they're coming along, they have started the masonry work outside, they're doing the plumbing, and they're also working on the underground for the parking area. So there's three things at least they're doing right now, and hopefully it won't be too much longer we'll be in our building, the Lord willing. Also remember the special service this Sunday. the memorial service for Marty and Cliff Heller. And that will begin at 10 o'clock. And Brother Lance is going to speak about the work, missionary work, and tell us some things that his parents experienced when they were there during that Bible study time, the first 30 minutes. And then we'll have our regular service at 1045. The Lord bless us in worshiping Him. And I know there's going to be visitors with us. We want to put out extra chairs so we'll have plenty of seating. If you will, let's turn tonight to John, the Gospel of John, Chapter 2. John chapter 2. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, woman, What have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water, and they fill them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bear it. 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, 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. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory, and his disciples believed on him. In that last verse, verse number 11, we read, this beginning of miracles did Jesus. And seeing tonight that This is a beginning of a new year. This is our first Wednesday evening service in this year, 2026. I thought it would be a blessing to all of us to look at this miracle, this beginning of miracles. And I have three points that I want to make three thoughts or suggestions to us from this beginning of miracles. First, I want you to notice the scripture says the Lord Jesus was called to the marriage. Verse number two, and both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. The word beginning this beginning of miracles reminds me of the very first marriage in the beginning. The very first marriage In the beginning, we know that this is referring or I'm referring to rather the marriage which was between Adam and Eve. Here we are told that the Lord Jesus was called to this marriage. And in the beginning, the eternal word, this one who was the word, who was with God and who is God, He was there at that very first wedding, or first marriage, if I could use that term. That very first marriage, this one, not as the God man, but as God was here, was there, rather, at that very first marriage. And we know he was there because the scripture says that without him was not anything made that was made. And he not only created all things, but in order for there to be a marriage, he had to create a wife, a woman for Adam. It's interesting when you read through Genesis chapters 1 and 2 that God every day said that which he created was good. God saw it was good. But then in chapter 2, we read God saw it was not good that the man should be alone. Of course, the word good there is used in different ways, but everything that God created was good. It came from a good God.

And we know that the eternal son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the maker of all things. And so he, because it was not good that the man should be alone, he, and think of everything Adam had. Think of everything that he had there, everything for his physical needs, his body, for food and shelter and all of that beauty and all of those animals that he had the intelligence, the wisdom that he was created with to name. And we see that he named them according to their nature, it seems like. And all of this testifying to the wisdom, the intelligence with which the first Adam was created.

We cannot, I sincerely tell us tonight, we cannot even begin to imagine what the fall, what sin coming into this world contaminated man, what it has produced. But certainly, Adam was a man with great intelligentsia, and he named the animals, but there was none that he could have fellowship with. There was none that he could really show his love to. I know people today, they seem to love their animals, but that animal can't love you back. No. Adam needed someone that he could express his love to and someone who would be able to express her love back for him.

And so I'm saying this beginning of miracles here that we read about reminds me, and I know it reminds you as well when we think about it, of that first marriage there in the Garden of Eden when God, the Lord God, the eternal Word of God, when He took one of Adam's ribs. You say you believe that? I do, I do, don't you? Pity you if you don't. Pity you if you somehow believe in what is called evolution because, my friends, there's no way that one cell, amoeba, could have evolved into a man as we know ourselves to be. It's a deceit of Satan, this whole idea of evolution. and yet it's taught like it was fact, you know, just like it's proven fact. And of course it's called the theory of evolution and they don't like to admit it's a theory, but that's all it could be.

But we have the word of God and we know that the son of God took one of Adam's ribs, caused him a deep sleep to come upon him. I remember reading years ago, I mentioned Charles Spurgeon a lot, but they had just discovered when he was living and preaching ether, and I remember him making mention of surgery using ether. to put a person to sleep. Can you imagine how they would do surgery years ago and they'd give you a bullet to bite on and a slug of whiskey or something and start cutting on your body? But it was a great invention. But God, from way back in the very beginning, he caused the sleep to come upon Adam, allowing God to extract one of his ribs and to form Eve, and bring her, present her to Adam.

