Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God.

Script Notes:

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The Gospel of John, chapter 2, verse 11. New International Version

********

VK: Hello! Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I’m Victoria K in the studio and today we are going to begin a new series on Anchored by Truth featuring Jay Ammerman. We heard Jay’s remarkable story in our last episode of Anchored by Truth – how Jay was delivered from an opiate addiction through his faith in Christ and how that beginning has led Jay to a place where he is almost finished with his seminary study. Jay’s very interesting life has included being an Army combat medic, working in a hospital, and owning a businesses that helps people who are troubled by nuisance critters - critters that can be as destructive as they are cute. But Jay does so humanely by trapping them and transporting them far enough into the countryside where they won’t be a bother to people any more. Jay’s life has included its share of twists and turns, but today Jay is in the final stage of finishing seminary because he has strongly felt the call of the Lord to full time service. So let’s welcome Jay Ammerman, the owner of Black Thumb Services to Anchored by Truth. Jay, your story is amazing – but the one constant throughout has been the presence of Christ. And when we met you we realized that Christ is such a powerful presence in your life that we thought it would be wonderful if you could share some of your passion about Christ with others. So, when we found out that one subject that you really wanted to discuss was the miracles that Christ performed as part of his earthly ministry it seemed like a good idea to get the show started by playing one of our Life Lessons with a Laugh on the miracles of Christ. So, let’s listen to one of those. This one has to do with Jesus’ first miracle which was to turn water into wine at the wedding at Cana.

 Life Lessons with a Laugh - Miracles of Jesus 1- Instant Grape Juice

VK: So, Jay what are some of the big lessons that we can all learn from Jesus’ first miracle when he turned the water into wine?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

VK: So, one point we should note about Jesus’ first miracles was that it was the first time that he displayed his divine power. Now other people in redemptive history such as Moses and Elijah had also done miracles but there was a sense in which Jesus’ first miracle was different, wasn’t there. Other people had acknowledged that it was God who was doing the miracle. But Jesus could do miracles himself because he is God, isn’t he?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

4:03 VK: And the fact that Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding is also very significant isn’t it. I suppose that he could have done his first miracle anywhere but he chose to do it at a wedding. Why is that important?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

8:15 VK: That first miracle of Jesus was also significant in another way, wasn’t it? When Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding it was also an example of Jesus - who is, of course, also God – demonstrating that God rewards faith. Right?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

10:30 VK: Well, one another thing that the miracle at Cana demonstrates is that God is a God who can exceed all of our expectations, right? I’m thinking about Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 20 where it says, [God] “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

13:15 VK: What do you think Jesus meant when he said to Mary that his time had not yet come. What time was he referring to?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

15:12 VK: So, - as we have been discussing - obviously two inescapable elements of Jesus’ first miracle are marriage and wine. And, of course, even today those two things are often found together. Marriages are still celebrated by toasts offered by the best man and then echoed by all those attending. And often those toasts are made with some form of wine. By turning the water into wine Jesus seems to have almost linked those elements together. Why is that? Why does it matter?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

17:40 VK: The last of Jesus’ famous “I am” statements in John was “I am the vine. You are the branches.” That’s found in the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verse 5 and that statement was made near the end of Jesus’ public ministry. Obviously, vines produce grapes and grapes are used to make wine. So, in a certain sense, Jesus has placed the fruit of the vine at the beginning and end of his public, earthly ministry. Why is that?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

19:05 VK: Perhaps one more thing we should note before we close for today is that Jesus meets people where they are. And so many of Jesus’ actions during his life we can still understand easily 2,000 years later. That’s pretty amazing isn’t it?

The miracle at the wedding at Cana really has a timeless dimension doesn’t it?

Jay: Comments - From recording on June 23rd

VK: We’d really like to thank Jay Ammerman for being our guest on Anchored by Truth today. I think we can all learn lessons from the miracles that Jesus performed even though they took place 2,000 years ago. And frankly Jay’s life after his conversion is a great illustration of how Jesus continues to redeem destinies in our day and time. Jay’s story is just one more example of how sacred scripture –the Bible – continues to demonstrate its supernatural nature through lives that are changed for the better for all eternity by its saving power. Today for our closing prayer, let’s listen to a prayer for the renewal of the Church. Certainly, one of the prayers we pray most frequently and most fervently at Anchored by Truth is that God’s word will take an increasing role in the lives of his people and in the life of the church. The church cannot be salt and light to our culture unless it is securely anchored in the only real source of truth – God’s holy, inspired, inerrant, and infallible word – the Bible.

---- PRAYER FOR RENEWAL OF THE CHURCH (Vicky)

VK: We hope you’ll be with us in the future when we’ll continue our discussion with Jay. And we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show.

If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not perfect but our Boss is!”

(Bible Quote from the New International Version)