John 2 Jesus at a Party
sermon preached by Adrian Warnock @ Jubilee Church on 27th October 2002
Discussion questions
Does the idea of Jesus at a party fit in with your image of him from before? Does it fit in with the image the world has?
Why is Gods time not always now?
Can you think of any examples of how Gods way can seem like its reward is a long way off? Is it true in your experience that God saves the best wine to last?
Do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit in as much a way as those jars were filled with Water? (Are you coming on the Holy Spirit weekend next Saturday then?)
Detailed Background Notes
Intro
In this chapter, Jesus attends a wedding feast and cleanses the temple. This surely prefigures the climax of his work which will be to purify his church as a new temple and then hold a marriage supper! (cf p63 Bruce Milne- The Message of John- The Bible Speaks today)
After the action of the previous chapter it might seem surprising that Jesus attends a wedding- come on, there’s a world to save Jesus. Actually he loves being there. And what a difference he made! How embarrassing it would have been for the bride and groom if he’d not been there. Having Jesus at a marriage ceremony is a great thing. He is still changing marriages today! Jesus is no kill joy! He would at times it seems rather be at a party than in some religious meetings! Are you more at home at a party or in a silent mass?
Rather than gathering the nation and stating here I am before doing a miracle, Jesus first miracle occurs in a small village in the far North away from the action, it would seem with poor people there.
Detailed note-
Now, concerning this miracle, it may well be remarked how simple and unostentatious it was. One might have expected that when the great Lord of all came here in human form he would commence his miraculous career by summoning the scribes and Pharisees at least, if not the kings and princes of the earth, to see the marks of his calling and the guarantees and warrants of his commission; gathering them all together to work some miracle before them, as Moses and Aaron did before Pharaoh, that they might be convinced of his Messiahship.
He does nothing of the kind. He goes to a simple wedding among poor people, and there in the simplest and most natural way he displays his glory. When the water is to be turned into wine, when he selects that as the first miracle, he does not call for the master of the feast even, or for the bridegroom himself or for any of the guests, and begin to say, “You clearly perceive that your wine is all gone. Now, I am about to show you a great marvel, to turn water into wine.” No, he does it quietly with the servants: (CH Spurgeon Sermon No 1556)
Verse one seems to indicate that Joseph must have been dead by now- Mary approaches Jesus as the oldest son for his assistance either practically or perhaps more likely she is looking for a miracle. It would have been most embarrassing for the hosts of the party. Our parties never seem to run out of food- because we ask people to bring! But there is nothing worse than the hosts not providing for the needs of their guests.
Jesus acts in response to Mary’s questioning-Note that Mary here presents Jesus with a request for help for anothers problem. When we pray we mustn’t only think of our own needs! (See Matthew Henry[1] )
‘here is an apparent rejection of Mary’s initiative, yet a granting of the request for intervention.’[2]
There are perhaps two sides to this- the way in which Jesus is seeking to test and draw faith from his mother and second the fact that in a way she comes across initially as telling him what to do- this is no longer appropriate- Mary Approaches Jesus as a mother, and is reproached….she responds as a believer and her faith is honoured’ (DA Carson - John)
Perhaps there is more mileage than modern commentators allow in Matthew Henry’s assertion that Jesus replies in this way in part to counter the later attempts by some sectors of the Church to elevate Mary. She has been seen as one who can be prayed to so she can ask her Son to act- Jesus states that he doesn’t have to do what she asks. (See Matthew Henry[3] and Calvin’s Commentary on John)
Having said that Mary does not really dictate to Jesus as we often do in our prayers- she rather simply informs him of the need, and seems to trust him to respond appropriately. (cf p63 Bruce Milne- The Message of John- The Bible Speaks today)
In fact, some scholars question whether this really is a rebuke at all, and in any case if it is a rebuke Mary responds very submissively and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says. Notice that unlike some Christians today Mary doesn’t name it and claim it, she doesn’t implore Jesus and tell him what he must do! No far from us telling Jesus what to do, Mary wants to hear instead what Jesus wants her to do!
In fact Jesus may simply be wishing to point out that he will perform the miracle when it is the right time to do so! There is a wonderful sense of suspense when Mary tells the servants to do what Jesus tells them- she knows that the unexpected should be expected when Jesus is around! ‘whenever the Lord holds us in suspense, and delays his aid, he is not therefore asleep, but, on the contrary, regulates all His works in such a manner that he does nothing but at the proper time.’ (Calvin’s Commentary)
In fact this motive of Jesus time being different to ours runs through John- eg My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. (John 7:6)[4]
There are Christians who want to insist that God must act now- they see his miraculous power and the promises of God and claim that therefore Christians cant be sick. Some of them will even say- I am not sick I am well when the doctors diagnose them. Of course Jesus is able to heal, and of course he will heal, but we don’t always know WHEN he will heal! It might be now, or it might be that the time is not yet.
The same is true of problems. Some Christians think that their lives should be one long rose garden with no problems when they become a Christian. That’s fine as long as you realize that there are thorns in Roses!!!
There will be problems, in fact every day! Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Jn 6:34,ISV)
Jesus wont always solve them straight away. He will help you in them though.
The miracle itself has an almost natural feel to it. There is no hype, no show, no 2 hour prayer meeting! Jesus simply told them to fill the jars with water and take some to the man in charge of the feast.
I wonder when the water became wine, was it when they took it out, was it on the way to the master of the feast, or was it when he put the cup to his lip!
Detailed note
being a genuine miracle, it is done just as nearly after the course of nature as the supernatural can go. Jesus does not have the waterpots emptied and then fill them with wine, but he goes as far with nature as nature will go, and uses water to make the wine from; therein following the processes of his providence which are at work every day. When the water drops from heaven, and flows into the earth to the roots of the vine, and so swells out the clusters with ruddy juice, it is through water that wine is produced.