Who giveth this woman in marriage? That's what sometimes is said at a marriage service, isn't it? Marriage ceremony, a preacher asks, the father walks the bride down the aisle and then he asks the question, who giveth this woman in marriage? And the bride, or the father of the bride usually says, I do, or my wife and I, we do. Well, the Lord gave Eve to Adam. But this is what Adam said. This is what he said. This is now bone of my bones. He recognized that immediately. That this woman that the Lord presented to him was part of him. Bone of his bones, flesh of his flesh, And then we read, then therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife, now listen, and they shall be one flesh. Now, we know that this is a picture of the union which exists between every child of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. John Gill, in his body of divinity, he gives four unions, eternal unions. The first one is the election union, when God chose. And all of these four are out of love, in love. The first one is election union, and the second one is the conjugal union, which is marriage union. And the third one, I believe, is the federal union. We live in a country where we have representatives, federal union, they vote for us, they represent us, and then there's a legal union also. All of these unions, but the very first union, and I agree, they're eternal unions, The very first one that is pictured before the union of the head and the body, between the shepherd and the sheep, the very first union that is pictured in the scripture is this marriage union, where Adam and Eve became one. Picturing the truth that every one of God's elect, every child of God is in union with Christ. And that union is not going to change. Is not going to change. We know the scriptures declare very clearly that when God begins to work, whatsoever the Lord doeth, it shall be forever. Amen. Paul. in Ephesians chapter 5 to show that that word of Adam, I believe it was Adam that spoke that, may have been the Lord, I'm not sure who said that, but in Genesis chapter 2. But Paul quotes that in Ephesians 5 when he speaks about a marriage between a man and a woman and he says this, this is a great mystery. This is a great mystery, but I speak of Christ and the church. It is a mystery. You know, a mystery in the scripture is something that man could never have known had God not revealed it. Had God not revealed it unto us, we would never in a billion years figured out that there's a union between the Lord God Jesus Christ and all of his people. Yes. We see Jesus was called to this marriage. Him attending this marriage in Cana of Galilee testifies to us that marriage is honorable. Marriage is ordained of God. It's good, ordained of God. In Hebrews 13 and verse 4, the apostle said, marriage is honorable and all, and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. We live in a society and in a day when people think nothing of just living with someone, but we know what God says about that. They're fornicators or adulterers, and God will judge the sin that they're guilty of. You know, even that woman of Samaria in John chapter 4, when the Lord said, go call your husband, she said, I don't have a husband. He said, thou hast well spoken. Now, I'm paraphrasing this. You've had four already. And the one you're living with now is not your husband. So even in that day, we recognize there was such a thing as a legal marriage. People just didn't move in with one another and call that marriage. It isn't. No. The Bible calls it adultery and fornication. The marriage bed as that scripture tells us is honorable in all. And do you know, look with me, keep your places here, but turn with me to 1 Timothy chapter 4. One of the signs of the last times, latter days, and we've been in the latter days for a long time. You realize that? Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 1 in the The scriptures there, the apostle tells us that God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake unto the Father by the prophets, hath in these last days, these last days, they began when the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world. There's not going to be another dispensation other than eternal, the eternal day, yes. But we've been in the last days since the Lord Jesus Christ came, but here we read of even latter days. And these began years ago, if you look here in 1 Timothy chapter four. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times, there it is, the latter times, Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry. Who does that? You know who does that. Forbidding to marry. Contrary to what the scriptures teach, marriage bed is honorable. God ordained marriage, and it's against nature. For most people, there are some, no doubt, who can live a life of celibacy. They're made like that, but for most people, marriage is honorable. For all people, it's honorable, but it's necessary, I should say. In 1 Corinthians, when Paul talks about this matter, he said, it's better to marry than to burn. Not to burn in hell, he's not talking about that. He's talking about burning in desire and lust. It's better to marry. God has ordained marriage. But in the latter times, some will come, as we read here, forbidding to marry. commanding to abstain from meats. Well, God commanded the Jews to abstain from certain meats, didn't he? There was a part of that law that was given through Moses that dealt with their diets. But that's all past. That all came to an end. What does the rest of that verse say? Which God hath created to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. You believe, you know the truth. The meat that God has created is, as he says, every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused for if it be received with thanksgiving. for it is sanctified by the word of God in prayer. But you know, it all goes back to, remember when the Pharisees came and they accused the Lord, your disciples are eating with unwashing hands. That doesn't mean they didn't wash their hands before they ate, but they didn't go through that ceremony. Actually, they washed their arms up to their elbows. These six water pots here, where this miracle took place, no doubt that's what they were there for. But our Lord made it ever so clear, it's not that which goes into the man that defiles the man, it's that which comes out. In other words, it's the heart. The heart. Man needs a new heart, doesn't he? And that's one of the wonderful promises of the new covenant. He gives his people a new heart. Yes. Well, back to our text, let me just end this point. When did we start? Okay. Look at the words, Jesus was called to this marriage. I encourage everyone, there's some of you young people here tonight, and I'm so thankful you're here. And when and if the Lord allows you to marry, I encourage you, you call the Lord Jesus to your marriage. And all of us who are married here tonight, we need to always call the Lord to our marriage, just like he was called here. I encourage us to do that. Why? Because to have a happy marriage, and that's what everyone wants. And that's one of the most important decisions that you will ever make, you young people, who you choose to marry. And you want to have a happy marriage, and it's not going to be happy if it's not structured, your