The Beginning of Greater Things
Introduction:
God is a miracle-working God. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever. When we follow close to Him, miracles are an everyday occurrence. The disciples followed Jesus, looking for a Messiah and Saviour, but there was more than they anticipated. We do not look for miracles, we look for Jesus. Miracles are revelatory, and the Word is always in the process of revealing Himself. Therefore, we follow close to Jesus; we will behold greater things.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
We love the chapter divisions' tidiness in the Bible, but we should remember that they are not original. Our text begins not with the word "On," but with the word "and" connecting it with the previous chapters and verses. Last week, we ended our lesson with Jesus telling Nathaniel that if he continued to believe and follow Jesus that he will see the glory of God--that he would "see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." Our text picks up with "And'... and as we will see the beginning of the manifestation of Jesus' glory.
Chapter 1:19-51 repeated the phrase "the next day" is repeated three times leading up to the third day in our text. Chapter 2 begins with "the third day."
They are in Galilee. Not Judea. The verb egeneto is the same as "came to be" in 1:3, 6, 10, 14, 17, and 28).
They have no wine. This need does not seem to have been a direct concern to Mary or the Lord. She does not say, "We have not wine" but "they." In the Synoptics, there is a parallel in the story of the feeding of the 5,000 where it reads, "They have nothing to eat" (Mk 8:2; Mt 15:32). There it was a matter of hunger or starvation; here, it is a matter of social disaster. Jesus cares.
What does that have to do with either of us? Jesus is disengaging from the situation.
Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus will speak of His hour. He understood His purpose. He knew that once He began His ministry, there was an inevitable end.
We need those people in our lives who will nudge us. This is one of the reasons why regular fellowship with the members of the body of Christ is essential. Provoke one another to good works. People who say that they "come to church for God and not for people" miss the point. God knows that we need one another by His design, and He has so willed it that we experience His glory when we are gathered together. The gifts of the Spirit operate when we get together. Paul's letter to the Corinthians about the supernatural gifts of the Spirit was written in the context of corporate worship. He says, "when you come together" (1 Cor 11:20). Mary was there, the Lord was there, His disciples were there. Everyone was there. Some people grow spiritually dry because they are not connected to the rest of the church. It is important to stay together.
It is significant that Jesus' "beginning of miracles" takes place at a wedding feast. There were those in the history of the church who taught that a life of celibacy was superior to the married life. Here Jesus blesses the institution of marriage by attending. There may also be an allusion to the marriage supper of the Lamb. John will use the language of marriage in speaking of his ministry as compared to that of Jesus. Jesus was the bridegroom, and John was just the best man.
It also speaks to Jesus' interest in the things of our lives. He had time to attend a wedding. We have a tendency to compartmentalize our lives. A right understanding of the doctrine of creation can cause us to cry out with the seraphim, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty, the whole earth is filled with His glory."
He is at the beginning of creation. He created the stuff of creation ex nihilo--from nothing. He then took the watery chaos and formed the world in which we live.
There are three aspects of the doctrine of Providence:
Preservation refers to God's work and will in upholding all of creation.
Concurrence describes God's work in and with all that he has made.
Governance indicates God's work in guiding all things to the purpose for which they have been made, and God's active rule over creation.
"God sustains all that is, God works with all that is, and God is bringing all that is to God's good ends. God is Lord of all creation, Lord of all places, all times, all of reality." (Felker-Jones).
We often miss God in the ordinary. There are miracles all around us every single day. As children, we are filled with wonder, but as we age, we grow less inquisitive. Jesus was at the wedding to celebrate. Learn to celebrate. Learn to enjoy it! Some children do not enjoy their birthdays because their parents are uptight about everything being perfect. There are places to relax and kick your shoes off and enjoy the creation that God has made. God has given us all things richly to enjoy. The message of Ecclesiastes is not one of cynicism and dread, it is actually a message that tells us to enjoy life while we are here! Don't be a stick in the mud.
What are you listening for?
I love the story of the Native American walking along the busy sidewalk with a businessman amid the bustling city's hustle and bustle. It is noisy, and people are bumping into one another, the horns of taxis honking. Everyone is in a hurry. Suddenly, the Native American stops and says, "Shhh. Listen." The businessman says, "Listen for what?" "Don't you hear it?" the Native American replied. "Its a cricket." The businessman replied, "A cricket? I don't hear anything." But the Native American looked around and then walked over and picked up the cricket and showed the amazed businessman. "I don't believe it. Here we are downtown in the middle of all this noise and all these people, and you hear a cricket. How in the world did you do that?" "I'll show you," replied the other man. He took some change from his pocket and threw it on the sidewalk. As the money clattered and rolled around, twenty people stopped to look. "You always hear what you are tuned in to hear," said the Native American. (Tony Evans. Kingdom Single: Living Complete and Fully Free).
Slow down and enjoy the moment. God knows where you are. He is with you.
