Reading: John chapter 2 verses 1-11.
We read in John chapter 20 verses 30-31;
30”Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book.
31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life”.
When John wrote his gospel:
• He deliberately picked out 7 miracles, 7 signs that Jesus performed.
• The ‘signs’ were real miracles which helped real people.
• But they were also far more than just ‘signs’.
• I think the word ‘signposts’ is better.
• These 7 miracles, signposts are intended us to see beyond the miracle;
• And to look at the one who was performing them.
• So John recorded these ‘signs’ as evidence;
• He wants to show to us who Jesus was and is; more than just a man – the Son of God!
• The first sign, the first miracle that Jesus performed;
• Is recorded here in John chapter 2 and involves a wedding.
Ill:
• Mark Twain was known for his wit.
• A Mormon acquaintance once pushed him into an argument on the issue of polygamy.
• After long and tedious expositions trying to justifying the practice,
• The Mormon demanded that Mark Twain show him any verse expressly forbidding polygamy.
• “Nothing easier,” Twain replied ;
• And immediately quoted Matthew chapter 6 verse 24: “No man can serve two masters.”
Ill:
There were two lines of husbands in heaven:
• One for the dominant husbands and one for the passive, submissive husbands.
• The submissive husband line extended almost out of sight.
• And there was only one man in the dominant husband line.
• He was small, timid, and appeared anything but a dominant husband.
• When the angel inquired as to why he was in this line,
• He said, “My wife told me to stand here!”
Ill:
My wife and I have found a successful recipe for keeping our marriage fresh, & healthy:
• Once a week we go out for a nice romantic candlelit meal.
• ……..She goes on Tuesdays and I go on a Thursday!
Marriage and of course weddings are supposed to be fun:
• Weddings are times of celebration.
• Weddings are times when we rejoice and express joy.
• Weddings are a time when we enjoy the company of those we love;
• And we rejoice at the new bond of unity and commitment between two people.
(1). Wedding Is Celebrated (VERSE 1A).
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee”.
• In our society weddings are still big events,
• Despite the fact that the simplest of civil marriages costs less than £50,
• According to Wedding Guide UK.
• The average cost of getting married in the UK is around £11,000;
• With the vast majority of weddings falling between £5,000 and £15,000.
• That’s a lot of money!
But wedding days have always been expensive days:
• In Bible times and still today in the Jewish culture;
• Weddings were, and are, a big deal:
• There is a certain protocol that was to be followed.
• And both the poor and rich were bound by tradition and culture to abide by it.
(A). THE RIGHT DAY.
• If the bride were a virgin, then the wedding took place on Wednesday.
• If the bride was a widow, the wedding took place on a Thursday.
(B). THE WEDDING CEREMONY WOULD TAKE PLACE LATE IN THE EVENING AFTER A TIME OF FEASTING:
• The father of the bride would take his daughter on his arm,
• And with the wedding party in tow,
• They would parade through the streets of the village;
• So that everyone could come out and congratulate the bride.
• Finally the wedding party would arrive at the home of the groom.
• And the wedding actually took place in the front door of the grooms house.
• It was no short ceremony……. in fact the festivities lasted for days.
• It was a time of great celebration.
(C). AFTER THE WEDDING CEREMONY:
• The bride and groom walked through the streets accompanied by flaming torches.
• Their attendants walked with them keeping a canopy over their heads.
• The wedding party always took the longest route through the village;
• So that as many people as possible could wish them well.
(D). NO HONEYMOON:
• There was no such thing as a honeymoon!
• No, the couple kept open house for a week.
• They were treated like royalty.
• They dressed in fancy clothes and many times actually wore crowns on their heads.
• Whatever desire they spoke for…they received.
• Their word was law!
(E). THE LAST CULTURAL THING THAT I WANT US TO NOTE;
• Is that the grooms family;
• Was expected to provide all the refreshments for this week of festivities.
• Now with that background information in mind,
• Let’s pick up the story in John chapter 2 verse 1.
(2). Wine Is Consumed (verse 3):
“When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, They have no more wine”.
(a). A problem:
• I guess we all can you imagine the embarrassment:
• Of having a wedding party or a reception,
• And watching as the food or drink runs out;
• Before everyone is served or before the party is over.
• This would of course show a lack of planning before the event;
• And would be cause both the families involved and the guests, great embarrassment.
Since Jewish wedding feasts lasted a week:
• It was necessary for the groom to have adequate provisions.
