John 2:1-11
January 14, 2007
Second Sunday after the Epiphany - C
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
What we have read is the account of the first miracle Jesus performed – unless you want to include creation and pretty much everything else that ever happened before this one!
The old country preacher was doing well over 100 mph when he passed the State Trooper hiding behind the billboard. When the Trooper finally caught up with him and got him stopped, he stepped to the driver’s side door. A familiar smell emanating from the back seat caught the Trooper’s attention.
Preacher, began the officer, what’cha got in that Mason Jar in the back seat? The preacher responded, Oh, it’s just some water I use for baptizin’. Let me see it anyway, said the Trooper. One whiff confirmed his suspicions. Preacher – this here’s no baptizin’ water – it’s some kinda strong wine!
Said the parson, Praise the Lord – he done it again!
This passage is not the legitimizer of alcoholic beverages. In fact, it is not about wine at all. Many people make that mistake. The reason Christians should not drink isn’t because alcohol is demonic or ungodly…in the same way that a car isn’t ungodly. Both alcohol and cars are inanimate objects; neither is good, nor evil. It is in how something is used that determines whether it is useful or harmful.
Paul said, You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24Don’t think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them. 1Corinthians 10:23, 24 (NLT)
What other people see in you, and what you do is important! An elderly gentleman lived up the street from our house in Gainesville, Florida; we nicknamed him “Flash”.
Flash was about 900 years old – claimed he was going to outlive Methuselah. We called him Flash because he used to “jog” down our street with his walker several times a day for exercise. He would stop and talk to anyone…even a preacher.
Now, Flash couldn’t hear a thing; but if he sensed a vehicle coming down the street, he would check the rearview mirror on his walker, and if he saw your car he’d hoist that walker up and run to the sidewalk!
In those days we drove an old grey station wagon. Whenever I changed the oil I would pull the “grey ghost” part-way off the carport, so the oil wouldn’t drip on the cement carport pad and ruin Mrs. Preacher’s whole day. One Sunday night after a long day at church, I decided the oil needed changing. I pulled the family bus into that half-on, half-off position, drained and refilled the oil. Then the thing refused to start. I had to leave it there…just too tired to fool with it.
The next morning, in that nearly-sunrise dark/light time, Mrs. Preacher ventured out the front door to get the newspaper. She had coffee cup in hand, robe and curlers in place…almost, and absolutely no makeup…it was only a paper retrieval trip to the mailbox at the end of the front walk.
It so happened that this early morning stroll coincided with Flash’s first jog of the day. Eyes met! Flash stopped, took-in the sight of Mrs. Preacher’s robe, slippers, sloshing hot coffee and tired eyes. His eye also caught the grey ghost half catty-wumpus askew in the carport. As he looked back to Mrs. Preacher, he said in his most consoling tone, Whass’amatter, honey – did you come home drunk again last night?
This passage isn’t about whether it is permissible to drink alcohol…the person that wants to pickle his vital organs should feel at liberty to go ahead and make a fool of himself.
Neither is the passage about miracles, per se. Today people are fascinated with miracles and supernatural phenomena. I must confess – I’m among them. I am always amazed at what God genuinely does to touch lives. Most times it seems He uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things…in everyday ways.
Several years ago I read a newspaper lead story on a new miracle – a new techno-medical wonder, which had just won FDA approval. The device is a motor-stimulating prosthetic, for paralyzed people. When this device is implanted beneath the skin, it gives movement and control to a person suffering paralysis…a person like Eric Schremp, a 28-year-old quadriplegic man in Ohio. He broke his neck after diving in a pool. He only had minor movement in his upper body. His hands were totally useless.
After getting the implant he can shave himself, and he’s even going to college. His biggest problem is remembering to recharge the battery. Quite a modern miracle!
But, the real story isn’t the little device under the man’s skin -- even though it is a wonderful achievement. The bottom line is the change in Eric Schremp’s life. He’s gained confidence, knowing that now people can see him doing things for himself; he’s not totally helpless. The focus is on the person, not the microprocessor.
Elizabeth and I stayed up late one night in 1969. We watched spellbound, as the pictures began to come back – from the moon; a modern miracle, certainly.
But the thousands of tons of spaceship and technology weren’t the focus. A man had actually set foot on another celestial ball. It wasn’t just machinery up there now. And that meant new possibilities for our lives – better weather forecasting; space exploration; communications at an instant – without wires!
The possibilities seem endless because of one small step for a man. With God’s genuine miracles it is always about people’s lives, not ball bearings and electrodes.
