John 2.1-11 - Outline For Sermon: "What To Do When The Wine Runs Out?" Series

What to do when the wine runs out

John 2:1-11 (NIV)

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,

2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,

9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside

10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

In a study of the gospel of John one will both notice the simplicity of the stories and the depth the spiritual meaning as one goes beneath the surface story to drink from the spiritual wells of John's Gospel. In this the first of seven signs of the gospel of John let us both look at the setting of the incident and some spiritual truths that John would teach us concerning Jesus:

I. Jesus teaches us that it is good to enjoy life, i.e. be happy (vv. 1-2).

A. The setting is a wedding.

1. In 1st century Palestine a wedding was really quite an occasion.

2. The wedding lasted for more than one day.

B. It was such a happy time that Jesus and his disciples attended.

I. It was here that he performed his first miracle to show forth his Messiahship.

2. Some have used this passage to justify drunkenness – not so.

C. Jesus was opposed to isolationism.

1. Christian fellowship is important to Christian growth.

2. Jesus taught his disciples that those who were to be spiritual helpers must first be friends.

D. This was a wedding feast; this was a time of happiness.

1. Spurgeon, "Sepulchral (Funeral) tones may fit a man to be an undertaker, but Lazarus is not called out of his grave by hollow moans."

2. Jesus never counted it a crime to be happy, why should his followers do so?

II. Jesus teaches us to trust him (vv. 3-5).

A. The phrase in verse 4, "women, what do I have to do with you?" was a common phrase in its day.

B. This story shows us Mary’s faith in Jesus, two things stand out:

1. Since Mary knew her son she would automatically turn to him when something went wrong.

2. Even here when Mary did not fully understand she still believed in Him and she told the serving folk to do whatever He asked.

III. Jesus teaches us that the Cross was of supreme importance to him from the very first part of his ministry. (v.4).

A. Verse 4: “My hour has not yet come.”

B. All through the Gospel Jesus talked about “His hour”.

1. John 7:6,8 he refers to his emergence as messiah.

2. John 12:23 refers to the hour of crucifixion.

C. Jesus knew that he was born to die.

D. Barclay, "He saw his life, not in terms of his wishes, but in terms of God's purpose for himself"

C. We too must think, not of our own wishes and desires, but of the plan and purpose that God has for us.

IV. Jesus teaches us that with him there comes a new way of Grace (vv, 6-10).

A. There were six water pots. – Six is less than the perfect number seven.

B. Jesus came to do away with the imperfections of the law, and to put in their place the new wine of the gospel of his Grace.

V. Jesus teaches us that he provides an overabundance for life's happiness and fulfillment (v. 7b).

A. Jesus instructed the servants to "fill them up to the brim." (180 gallons of wine)

B. I believe that Jesus is saying that when his Grace is received by man that there is enough to-spare.

C. There is a glorious superabundance in the Grace of Christ (Eph, 2:8-9).

VI. Invitation (v, 11): Jesus is not nearly teaching us so much that he can turn water into wine but that we can by receiving his Grace turn a drab life into a Dramatic life with God.