Changing Water Into Wine Series

Changing Water into Wine

John 2:1-11

Introduction

Three year anniversary?

- The gospel of John screams of the faith that we should have in Christ

-- It is the clearest example of living life FOR the one who redeemed you and I

- If we can learn to love others like Jesus’ … we can bring them TO Him

-- Re: We won’t bring a friend to something we do not like

-- John demonstrates and challenges us to love people like Christ did

- Tonight, we will look at three of 6 “M’s” that happen in John 2

-- Today we will talk about Jesus' mother, His method, and His first miracle

- Read John 2:1-11 / Pray

∆ Point 1 – Jesus’s Mother

- Many people have sought to understand the timeline here (ref: third day – v1)

-- Re: This would’ve been after the temptation in the wilderness

-- Re: After Jesus had been baptized; and after the first disciples

-- APP: Perhaps this is three days after those first disciples joined Him …

- Caution: Don’t get drawn into debates about calendars … miss main thing

-- What is critical, is that this event takes place as the first of His ministry

-- Jesus and his mother, Mary, are both invited to a wedding in Cana (v2)

- As with most social functions, running out of something is never good

-- And here, at this critical celebration, they’ve run out of wine

- What would be noticed by the guests is how careless the family is

-- APP: They obviously don’t care enough about their guest to be prepared

-- It is a social blunder … which could lead to much ridicule

- Mary then presents a unique question to Jesus in v3 …

-- “They have no more wine” … and Jesus’ response really make me cringe:

-- “Woman, what do you want from me? This is not my concern …”

- What really was Jesus implying with this statement?

-- Well, it is actually quite simple. The word time is the Greek word “horo”

-- It is where we get our word, hour, from and it suggests a timeline

- Much like John 17:1, “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: Father, the hour (time; horo) has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

- APP: Jesus is stating that He is a divine timeline and it’s not now

-- But remember, Mary had carried the knowledge of Jesus’ birth for 30 years

-- At some point, she has got to be saying, “When will it be time???”

- TRANS: Mary then gives the most profound response (but NOT to Jesus)

∆ Point 2 – Jesus’s Methods

- Notice, this is said to the servants … to those who were sworn to serve

-- Challenge: Could this not be said to you and me as well as advice?

-- In v5 she says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Priceless!

- She gives the servants a command, to take note of what Jesus says

-- To respond to His words without delay; and to be quick about it

-- The word “Do” is not suggestive, it is a command – requires response

- The containers nearby could’ve held over 120 gallons of liquid

-- The servants were told to fill them with water, right to the brim

-- Consider the amount of liquid here: If one glass is about ½ pint

-- These jars would’ve contained roughly 1000 servings of wine

- If anyone said they didn’t have enough then, they’d be out of their minds

-- APP: But isn’t that just like God? To give us MORE than we really need?

- Jesus then commands the servants to take a glass to the master

-- He didn’t say to give it to the wait staff, or the food prep people

-- But, take this and ensure it gets into the master’s hands

- Somewhere between the kitchen and table, Jesus’ first miracle occurs

-- The wait staff simply obeyed, and believed this man who commanded them

- They would’ve taken this wine to the leader of the event of the evening (v8)

-- Perhaps a toastmaster or master of ceremonies; it would be very public

-- Their faith would’ve had to been solid considering the possible ridicule

- TRANS: Once it reached them, Jesus’s first miracle would be complete

∆ Point 3 – Jesus’s First Miracle

- Once he tasted this wine, he realizes it to be the best wine of the evening

-- Now, there is much discussion on whether or not this wine is alcoholic

-- So, let me try to unpack this and shed some light

- First, the Greek word used to describe the wine is “oinos”