Jesus caused everyone around Him to look at things differently than they had been accustomed. Mary came to Jesus with a suggestion. It might have been one of several meanings:
Son, they’re running out of wine -- You and your friends had better leave before the host is embarrassed.
or
Son, the wine’s about gone -- we need a diversion. Why don’t you entertain the guests with one of your nice little sermons?
or
Son, none of these people ever believed that virgin birth stuff. If you did some really neat trick, they’d have to believe. How, ‘bout it, son; just this once; Clear my name?
No matter the motivation on Mary’s part, Jesus rebukes her mildly. It is the same kind of thing he said to Mary and Joseph when they found him missing, and back at the temple teaching the elders:
He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? Luke 2:49
Jesus’ whole life was of perfect obedience to the will of His Father in Heaven. No amount of earthly pressure could move Him from his hour.
Mary was concerned for the embarrassing situation in the here and now. Jesus was peering down the corridors of eternity. Mary had to change her focus. She recognized Jesus was in charge, and told the servants to obey Him. That’s good advice.
So, what does the miracle mean?
That’s the larger question before the house this morning – so what does this sign/miracle mean? What does it mean to us?
The bottom line to the miracles – and particularly the first one at Cana, is the promise of changed lives.
That’s where we find the disciples -- changed.
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him John 2:11
What changed the followers of Jesus was the manifestation of Jesus’ glory. What they witnessed was a sign that brought them to faith in Jesus.
The sign “manifested” Jesus’ glory…
THE SIGN; HIS MANIFESTED GLORY
To manifest is to reveal something. Jesus revealed His glory by the miracle of changing the water into wine. The question is – What is His glory? The word is dox—a, (e.g., doxology).
The glory is many things.
• It is God’s power.
• It is God’s ways, compared to man’s ways.
The word "doxa" is derived from an older word meaning to think. What Jesus revealed by nature of His actions is what He thinks...the nature of His character.
Jesus was saying to all who watched,
• This is who I am – what I think.
• You have choices to make.
• You can have your empty pots – religious rituals with absolutely no power to change your life; or you can have new wine – the great joy of a life joined with Jesus, the author of new life.
Jesus demonstrated with His first miracle the whole concept of what He came to do. He came to change everything. He was saying:
Nothing I touch will ever be the same again.
Do you want empty religion, or joy?
Do you want old ways and ruts, or new wine and light?
It is important to note that Jesus made the distinction between the empty pots without him, and the new wine after he touched them.
The reality of this screams in our ears…you cannot have both empty pots and full ones.
When you accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, everything is different, and you find your old stuff – religion, habits, desires – even old friendships are at odds with your new life.
And, if you don’t find that, you didn’t find Jesus!
He changes everything and everyone he touches!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
THE SIGNIFICANCE; HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED
The last six words of our text are: and his disciples believed in him. We know from reading the rest of the Bible that believing in Jesus changed the lives of those twelve men. They, in turn, helped change the world forever. We also know that we, like the disciples, are called to believe in Him. The question then becomes…
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
If it means what it meant to the first group of believers, then it means believers today must also be changed…and we must be all about being in the center of changing the world in which we live.
Here are two realities…evidences that you have been changed – like the first believers were changed! You are changed…and you are a changer! Let me unpack that…
THEY WERE CONVINCED
• To believe is to be persuaded intellectually, that when Jesus claimed to be the one and only Savior, He was telling the truth.
• To believe in Jesus means you believe you personally need a Savior – and that Jesus is the only one who can be your Savior.
• To believe is to say that publicly – wholeheartedly.
…because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. Romans 10:9-10
Believing in Jesus is a matter of the heart and head. The disciples were convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Beyond that, they also continued in that belief.
THEY CONTINUED
Continuing means an ongoing evidence of what you feel in your heart, and think with your head. James wrote that it was not simply a matter that is settled between the ears. Rather it affects what you do with all your life...
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? James 2:19-20
The disciples understood that believing in Jesus meant continuing – placing all their lives, their possessions, family, reputation, needs and hopes squarely on the one fact that Jesus is Lord!
This is opposite of worldly thinking that says
• diversify -- don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
• Play it safe.
• Don’t risk everything on one throw of the dice.
Beloved, when it comes to your soul, your eternal destiny -- you only have one throw. You only have one choice. To believe in Jesus is to stake it all on Him.
AN INVITATION
• Are you convinced in your heart that He is truly the Son of God?
• Have you believed in Jesus?
• Are you willing to continue?
Abraham did. He believed God in his heart -- and followed him with his life. He saw everything change. Just like the water changed to wine, Abraham was changed in every way…and the Word of God calls him the friend of God.
Is that what you’ve been looking for? Have you been searching for peace within that you’re OK with God? Have you been looking for some indication that this life isn’t all there is?
Jesus trip to Calvary said you can have it.
You can be convinced – your heart tells you Jesus is the one who has this peace.
You can continue – the One who has the peace also can give you the strength
And you can be changed – God does the changing – just like water changed to fine wine!