marriage, upon the word of God. It must be according to God's way. I mean, that just stands to reason, doesn't it? If we do something that is contrary to to the Lord's way and his will and his word, what should we expect? What should we expect? Here's a second thought I would bring to us. The Lord Jesus turned the water into wine. Let's read verses six through nine again. And there were set there six water pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the juice. Containing two or three firkins apiece, Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bear it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was, but the servants knew, which through the water the governor of the feast called. the bridegroom. In the first chapter of John, there's a contrast between Moses and the Lord Jesus. If you look back to chapter one of John and verse 17, we see John tells us, for the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Now, Moses didn't make up the law. It was given through him or by him, as the scripture says. And part of that law was ceremonial. We know that. And in the ceremonies, there were types. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth the antitype. The shadows, the types, were given through Moses in the law. But the substance of the shadows is Christ. He's the truth. In the beginning, when Moses first went in to Pharaoh, the first time that he met Pharaoh, after he had told him, let my people go, and Pharaoh said, who's the Lord? that I shall obey his voice. You know, the next day Moses met him as Pharaoh was going to the water. And what happened? The first miracle then was turning the water into blood. And that produced death. All the fish in the river Nile, they all died. But now the contrast here is between The law, which was given through Moses, which produces death, and Christ who changed water, not into blood, but into wine. And wine is used in the scriptures sometimes to picture joy and cheerfulness. And what did the angel tell the shepherds? I bring you good tidings of great joy, the gospel. Now, the law, it's useful. Just like that blood killed those fish in the river, the water turned to blood, killed the fish. So the law of God, God uses it to produce, when you think about those first four beatitudes, blessed are the poor, blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are they that hunger and thirst. The law produces that in a person. When it is preached and when it comes to the heart of a person, it destroys man's self-righteousness, his self-sufficiency, his self-importance. We become poor in spirit. We mourn over our sinful condition. We're meek, teachable. and we began to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Yes, the law was given through Moses bringing death. It's a killing letter. It's a killing letter. But the grace and truth that comes through Jesus Christ, it's a message of great joy. Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee. Isn't that what he said to one person? message of joy. Thy sins, which are many, they're forgiven, all forgiven. Did you hear what the Savior said to me? They're all taken away. They're all taken away. When the governor of the feast, what he said about this serving the best wine last, That reminds us also that in the Christian life, the cross always comes before the crown. I remember in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, you remember the castle that Pilgrim went into and there was those two young girls, I believe they were, and one of them was crying. She wanted everything right now. She wanted everything now. And the other one, I believe her name was Patience. And she was, by the grace of God, able to wait. And I hath not seen, neither hath ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for them that love him. But the first, what we experience first in this world is Through much tribulation, we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. Yes. One other thing, the Lord Jesus by this miracle manifested his glory that we read in verse 11. I want you to notice that Lord did not speak to the water. He did not pray over the water pots. He didn't lay his hands on the water pots. He willed. He willed that the water be wine. He worked a miracle. I learned early on in Bible college that the standard work on miracles is a work, Notes on the Miracles, written by an Irish clergyman in the 19th century. His name was Trench, R.C. Trench. And he gave this definition for a miracle. Now, we use that term a lot, don't we? Oh, that was a miracle. What is a miracle, according to the Word of God? What is a miracle? Well, this is the definition he gave. It is not, strictly speaking, anything unnatural or disorderly, but the result of a higher law superseding the ordinary, and which is manifest at rare intervals for specific purposes." Well, with that definition, in this instance, we have the creator of all laws. We call them natural laws, the law of gravity, and the many different laws. Who created these laws? He did. They're his laws. And we see him superseding this natural law. It's not natural for water to turn into wine. You can go home tonight and fill up six buckets if you want to. It's not going to turn into wine. That's not natural, is it? It's going to be water when you put it in there. It's going to be water in the morning when you get up and look at it. No, it's something superseding the ordinary. It's ordinary for water to remain water. But here, water, at his pleasure, without him praying over it, laying his hands on it, or anything like that, he just willed it. And when they served it to the governor of the feast, it was wine. It was wine. It was done for a specific purpose. And what was that purpose? Well, it tells us in the last verse, doesn't it? To manifest his glory. To manifest his glory. When Peter and John were going up to the temple, in the book of Acts, and you remember, There was a man, a lame man there at the gate, beautiful. And there was a miracle wrought, but it was done not in the name of Peter, not in the name of John, but in the name of Jesus. That miracle manifested his glory, not Peter's glory, not John's glory, his glory. And that's what happened here. And that's what happens when a miracle is wrought. It manifests His glory. And notice what takes place for His disciples to believe on Him. Look with me in closing, look with me to John chapter 20. John chapter 20 and verse 30. John, in bringing his narrative, his account, to a close, he said, many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. You read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and you're going to find some miracles there that John doesn't mention. I believe he mentioned seven miracles, seven miracles in the Gospel of John. But here's the important thing. Why did he write these? He had a purpose, didn't he? But these are written. There are others, yes. But these here are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ. This miracle is written for every one of us here in this room tonight. that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ. And in believing that Jesus is the Christ, that we might have life through his name, eternal life through his name. I pray the Lord would bless these thoughts to us here this evening. We're going to sing that last hymn and just amend