The mother of Jesus hears in His words that let her know that whatever "hour" looms ahead, there is still time for small things. What do you hear when the Lord speaks to you. Sometimes people do not know what they can do because all they are told is what they cannot do. She says, "Let the miracles proceed!"
From Jesus' standpoint, it is a miracle of speech. For the servants, it is a miracle of doing.
In the Gospel of John, when stories involve water, the water source is usually mentioned. They were baptizing at "Aenon, near the Salim" (3:23), or Jacob's well (4:6), or the pools of Bethesda (5:2), or Siloam (9:7). Here no source is mentioned. Instead, John focuses on six large water jars that were for Jewish purification rituals. They were what was on hand. God can use what you've got if you will just give it to him. He has the power to take what you feel is ordinary and make it miraculous. Moses, what is in your hand? Widow, what do you have on hand?
Jesus's great work of cleansing is being contrasted with the Jewish idea of purification. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world and The One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit! He is making New Wine!
It took a lot of water to fill the waterpots, 110 to 160 gallons. It is a measure of the miracle! He fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, and there were an abundance and leftovers (6:13). At His command, the disciples caught 153 fish (21:11). Mary poured out a whole pint of precious ointment upon Jesus' feet (12:3), and they used seventy-five pounds of spices to embalm Jesus (19:39). He has more than enough to meet your need, and it is within your reach.
John is contrasting the triviality of the need to the magnitude of the miracle. Don't be satisfied with crumbs! You're a child of the kingdom. You can have the whole loaf and the leftovers. Just do what He tells you to do! "What is that you and Me?"
When Jesus gives life, He gives it abundantly, exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to His power that works in us (10:10)! You have enough! You are enough!
Filling the jars would have taken hours. I wonder if they thought that there was about to be a mass purification? Jesus surprises them by telling them to draw water and serve it.
Genesis 41:55-57 Pharaoh tells the people to go to Joseph and do whatever he tells them to do. Many of you are facing difficulty during this time. We need to hear from God and do what He tells us to do.
John 2:5-9
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
Jesus can take what is familiar and make it glorious. Your life may seem common and ordinary, but there are unseen miracles there. Water is the most common substance on earth. It is a miracle in and of itself. Have you ever been thirsty?
Your miracle begins where your submission to His Voice begins. This is another instance of inclusio in the Gospel of John. This first sign is one in which obedience to His Voice brings about miraculous change at the end of something that seems hopeless.
Some miracles come with instructions. He instructed them to "fill the waterpots with water." In obedience, they filled them up to the brim. There are moments when your miracle can be proportional. If they would have filled the waterpots only half full, or a quarter full, the miracle may have fallen short of what it did.
The woman who was being sold to creditors in the days of Elisha. She obeyed the prophet, and as long as her sons brought vessels, the oil kept flowing.
The widow at Zarephath. She kept following the prophet's words, by going to her bottle of oil and container of meal. I wonder if she made the prophet's meal first every day?
The LORD challenged the returned nation of Judah in Malachi's book to bring their tithes into the storehouse and see if he would not pour out a blessing on them that they could not contain!
Our blessing of witnessing the glory of God is often proportional to our obedience.
Our obedience also determines whether or not someone else might experience that blessing.
One of my favorite sermons on this text was preached by Elder John C. Carroll, The Feast Needs Wine. One of his points in that sermon is that the "but the servants which drew the water knew." Participation in the miracle is sometimes obscure. You all have enjoyed the continuous blessing of music and media and Sunday School Connection. Those who have produced it have witnessed the miracle.
The other guests, the wedding party, the banquet master--none of them seem to know about the miracle. The banquet master verifies the miracle and doesn't even know it! Sometimes the most important confirmation of a miracle is from the mouth of those who have no clue that it has even happened.
The miracle is in asking God what He is doing and how you can participate.
John 2:10-12
10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
Jesus was there at the beginning. He is there in the middle. He will be there in the end. The important thing is that Jesus is here!
It is essential to stick around. I have seen people walk out on their miracle. They did not experience it because they were bored, hasty, or unaware, and they just did not show up! Stick around. He is saving the best for now.
The party seems to have been going on for quite some time. It may have been towards the end, but not quite time pick everything up and go home.
Some people live far below their privilege in Him. When Jesus is present, there is a continual feast. The disciples went from hanging out with John the Baptist, who was always fasting to spending time with Jesus, Who was accused of always feasting!
"For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15 NLT). "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17 NLT). "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8 KJV). "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy..." (Galatians 5:22).
"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart" (Psalm 104:14-15). When they received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were accused of being drunk on new wine! (Acts 2:13). There is a place for mourning, but there is also a place to get up and go on living life! God's desire is that we live life with joy! The only way we can do that in this world is because, at every ending, Jesus is there!
And when Jesus is at the end of anything, it is always a new beginning.
