what is God’s plan for revival?
John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
The record of Jesus’ first miracle gives us a demonstration and blueprint of God’s plan for revival in our lives and our churches. First, we need to understand the context of the situation. It is not easy for modern day readers to grasp the gravity of the situation at the wedding in Cana. The wedding is a week-long celebration, and for the master of the banquet to run out of wine is absolutely unacceptable. The wine in the wedding is like the life-blood, the energy, the gas that keeps the reception going. What if a banquet ran out of food? What if a dance party ran out of music? These are the life-blood elements of the events, just as blood is what gives life to the body. With God’s people, the life-blood is the Holy Spirit. And the situation at the wedding feast mirrors exactly the spiritual and political climate in Jesus’ day.
There was a period of silence for 400 years since the last prophet of God, Malachi, appeared to the people of Israel. The chosen nation of God is a conquered nation under the rule of the Roman Empire. Politically, the wine ran out, and spiritually, the wine ran out. The same can be said of the church that is in a state of spiritual dryness. Individually and corporately, it is as if the presence and Spirit of God has run dry in many places. This is the situation in which Jesus appears on the scene.
“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. As Jesus’ mother alerts Jesus to the grave situation at the wedding, he asks “why do you involve me?” How do we answer that question in our own prayers? Why do we ask God? Why do we involve Him and seek Him out? Jesus’ mother understands some things about Jesus that can sometimes slip our minds. First, she knows that Jesus wants to to be a blessing to this situation. Second, she knows that only Jesus could remedy the problem. If the wedding ran out of wine, then there is probably no wine in the whole village! We pray and involve Jesus when we realize that only Jesus can fix it. In our churches and in our personal spiritual lives, we must come to the same heart-attitude — that only the Holy Spirit can come into our churches and our personal lives to restore it.
We must come to the same heart-attitude — that only the Holy Spirit can come into our churches and personal lives to restore it.
I want to share a story from after my wife and I got engaged. We searched for a home church for two and half years, looking at congregations all over the NY metro area. During this season, our spiritual lives did go through a period of dryness, and it was a temptation for us to say, “oh, if we just find the right church, then our relationship with God would become renewed.” Toward the end of our search, right before we were about to give up, we found ourselves in a place where we could no longer put our hopes in a church congregation to revive the strength of our relationship with God. We said, “it’s not going to be the right congregation, the right worship style, the right sermons, or the right pastor — only God will bring a restoration.” It’s not even going to be plans for more quiet times or prayer times, but God Himself coming into our lives. As we sought God Himself, the devotion times followed, and lo and behold a few weeks later we felt God’s clear direction to settle down at one particular church. So many times, I have found that when we lay down that one thing (your only if) other than God that we are putting our hope in, and seek God alone does he come. Not only to accomplish his plan for us directly, but also to resurrect that hope that we had laid down.
I have seen the same principle work in churches searching for revival. When we lay down all of our man-made hopes for revival – better speakers, better praise, better sermons, better pastor, better fellowship, better small groups – when we lay down everything, and say, “God, you alone can meet our needs.” That is the beginning of true revival.
“My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” To Jesus’ words that his time had not yet come, his mother responds by speaking to the servants of the banquet. His mother understands something about timing: It is a matter of when, not if. She has no worries whether Jesus is going to act. She knows it is just a matter of when. With this attitude, Jesus’ mother gets the servants and instructs them to do whatever Jesus tells them. During this waiting time is a time to raise up servants, stewards of God’s plan ready to do whatever Jesus tells them. In God’s plan for revival, God is looking for the same type of hearts – hearts that know it is not a question of if God will act, but when. And hearts that are prepared to do whatever is asked of them.
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water” so they filled them to the brim. In the six stone water jars, we see another characteristic of the servants of which God is looking. Jars that have been set apart, ready and waiting to be filled to the brim. And we see God’s plan for revival unfold. In our churches, God is looking for those servants who have a large container for His love, to pour out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that when poured out they bring out a new wine, bringing that life-blood back to the wedding.
“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 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. Are you ready to be poured out? We desire the Holy Spirit to inhabit us and be salient in our churches? Before God pours into me, I need to hear God’s heartbeat for the nations. I see God desires to bless me, but then, his desire is for me to be a blessing to the every nation, tribe, and tongue. Just as the servants in this story, when God pours out His Spirit on this earth, the world may not know the source of the blessing. But we, who are Jesus’ servants, have the privilege of knowing.
Everyone brings out the choice wine first…
…but you have saved the best till now.
Then he called the bridegroom aside 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.” The conclusion of God’s plan is simple: his new wine is the best. He’s not looking to bring us back to a time in the past when there was still wine, but God saves the best for last. When our hearts are hungry for God, we will set our gaze on Him and His glory will be revealed.
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. Is that enough for me? One miraculous sign and then to commit my life to Jesus? Is that enough to sustain me through a dry season? What about extreme suffering? Is knowing that He wants to stretch my heart so that he can pour his love into me enough for me to consider it a joy for the rest of my life? This is one aspect of heart character that is still “under construction” for me. The secret is, I can’t think of it as a rest of my life commitment. Just for today, I want to consider it a joy. To desire to know God is one thing, but to know Him in His suffering is another. In the midst of those times, there are only glimpses of joy for me. Those times when I know God is leading me through this time because He loves me. A simple prayer: God, please use this time that I’m going through for your glory somehow.
Observation - Recount the timeline of events of this story
Understanding - If you’re familiar with this passage, what have you heard is the meaning of it? If it’s new, what does it mean to you right now?
Application - What is one thing you can do today in response the what you hear?
