INTRODUCTION

What joy there is for the person who has faith in God and will obey His Word. Obedience brings blessing, for we find that the Lord works miracles often as the result of faith and obedience on the part of the recipients. In our lesson today, we see how these two ingredients combined to set the stage for Jesus’ first recorded miracle, and the start of His public ministry.

THEME THOUGHTS

Old Testament history paints a colorful picture of God’s dealing with man, but the New Testament brings us to the climax of God’s redemptive work—the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

“Who is Jesus?” is the thought-provoking question which establishes our theme for this quarter. Looking into the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we trace the story of Jesus’ time on earth, including His birth and some of the major events of His life.

We find, as we delve into this story, that the incidents and occurrences recorded in a biographical sketch of Jesus hold many important lessons relevant to our lives today.

Some of the highlights of Jesus’ ministry and His personal example to us are brought out in such lessons as His calling of the twelve disciples, His example in resisting temptation, and His formula for happiness as found in the Beatitudes. The quarter concludes with one of Jesus’ parables which emphasizes the importance of being firmly grounded so that we might be able to grow as Christians.

The purpose of this quarter is to learn about Jesus Christ, not just as a personage of Biblical history, but as a living Savior who wants to be directly and personally involved in our lives.

SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES

Matthew 8:5-10,13; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 5:18-20,24-25; John 9:11

QUESTION

1. What was the name of the village where Jesus performed His first miracle? What was the occasion that had brought Him there?
2. Why do you think Mary said to Jesus, “They have no wine”?
3. Why didn’t Jesus encourage Mary to believe that He would do something about the need?
4. Why do you suppose Mary told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it”?
5. Jesus told the servants to fill the six waterpots with water—no small task when we consider that in all likelihood it was drawn from a well. Since these servants weren’t employed by Jesus, why do you think they obeyed Him when presumably they should have been trying to obtain more wine?
6. Jesus’ first miracle actually came about without His having any physical contact with the water, or in “telling” the water what it should become before it was served. Since it was performed with such simplicity, how do you suppose the servant felt when he drew wine from one of the pots and gave it to the governor of the feast?
7. What was the response of the governor of the feast when he tasted from the cup given to him by a servant?
8. Can we expect to see miracles if we do as Jesus commands us? Explain. See 1 John 5:14-15.
9. In our text, who believed on Jesus because of the miracle?