The First Miracle of Jesus, the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee
Main Objective: When we consider the miracles of Jesus, we often think about remarkable healings or nature defied, which are of course important. However, it is interesting to note that the very first miracle Jesus did was as seemingly simple as a drink transformation. This message looks at the events of the Wedding at Cana, and how it demonstrates that God cares about every detail of our lives. We also see the importance of trusting in who Jesus is and believing that He can take ordinary things and make them extraordinary.
Law/Gospel Theme: The miracles of Jesus demonstrate that He truly is the son of God, capable of anything and everything. Of course, the most remarkable miracle Jesus gave was the Resurrection, through which we have the hope of eternal life and sins erased. In this event, we witness how Jesus turns plain water into the most delicious of wines. We also see the power of following instructions. Jesus told the servants to fill jars with water, and that simple act of obedience enabled His miracle. We can be vessels of God’s Will and give Him our seemingly simple lives to be transformed by His power and strength.
John 2:1-11 Children’s Sermon on The First Miracle of Jesus
Optional Materials: Items associated with weddings (invitations, pictures, flowers, etc.)
Bible Passage: John 2:1-11
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children and discuss weddings…
Hello, children of God!
Have you ever been to a wedding before? They are a special celebration of two people joining their lives together and starting on a new chapter. There are a lot of things that usually happen at weddings. Hold up pictures or examples of things as you describe. The bride wears a beautiful white dress, and normally has flowers. The couple share vows to love and honor one another. There’s music. Then after the wedding ceremony (often in a church), there’s a reception, where people enjoy food and sometimes dancing and more music. Weddings require a lot of planning, because no one wants something to go wrong. The bride and groom would probably feel embarrassed if they ran out of food or cake at the reception, or if they played the wrong song or someone tripped or something.
Did you know that Jesus attended weddings? He never got married Himself, but we know of at least one wedding He went to, and it was actually the place where He did His first miracle. Now, as big as weddings and parties are now, they were an even bigger production back in Bible times. Our receptions last a few hours, but in that time, they’d go on for days. People would feast and celebrate for quite a long time. At this particular wedding, something happened. The wine ran out. This might not seem to us like a big deal, but in those days, wine was just what everyone drank. They couldn’t really drink the water because it wasn’t clean and safe enough. Running out of wine meant running out of drinks entirely, basically, and it would have been embarrassing for the family of the bride and groom if that happened.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, approached Him and told Him that the wine ran out. At first, Jesus asked her why she was coming to Him with the problem. He said His time had not yet come. But Mary knew who Jesus was, and she knew that He was able to solve the issue. She told the servants to do whatever Jesus instructed them to do. Jesus told the servants to fill several jars up with water. That seems simple enough, although it would have been pretty heavy, since the jars held 20-30 gallons each. When they were filled, the servants took some to the master of the party to taste. When he tasted it, he discovered it wasn’t just water! It was wine, and it was extra delicious wine. He was quite impressed. Usually people served the best wine first, and saved the cheap stuff for later. So, the party continued, and the guests had enough to drink. Not everyone knew what had happened, although the servants knew, and Mary knew.
This was the first miracle that Jesus did on Earth, and it has some valuable lessons for us to notice. For one thing, it shows us that God cares even about little things. Many times in miracles we see amazing healing or spectacular control over nature. Those are powerful and important miracles. This one was just a transformation of a drink, but it was still important. God provides for us in ways big and small. In this miracle we also see that God wants us to trust in Him. Mary believed who He was and what He could do, and the servants had faith enough to do what He told them to do. So we, too, can trust in His abilities and, like Mary, encourage others to trust in and follow Him. God can do anything! And whether or not we see the miracles we might hope for in our lives, we know He’s done the most amazing miracle for us, sending Jesus to live and die in our place. So trust in what He can do. Believe in Him and see what He can do!
Let’s pray now and ask God to help us trust in Him.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for your strength and ability.
Thank you for caring for our needs
And doing amazing miracles.
Help us to trust in what you can do.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. -John 2:1-11