When he is at the end of twelve years of searching and suffering many things from physicians, when you are at the end of your rope, and you have tied a knot, and you are hanging on for dear life, if you can touch the hem of His garment, He will immediately stop your issue!
When it is at the end of four days of mourning, and you think it is too late and your brother has begun to decay, if you will just take the stone away, you will see God's glory!
God's glory is found in death and resurrection.
There is no testimony without a test. There is no victory without fighting. And as long as you see Him in the end, you're going to be okay! The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to look at all those who have gone on before us and run the race faithfully! They are in the stands cheering us on! Then he tells us to look to Jesus, the author, and the finisher of faith! If Jesus is at the next step along the way, you're going to be okay!
Everything in the Gospel of John from the beginning of Him manifesting His glory to His disciples here, to Him showing the glory of God to Martha and Mary, is preparatory for the glory of His death, burial, and resurrection. And His glory is preparatory for the outpouring of the Spirit! There is always a new now! Eight times in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to Himself as the I AM.
This sign did Jesus. Jesus did not do anything but give commands. His words are equivalent to actions. "Sign" is a distinctively Johannine word for Jesus' deeds, use to accent the revelatory character not only of Jesus miracles but everything He "did" (see 20:30, where everything Jesus "did in the presence of His disciples" is summed up under the heading of "signs"). Manifested forth His glory (1:14)." (J. Ramsey Michaels. The Gospel of John).
His revelation to "Israel" is a five-member Israel here--the disciples. They are the witnesses. There are many times as we follow Jesus that He will do signs that reveal His glory so that we can bear witness. Our miracles are not always about us.
The disciples saw it, and as we read John's Gospel, we are being invited to witness the miracle through the disciples' eyes and believe as well. The angels are going up and down... and we are beholding His glory!
They, and we, are beginning to see greater things. Our belief is going to another level. When Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, they may think that this is the greatest miracle ever, but there is an even greater miracle. He will raise Himself from the dead, it will be a whole 'nother level. This is the content of the second section of our chapter.
John 2:13-25 NKJV
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up." 18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
The conclusion of Chapter 2 gives another sign of a different sort. John places Jesus' cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem immediately following His first miracle. This has given rise to many different interpretations. Some commentators have said that there were two cleansings of the temple. Others have suggested that John originally wrote it and placed it at the end of his Gospel, only to move it later. It is hard to say. We accept the text as it is. Why would John place the temple cleansing here? Let's look and see.
Again, the word that begins the section is "and." There is a continuous flow here—one event to the next. And it was Passover. In Chapter 1, John points to Jesus twice as the Lamb of God. Now, Jesus walks into the temple courts on the day that celebrates Israel's deliverance from Egypt on the first Passover when they killed the Pascal lamb. He intentionally drives out the money changers and those who are selling sacrifice. His reason is that they have turned the place of prayer and communion with God into a business. It is easy for us to allow all kinds of things into places that should be dedicated to God. This had to be an uncomfortable scene as Jesus, slowly and methodically wove a whip together and then knowing the process that would be set in place by His opposition to the Jewish leaders did what needed to be done anyway.
Like the cherubim at the gate of the garden of Eden, He drove them out. This is the first time Jesus uses the phrase "My Father" which He will use again and again.
We are told that His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9, "Zeal for Your house has consumed Me." There is an allusion again to Jesus' death by the hands of the Jewish leaders here. To be consumed by zeal for the house can mean to be destroyed.
In the interaction between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, He tells is basically challenging them--"if you destroy this temple, I will raise it up in three days." They do not understand the discourse. Just as the bridegroom and the governor of the wedding feast did not understand or know about the miracle. This "sign" of cleansing the temple was done so that the disciples and others would believe on Jesus. After Jesus was risen from the dead, they remembered. They understood. Again, there are things in life that Jesus may do or say as we follow Him that we do not fully grasp now, but we will later.
"My Father's house"
Just prior to the crucifixion Jesus told His disciples:
"In My Father's household are many dwelling places..." (John 14:2).
He is telling them that there is room for them in the kingdom for them. As they continue to believe and follow Him eventually after the resurrection, they will hear these words from Jesus:
"I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God..." (John 20:17).
Conclusion:
Jesus is inviting you along a journey of discovery. As we behold His glory in ever-greater fashion, we know Him more and more. I remember listening to Elder Wayne McClain teach in a course on Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He talked about his longing to know Jesus more. He would spend hours in prayer and study, seeking to know Him. He said that one day the Lord spoke to him and said, "alright, that is enough, now let me show you who you are." As we read the Gospel of John, we will come to a place where Jesus calls God our Father. As our belief grows in Who He is, as we follow the leading of His Spirit, there is a greater and greater manifestation in our lives of what it means to be the sons of God. There are things He has said to you before that you do not truly comprehend. There are passages of Scripture that you have read the have more to them than meets the eye. If you will walk with Him and follow Him, you will experience ever-increasing glory (2 Cor 3).
