https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/john-2-9-10/beauty-from-ashes/

Christians are promised the great celestial blessings of the Lord. Are they living in light of the promises of these blessings? Are they drinking from the rivers of the Lord’s grace and goodness? In this sermon from John 2:9–10 titled “Beauty from Ashes,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones talks about the blessings of the Lord and what they look like. He begins by focusing on the character of these blessings, which is that they are always good and pure. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then goes on to show what these blessings do for God’s children. The Christian often does not think about how these blessings show the desperate condition of need and dependence upon the Lord. These blessings do not come through anything Christians have done to deserve them, but as a free gift from the Lord. Their righteousness is but filthy rags but when they thirst after Him, in His grace and mercy, the Savior brings beauty from filthy rags and fills with His blessings of eternal life and His fullness. When the Christian receives these blessings, not only will they know, but those around them will see what only God can do in bringing beauty from the ashes.