Where The Party At

Text:

John 2:1-12:

1: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3: And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6: And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three

    firkins apiece.

7: Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8: And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

9: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants

    which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10: And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that

    which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on

    him.

12: After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they

    continued there not many days.

 

Theme:

Where The Party At

 

Introduction:

• An R&B song was released in 2001 by the group Jagged Edge called “Where The Party At”. The song did not do so well in the beginning, but after it was released again in a remix the song, as the young folks say, “Blew Up”.  The remix included the rap vocals of a popular newcomer in the rap world called Nelly.  The song focuses on the intent of a group of guys to find the “hypest”, most “crunk”, party in the area.  They speak of the various elements of the party scene that they sought after…alcohol, music, women.
• Our text portrays a similar situation in the Bible. Mary and Jesus find themselves as guests in a marriage feast going on in Cana of Galilee.
  • In 1^st century Palestine, a marriage feast was a very gala affair…a party.
  • Can’t you see the people at the marriage feast
    • Enjoying the merriment of the occasion – WINE, WOMEN, and SONG
    • As the song by Jagged Edge expresses, the people at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee felt that they had the answer to the question — WHERE THE PARTY AT?
      • They could emphatically exclaim – THERE’S A PARTY OVER HERE!!!

 

Body:

• However, there were three things that were peculiar about this party in Cana of Galilee:
  • ONE – Jesus was AT the party
  • TWO – Something STOPPED the party
  • THREE – Jesus TOOK the party

 

• Firstly, JESUS WAS AT THE PARTY
  • Jesus wasn’t crashing the party…He was attending the party!
    • 2: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
  • Our human desire to have fun is God-given
    • God wants us to be happy, joyous, merry!
      • Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
  • God is always present…even at the party!
    • Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
    • Presence gives:
      • Power
      • Peace
      • Protection
• Secondly, SOMETHING STOPPED THE PARTY
  • Whenever young folks or even older folks go to a party there are four things that can stop a party:
    • No more food
    • No more music
    • No good looking women
    • No more liquor
  • It is the same way in our lives.
    • The old saying tells us to never mess with a “black man’s” Money, Food, or Woman. These “stop the party” if tampered with or lost.
    • For the believer, we are the same way with regard to our faith, hope, and love.
      • 1Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”
        • Without faith, we cannot please God
          • Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
        • Without hope, we have no God in our lives. God is our hope.  “He’s my hope for tomorrow”
          • Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
        • Without love, we cannot be effective witnesses of Christ.
          • 1Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
    • So what is STOPPING YOUR PARTY?
    • In our text, at this marriage in Cana of Galilee, the party came to a screeching halt at the realization that there was no more wine.
      • They checked the containers…nothing
      • They checked with the host and hostess…nothing
      • They checked with the caterers…nothing
      • They checked with the prominent guests at the party…nothing
      • THEN, THEY LOOKED TO JESUS!!!!
    • Isn’t that just how we do when we have a problem:
      • We go to our parents…nothing
      • We go to our loved ones…nothing
      • We go to our friends…nothing
      • We go to our leaders and people whom we know with money and status…nothing
      • THEN, WE GO TO JESUS!!!!
        • Only after every one and thing else have failed us!

 

Conclusion:

• Thirdly, JESUS TOOK THE PARTY
  • In the marriage feast, Jesus had “all eyes on him” when he changed the water into wine.
  • Before, the party was around their merriment, but now the party is around Jesus and what He can do for them.
  • Where is your party at?
    • Drugs?
    • Alcohol?
    • Your own desire?
    • Your own pity party?
    • Relationships?
    • Making money?
    • Even though the song says, “It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to.”, I am sorry to break it to you so bluntly, but IT IS NOT YOUR PARTY!
      • At the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, no longer was the couple or the host or the hostess were the center of the party. All of a sudden, it was all about Jesus!
        • When we run out, that’s when we look for Jesus!
          • When we run out of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith
            • That’s when I turn to Jesus!
        • It is Jesus’ party now.
          • Jesus left the marriage in Cana of Galilee with (verse 11) himself, his mother, his brethren, and his disciples. He only came with himself and his disciples but left with eeryone
          • When we go to the party, whenever the popular folks leave, we tend to leave and follow them.
            • The same happened with Jesus! Jesus took the party with Him.
    • That is what I want Jesus to do in my life…take the party. Whatever I have!  Whatever I am!  Whatever I foresee!  Take it all, take all of me, Lord!

Just as I am

Without one plea

But that Thy blood

Was shed for me.

 

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