Reading: John chapter 2 verses 1-11.
In that last verse of this account (verse 11) John tells us the point of this story:
• This is Jesus’ first miracle (of the 35 miracles recorded).
• Note: the number can vary from 33-40 depending on the commentator.
Two things happened as a result of this miracle (reverse order);
(Second result):
• Verse 11c:
• “His disciples put their faith in him.”
• This miracle was a significant moment in the development of the disciples’ faith.
• What they saw that day helped strengthen their faith in the one they had chosen to follow
(First result):
• It is a revelation of the glory of Christ,
• A demonstration of His power and character.
• The miracle is not the point of the story.
• Miracles never happen just for the sake of the miracle.
• They always point to a larger truth about God. They are signs pointing forward;
• The larger truth here is seen in the demonstration of the power of Jesus.
• Through him, we find the impossible becoming possible.
• Those things that have no chance suddenly become reality.
Quote: St. Francis de Sales:
• “Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse,
• Wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes.
• Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things,
• The glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor. “
Now in a similar way – don’t miss the point of this story:
• There are lessons to learn about marriage and about Mary and about…….
• But John gives us the main punch-line in verse 11, it is primarily about Jesus’ glory!
Notice that this first miracle of Jesus:
• Did not take place in a temple but a home!
• It did not take place at a funeral but a wedding,
• 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.
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 guest (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 very small wedding if this were the case.
(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 involved in the preparation and serving of the meal.
Answer:
• We do not know. how did Mary know that there was a problem?
• 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.
• We live in a world where people have to cope with the problems of life horizontally:
• Praise God as Christians we can OVERCOME our problems vertically!
• We can involve Jesus:
• We can go to another dimension.
(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.
(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 9-10):
“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.”
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.
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), which was a public event after a funeral.
JOHN IN HIS SUMMARY OF THIS INCIDENT USES A WELL CHOSEN WORD:
• Alongside the word ‘miraculous’ John adds the word ‘sign’ (verse 11);
• These works of Jesus were not just miraculous but they were revelatory!
• They pointed beyond themselves;
• Clearly pointing to the glory of the one who performed them.
• Signs are nonverbal communication;
• Although no words are used, a clear message is conveyed!
Jesus would go onto say in John’s gospel:
• John chapter 10 verses 25-27;
• John chapter 10 verses 37-38;
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
• Signs are nonverbal communication;
• Although no words are used, a clear message is conveyed!
• And this sign at a wedding allowed the glory of Christ to burst out;
• And as a result the disciples believed and put their faith in him!
THIS MORNING YOU AND I CAN GO ONE BETTER:
• The one who changed the wine;
• Is the one who has and is continuing to change us!
• As those who have seen and experienced his glory;
• We not only believe but we also respond by worshipping him.