There is only a difference as to time whether the wine is created in the cluster, or in the waterpots. : (CH Spurgeon sermon no 1556)
Jesus sometimes asks us to do some things which seem preety silly!!! Either to those around us or perhaps even to ourselves! He always rewards obedience though! Note that Jesus miracles always seem to start with a command. The people have something to do- which they CAN do, although it seems like it will accomplish nothing! God does his part when we do our part!
This miracle would not have happened if the people had not done what Jesus told them. We must do our part, God will do his part. (See Dave Evans’ talk on The Sovereignty of God and the Responsibility of Man)
The water is to be filled to the brim- there are no half measures with God!! He asks for total obedience, total sold outness and we should be extreme for him, if that were possible!
Notice this, unlike the devil who tempts us with rewards now and punishments later, God always saves the best wine to last. (v10). Often as a young person we can feel as silly as the men filling the jugs with water. How extreme, how foolish- go and buy some wine for goodness sake, go and borrow some or get some from your home- no one need know. There must be a short cut. Think how long it must have taken them to fill these jugs!
The devil says, don’t wait for marriage you can have fun now. God says store up the water in your cisterns keep it full and don’t let it spill till you pour it out on your wedding night. Trust me, its worth it. What might seem hard now, will reap benefits later on. When one is building a marriage, doing it Gods way can be harder initially rather than living separate lives and not talking to each other about what bothers you, we are told to speak to truth to one another in love. I can tell you that when you start doing that it can feel more like speaking the truth without any love. But as you learn to do it it all gets better and I tell you our marriage now is better than it was in 1995 when we were on honeymoon!
Forgiveness is another example- its really tough now, and at times relationships which are in trouble seem to get worse when you try and bring reconciliation. Its far easier to try and bury your head in the ground and pretend its all ok. Look on ten years or more and you become a bitter old person.
I will never forget how Henry Tyler a great man of God of many years told me this truth. Walk with God he said, make the tough decisions and you will really find that God keeps the best wine to last.
Do you believe that or do you think the best days are behind you? I prophecy now to you, the best is yet to come if you will walk with God!
Sin really is like a choclate coated cow pat. Sweet on the outside but when the choclate melts in the mouth…… On the other hand Gods way can sometimes seem like it’s a bitter pill with chocolate in the centre.
John continues to point out that this is a sign.
But Why is this a sign?
Some have said that this is symbolic of becoming a Christian- this seems rather fanciful for me although there may be some degree of helpfulness in it so I have quoted this from Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines-
A. A thirsty crowd.
Isn’tthis a picture of the lost world today? They are tasting the world’s pleasures but finding no personal satisfaction, and what fulfillment they have eventually runs out. The Bible invites thirsty sinners to come to Christ for salvation and satisfaction (John 4:13–14; 7:37; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17).
B. Empty waterpots.
Representing the human heart, which is hard and empty. The Word of God compares the human being to a vessel (2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:20–21). The sinner’s life may look lovely on the outside, but God sees it is empty and useless unless He is able to work a divine miracle.
C. Filled with water.
Water for washing is, in the Bible, an image of the Word of God. (See Eph. 5:26; John 15:3.) All that the servants had to do was fill the empty waterpots with water, which is like the servant of God filling the heart of the unbeliever with the Word. It is not our job to save souls, but it is our job to give people the Word and let Christ perform the miracle of salvation.
D. Water to wine.
When the sinner’s heart has been filled with the Word, then Christ can perform the miracle and bring joy. In Acts 8:26–40, Philip filled the Ethiopian with the Word, and when the man believed, the miracle of salvation took place. The Ethiopian went his way rejoicing. Note John 1:17—“The law came through Moses”; in the Old Testament water was changed to blood (Ex. 7:19), which indicates judgment. But Christ turned water into wine, which speaks of grace and joy. Wine symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).[5]
More important is the effect that the miracle had on the disciples- they put their faith/trust in him. For John this is the key issue. He wants us to have trust in Jesus.
So as the nonevangelical Oxford Bible Commentary puts it ‘The main point of the wedding in Cana is therefore Christological and not to underline the sacramental aspects of water, wine, or wedding, or to show how important Jesus’ mother is.’ [6]
‘Christians have not been slow to see the contrast between the insipid water of the old life and the richness of new life in Christ.’ [7]
The extravagence of Jesus must be noted- ‘The quantity of water is enormous for a private person’[8] ‘The capacity of the jars was more than 100 gallons (450 litres).’ [9]
Why wine- Ps 104:15 ‘wine to gladden the heart of man’[10]
Wine is also likened to being filled with the holy Spirit
Stop gettingg drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18)[11]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Jn 2:1). Peabody: Hendrickson.
[2]Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1998). Vol. 36: Word Biblical Commentary : John (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Jn 2:4). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
[3]Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Jn 2:1). Peabody: Hendrickson.
[4]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) (Jn 7:6). Wheaton: Good News Publishers.
[5]Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (Jn 2:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[6]Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (2001). Oxford Bible commentary (Jn 2:1). New York: Oxford University Press.
[7]Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Jn 2:1). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.
[8]Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (2001). Oxford Bible commentary (Jn 2:13). New York: Oxford University Press.
[9]Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Jn 2:1). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.
l Judg. 9:13; Eccles. 10:19; [Prov. 31:6, 7]
[10]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) (Ps 104:15). Wheaton: Good News Publishers.
g 5:18 Or Do not get
[11]International standard version New Testament : Version 1.1. 2000 (Print on Demand ed.) (Eph 5:18). Yorba Linda, CA: The Learning Foundation.
