Topic: The Miracles of Jesus
Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. John 2:7
The objective is to make them see that Jesus values the family and that the presence of the Holy Spirit is the main blessing that cannot be missed in our lives, preparing us for the rapture.
Note: Teachers should read John 2:1 to 11.
Introduction
Every adolescent dreams of a happy future. We think about our careers, our friends and the families we will one day have, and we make many plans. But there is an important question: what truly makes a person happy? Is it enough to achieve everything we desire? Jesus’ first miracle helps us answer that question. Today, we will discover what happened at that wedding and what the secret to a happy and blessed life is.
Development
The Bible tells us that on the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples were invited to the celebration.
A wedding was a very important occasion. Families prepared everything with great care, and the festivities could last for several days. However, something unexpected happened during the celebration: the wine ran out. In those days, running out of wine in the middle of the feast would have been a source of great distress for the bridegroom and his family. Wine represented the joy of the celebration; if it ran out, the celebration would come to an end.
When the Lord Jesus learned that the wine had run out, He started His work. There were six stone waterpots there—large vessels used for holding water. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (John 2:7b)
Even without understanding the reason for the request, the servants obeyed. Then Jesus commanded, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. (John 2:8b).
The master of the feast was responsible for organizing the celebration. When he tasted it, he did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants knew. The master of the feast called the bridegroom and said, “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” (John 2:10). The miracle had happened! The water was transformed into wine. What had been a major problem was resolved by Jesus, and the family’s joy was restored.
The Bible says, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11). Jesus could have performed His first miracle anywhere, but He chose a wedding. In doing so, He taught us that the family is very important to God. It is the same today; Jesus desires to be present in our lives and in our families. He wants to make our home a place where God’s presence is what matters most.
At that celebration, the wine ran out. Spiritually, the wine represents joy and the work of the Holy Spirit. Just as that family could not run out of wine, we cannot afford to be without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. An adolescent might have a great cell phone, nice clothes, good grades, friends, plans for the future, skills, and talents. These things have value, but none of them can replace the presence of the Holy Spirit.
You might appear happy on social media or to your friends, yet feel empty, anxious, discouraged, or distant from God on the inside. You might participate in many activities and still fail to set aside time to hear the Word, pray, and seek a personal experience with the Lord.
When the Holy Spirit ceases to occupy the center of our lives, the joy of salvation begins to fade. Church services start to feel tedious, Bible class loses its importance, prayer is neglected, and worldly things take up more and more space. That is why the wine must not run out. The blessing of the Holy Spirit must remain in our lives.
Jesus commanded that the six empty waterpots be filled with water. These empty waterpots represent people that need to be filled and transformed by God. There are adolescents who try to fill their hearts only with entertainment, games, social media, videos, friendships, or the approval of others. These things may occupy our time but cannot fill the void in the soul. Only the Lord can bring about true transformation.
The Word says: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26a). The Holy Spirit transforms our way of thinking, our words, our choices, our friendships, how we treat our parents and siblings, our behavior at school, what we watch and listen to, and how we use our cell phones and social media. A full waterpot represents a life that surrenders to the Lord and allows the Holy Spirit to work.
The greatest blessing we can have is for Jesus to be the center of our lives. If Jesus is at the center, the Holy Spirit fills our hearts, giving us the strength to overcome temptations and the courage to remain faithful to the Lord. When Jesus commanded that the waterpots be filled, they were filled to the brim. This teaches us that the Lord does not want an empty or divided heart; He desires to completely fill our lives with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Intoxicating wine does not represent God’s blessing; it produces dissipation. The Word of God warns us: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The Holy Spirit produces holiness, peace, self-control, fellowship, and true joy. An adolescent filled with the Holy Spirit does not need to follow the crowd just to feel accepted. He learns to say “no” to what displeases God. He does not need to experiment with alcohol, drugs, or dangerous behaviors to prove he has grown up. Growing spiritually means choosing what is right, even when the majority chooses otherwise.
The master of the feast said that the good wine had been saved for last. The world tries to convince adolescents that serving the Lord means missing out on opportunities or failing to enjoy life. But the Lord offers something far better than the fleeting pleasures of this world. In these last days, He is preparing His Church for the Rapture.
Conclusion
The Holy Spirit must not withdraw from our lives. We cannot allow prayer, the Word of God, fellowship, and the joy of salvation to be replaced by the distractions of this world.
Perhaps your heart is like an empty waterpot. Perhaps you are discouraged, distant from the Lord, or allowing other things to take first place. Today, you can ask God the Father, in the name of Jesus, to renew your life, transform your heart, and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is coming for a Church filled with the Holy Spirit and prepared for the Rapture. “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:9b.
Suggested Praise: My Lord Will Return to Take Me Home; The Beloved Bride of Jesus; By Walking in the Spirit.
Question to Adolescents
Read Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 18, and answer: What is the main blessing that must not be missing in our lives and our families?
Answer: The presence and working of the Holy Spirit, which produces true joy, transformation, and fellowship with God. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18.