• In fact under the Jewish system;
• A family guilty of running out of provisions could actually be fined!
• So, to run out of wine; could be costly both financially and socially.
(b). An important gust (verses 1b-3):
“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”.
• Although we don’t know the name of the bride & groom;
• We are told some of the people who were on the guest list.
• Jesus;
• And accompanying him was His mother and six of his disciples.
• Perhaps it was the addition of 7 more people at the wedding that helped create the crisis;
• Although it must have been a small wedding feast if this were the case.
(c). Application:
One of the great qualities of Jesus:
• Is that he entered into the normal experiences of life;
• And sanctified them by His presence.
Quote: Somebody has said:
“Wise is that couple who invite Jesus to their wedding!”
ill:
• A braid appears to contain only two strands of hair.
• But it is impossible to create a braid with only two strands.
• If the two could be put together at all,
• They would quickly unravel.
• Herein lies the mystery:
• What looks like two strands require a third.
• The third strand, though not immediately evident,
• Keeps the strands tightly woven.
• In a Christian marriage, the presence of Jesus,
• Like the third strand in a braid, helps hold husband and wife together.
BROADEN THE IMAGE:
• Whatever relationships we are involved in;
• They will be much better with Jesus involved.
Ill:
• Invited recently to do a question and answer session at Townhill Junior School.
• One question fired at me was what is the most important thing in my life?
• I replied; ‘Jesus Christ!’
• Because when I am right with him, everything else is better.
• e.g. I am a better husband because of Jesus.
• e.g. I am a better father to my children.
• e.g. I am a better…..fill in the blanks.
• Our relationship to Jesus is to be more than head knowledge, it affects all areas of life!
(3). Woman Is Concerned (verse 3b-5):
“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”.
Question:
• How did Mary know that there was a problem?
• It would appear that it was not public knowledge!
• Some Bible commentators suggest:
• That the bridegroom may possibly have been a member of Mary’s family.
• Perhaps a nephew or cousin;
• And that is why Mary the guest got involved.
• Others suggest that because it was family;
• Mary was probably assisting in the preparation and serving of the meal.
Answer:
• We do not know.
• What we do know for sure, is how she responded.
• Mary does what all of us should do,
• And that is she takes her concerns to Jesus.
Ill:
• When the Russian city of St. Petersburg,
• Was being laid out early in the eighteenth century,
• Many large boulders brought by a glacier from Finland had to be removed.
• One particularly large rock;
• Was in the path of one of the principal avenues that had been planned,
• And bids were solicited for its removal.
• The bids submitted were very high.
• This was understandable,
• Because at that time modern equipment did not exist
• And there were no high-powered explosives.
• As officials pondered what to do,
• A peasant presented himself and offered to get rid of the boulder;
• For a much lower price than those submitted by other bidders.
• Since they had nothing to lose, officials gave the job to the peasant.
• The next morning he showed up with a crowd of other peasants carrying shovels.
• They began digging a huge hole next to the rock.
• The rock was propped up with timbers to prevent it from rolling into the hole.
• When the hole was deep enough,
• The timber props were removed
• And the rock dropped into the hole below the street level.
• It was then covered with dirt,
• And the excess dirt was carted away.
It’s an early example of what creative thinking can do to solve a problem:
• The unsuccessful bidders only thought about;
• Moving the rock horizontally from one place to another on the city’s surface.
• The peasant looked at the problem from another angle - vertically.
• He considered another dimension - up and down.
We live in a world where people have to cope with the problems of life horizontally:
• By their own efforts or their own solutions.
• Praise God as Christians we can OVERCOME the problem vertically!
• We can involve Jesus:
• We can go to another dimension.
Ill:
• A pilot was flying a plane-load of passengers to their destination,
• When suddenly the rudder malfunctioned.
• He radioed the control tower in panic, and shouted,
• "The RUDDER has malfunctioned! What shall I DO?"
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain. Just repeat after me:
• Wings flap... check. Velocity... check. Altitude check."
• The pilot made the appropriate adjustments,
• And the aircraft continued on course.
Not five minutes later, however, the STARBOARD ENGINE stalled:
• The pilot radioed the control tower and shouted,
• "The STARBOARD ENGINE has stalled! What shall I DO?"
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain.
• Just repeat after me: Wings flap... check. Velocity... check. Altitude check."
• The pilot made the appropriate adjustments,
• And again the aeroplane continued on course.
