.
Choosing the New Man (Part Three)
Article by Charles WhitakerWhat or who is the new man? The new man is Jesus Christ Himself, living in us by His Spirit, once we are baptized into Him.
Born Again (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We have been adopted into the family of God and have become members of God's Kingdom. The Kingdom is here in the same way the church is a spiritual entity.
Four Views of Christ (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughChrist provides a model of how to live a godly life in the flesh, living life the way God lives it. Using His light, we can navigate our way in this world.