NOTES:
1] The picture of Jesus partying here contradicts all the 'pale Galilean' kinds of misnomers attributed by ignorant critics!
2] Some suggest the fact that Jesus calls Mary 'woman', rather than 'mother', marks a change in their relationship as he now begins his public ministry. 3] The amount of water in the big storage jars approximates 90-130 litres! 4] Some suggest the story is a sign, among other things, that the 'old wine' of Judaism has run out & been replaced by the new wine of Christianity. Jews, of course, find this view offensive.

WARMING UP: Can you remember the best party ever?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Afterthoughts from, follow-up to last week's Group, or since?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

1-2        How readily are we able to move in the range of family get-togethers we're invited / expected to attend? Is it important to us to make the effort to be at family & friends' celebrations? Do we find traditional gatherings (with 'rules') easier to fit into, or non-traditional ones (make-it-up-as-we-go, kind of thing)? Do we, as his friends, take on board how readily Jesus (from a lowly rung of society) can move in & between, & hold his own in circles like the moneyed, prostitutes, fishermen, politically powerful, religious heavies, etc.? Can we imagine some of today's circles he'd be prepared to move in, even if we're not?

3-10       Is it stretching our imagination too far to think that Mary has some expectation that Jesus will do something about the  wine running out? Or is she just making an off the cuff comment as we ourselves might at, say, a barbecue if the grog runs out? Do we have any serious expectation that God will 'get us off the hook' in such situations? What if that means moving a human person to take the necessary action to solve the problem? While that might not be a miracle (JN doesn't use 'miracle') wouldn't that be a sign (the word JN does use) of God's presence? / glory? / trustworthiness? /.........? Why is it that alcoholic beverages play such a prominent part in celebrations? Do we have a problem with that? What about the fact that Jesus doesn't?

Is Mary's advice to the servants, 'do whatever he tells you', advice we in our turn need to heed? How do we know when it is really God / Jesus / Holy Spirit giving us 'advice'? How do we tell that kind of thing, test it? What kinds of situations is it OK for God to intervene in today, & how would we expect him to do so? Or doesn't he do that kind of thing anymore?

So far as our faith is concerned, have we learned the difference between 'good' wine & bad? Are we too easily settling for lesser quality 'wine'? What can we do about that?

11        As well as being his first 'sign', might this also be Jesus' most important? Do we ourselves see his glory in it? Do we believe in him because of this kind of thing? Are any of his 'signs' or miracles more important than others? If someone were to ask us, 'What is the story of Cana a sign of?' how would we answer?