However, not five minutes later, the pilot radioed the control tower a THIRD time:
• This time he shouted, "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! BOTH the engines have gone!
• What shall I DO?
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain. Just repeat after me:
• Our Father... Which art in heaven... Hallowed be Thy name..."
Application:
• We as Christians DO have a heavenly Father;
• Who can help us with problems both large and small.
• The secret to knowing his help in times of trouble;
• Is to enjoy his company when times are good!
• Prayer is not just a spiritual ‘A.A. service’ for breakdowns.
• It is part of a relationship, friendship with God.
(4). Word Is Conveyed (verse 6-8):
“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.”
• Though Jesus had not yet preached any messages or performed any miracles,
• The fact that Mary expects Jesus to do something is evident.
• When she said to Jesus, “they have no wine”,
• The suggestion is; ‘What are you going to do about it?’
• In this story;
• Mary gives her only command that is recorded in the Bible:
• “Do whatever he tells you.”
• Her recorded command is to listen to him and obey his instructions.
Notice: The response of Jesus is both practical and symbolic:
(a). Practically:
• Jesus turns his attention to six stone water pots which are sitting close by.
• These were actually there for the purpose of ceremonially cleansing.
• Each pot could hold 20 to 30 gallons of water;
• So the total capacity is approximately 120-180 gallons.
• The words of Jesus are simple to understand;
• “Fill the water pots with water”
I wonder if there were any raised eyebrows when Jesus instructed them to do this.
• I like the kids video:
• “Even the carpenters bossing us around now!”
• You can imagine the servants mumblings;
• “We don’t want water.....we want wine”
• Nevertheless the servants did as they were instructed.
• They filled the water pots to the brim.
• To experience the greater works of Jesus in our lives;
• I want to suggest we need to obey him in the smaller, obvious areas of life.
(B). Symbolically:
• The water pots usually held water that was used for the outward cleansing,
• You ceremonially washed your hands and your feet as you entered the house.
• But Jesus is about to offer people something far better;
• He is offering internal cleansing – which is the greatest miracle of all!
Ill:
A man said to his little boy;
"Suppose I take an ink-bottle and cork it tight;
and put a string around the neck and drag it through the river,
how long will it take to clean out the inside?"
• The boy thought for a moment and said:
• "Dad, you'll never get it clean that way, it needs cleaning on the inside not out!”
• ONLY Jesus Christ has the power on earth tom forgive sins.
• What is impossible for man is not impossible for God!
(5). The Water Is Changed (verse 8-10):
“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 realise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
10 and 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.”
Joke:
• A minister is driving and he’s stopped for speeding.
• The police officer smells alcohol on his breath, & sees an empty wine bottle on the floor,
• And he says, “Sir, have you been drinking?”
• And the minister says, “Just water.”
• The police officer says, “Then why do I smell wine?”
• And the minister looks down at the bottle and says, “Unbelievable, he’s done it again!”
This first miracle of Jesus:
• Was not a spectacular event that everybody witnessed.
• Only Mary, the disciples,
• And the servants knew what had happened;
• But nobody else at the feast had any idea that a miracle had taken place.
• His first miracle was a quiet event at a wedding;
• In contrast to His last miracle (chap. 11), a public event after a funeral.
Jesus instructs the servant to draw out some of the water:
• And give it to the master of the feast.
• Incredibly the water was changed into wine.
• Notice this has happened without Jesus touching it.
• And without the disciples touching it and without him even speaking any words.
Verse 10 informs us:
• The quality of this new wine was so superior;
• That the man in charge of the banquet highly praised it;
• And, of course, the groom’s family basked in the glory of the compliments.
Two things to note from verse 11 as we finish:
(1). THE FACT THAT THIS WAS "THE BEGINNING OF MIRACLES":
• Automatically declares the stories about the miracles performed by Jesus;
• When He was an infant or a young child are false.
• They are nothing but superstitious fables
• And ought to be rejected by anyone who accepts the authority of the Bible.
(2). THE MIRACLE DID SOMETHING FOR HIS DISCIPLES.
• It revealed His glory
• And gave the disciples a stronger foundation for them to trust in him.
• Remember where we started;
• The miracles in John’s gospels are signs.
• Something that points beyond itself,
• To something greater.
John would make it clear in his gospel:
• It was not enough for people to believe in Jesus works;
• They had to believe in Him and in the Father who sent Him.
