FROM WATER AND WINE TO THE GLORY OF GOD
[Message 5 in 2021 series on Gospel of John]
John 2:1-11
Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ
February 14, 2021
Video Link To Sermon: https: //youtu.be/YcFSOZkPEv0
INTRODUCTION:
1.) This morning we come to a bit of a turning point or perhaps I should say a starting point in the ministry of Jesus.
A.) What is different is that Jesus begins to publicly reveal his identity and ministry as the Messiah and Son of God.
aa.) Part of this came as the result of pressure from his mother.
B.) The miracle of water to wine was the first of the public signs or miracles which Jesus had performed.
2.) In last week’s message I read in passing that Jesus had made the decision to go back to Galilee.
A.) Some have wondered why Jesus would have left Bethany and go from there to Galilee and then immediately go back up to Jerusalem.
aa.) Each of these trips would have been around thirty miles or fifty kilometers.
aaa.) Today that would not be much of a trip but inthat day travelling by animals or on foot would have been a trip of several hours.
B.) This second chapter of John answers that question.
ba.) Jesus went to Bethany where John was baptizing to himself be baptized.
bb.) A few days later it was necessary to again go up to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
bba.) Sandwiched between those two events was this wedding in Cana of Galilee.
3.) We are not told as to whose wedding this was, but it was probably either a member of Jesus’ family, or at the very least good friends of the family.
A.) I say this because Jesus, his mother, and the disciples (some of whom were relatives) were all invited.
aa.) In Jewish culture the wedding celebration, and the meals that went with it sometimes would continue for as long as a week.
aaa.) That could also explain why they did not have enough wine for the entire celebration.
I. WEDDING WOES.
1.) The wine was gone. (1:3a.)
A.) This would have been a major embarrassment for the family hosting the wedding reception.
2.) Mary tells Jesus about the problem. (1:3b.)
A.) “They have no more wine.”
B.) Please notice how Jesus addressed his mother: “Dear woman” (2:4a.)
ba.) Jesus was being respectful to her but called her “woman” rather than mother.
bb.) This is notable because Jesus was pointing out their mother-son relationship in no way was to direct the work of God which Jesus had to carry out.
bc.) While there is to be honour and respect towards our parents, there are also times when we must give a higher allegiance to God.
bca.) This was particularly true between Jesus and Mary.
C.) Jesus asked her “Why do you involve me?” (1:4a.)
ca.) While being respectful to his mother, Jesus was telling his mother this was not her concern or business.
caa.) Jesus and Mary were guests at the wedding; it was not their concern to get involved in the issues of the reception nor the shortage of the wine.
cab.) There was a bigger issue that Jesus also spoke of.
D.) “My time has not yet come.” (1:4b.)
da.) We do not know just how much Mary understood of the heavenly side of Jesus.
daa.) But for thirty years she had been waiting for his deity to be revealed to the world.
.01) Perhaps if Mary had fully understood what that would mean she might not have been so quick to push the timing of his ministry.
.02) But right now in the moment of the hour there was a need for wine which also gave her opportunity to encourage Jesus to reveal his deity to the world.
db.) The events of the ministry of Christ all had to be according to the plan and timing of God.
dba.) There were even times in the ministry of Jesus when the actions of man, and even the revelation of Jesus was delayed because it was not in the timing of God’s Master plan.
dd.) Jesus was declaring that even his own mother did not have the authority to speed up or control the schedule of God.
II. A MIRACULOUS WINE SOLUTION.
1.) Though rebuked, Mary continues to push for Jesus to help and so speaks to the servants.
A.) “Do whatever he tells you to do.” (1:5)
aa.) Mary ignores the rebuke of Jesus and speaks instead to the servants.
2.) Jesus miraculously deals with the problem.
A.) John 2: 6-7
B.) “Fill the jars with water.” (2:7a)
ba.) Scripture states these water jars were for the ceremonial washings in Jewish worship.
baa.) Scripture tells us this, and it is further proven in that they were made of stone (probably limestone.)
bab.) Jewish law (Leviticus 11:33ff.) stated that Clay pots could be used for household use, but ceremonial washings had to be from a stone pot as the clay ones could become defiled and unclean.
C.) “So, they filled them to the brim.” (2:7b.)
ca.) These men, filled the pots as Jesus had requested of them, and this seventh verse gives us the further detail that they filled the jars to the very brims.
cb.) While this is a small detail and may seem insignificant scripture makes a point of giving us this information.
cba.) I believe this is given to us so that those who question the Bible would not be able to say that they had only filled the pots half full and filled the rest of the pot with other wine.
3.) The water is presented to the master of the banquet.
A.) “Then he told them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” (2:8a.)
aa.) These men did as Jesus had said.
aaa.) They may have wondered why Jesus was sending them with water for the Master of the banquet to taste.
aab.) At this point there was no reason to believe these jugs contained anything other than water.
.01) As our text will later point out this was the first of the public miracles of Jesus particularly here in Cana.
.02) This being the case they had likely not expected it to be anything more than water.
.021) Why would there be the expectation of anything more?
B.) “They did so, and the master of he banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.” (2:8b-9)
ba.) We are not told at what point the transformation from water to wine had taken place and really it does not matter.
4.) The master of the banquet scolds the bridegroom.
A.) “Then he called the bridegroom aside (2:9)
aa.) The Master of the banquet is not impressed that the bridegroom has saved the good wine until now.
B.) Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink.” (2:10a.)
ba.) Usually, you would serve the good stuff first.
baa.) That would be the time when the sensation of taste could best appreciate the wine of higher quality.
bab.) The more you have drunk the less you would notice the difference of the quality of what you were drinking.
.01) This would be true rather they had gotten drunk, or not.
.02) Many have had trouble with this passage of Scripture on Jesus and wine.
.021) Numerous Bible Scholars have argued this was only grape juice, and not actually fermented wine.
.022) As one who does not drink and can under normal circumstances not give good reason for the consumption of alcohol, I certainly understand the prejudices that have caused many to so interpret this passage of Scripture.
.023) However, that is not an argument that can be made from this text, in fact, if anything we could make a stronger case for the opposite.
.023) We need to realize this is not a passage of scripture dealing with the sins and abuse of alcohol, but rather the goal was to reveal the glory of Jesus the Christ.
.0231) There are many other passages which deal with the dangers and abuse of alcohol.
C.) “But you have saved the best till now.” (2:11)
ca.) While we have no way of knowing the quality of the former wine, Scripture declares this was by far the best.
cb.) The main part of this passage of Scripture comes to us in the final few verses.
III. THE GLORY OF GOD IS REVEALED.
1.) “This was the first of his miraculous signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee.” (2:11a.)
A.) Cana was just a few miles from Jesus hometown of Nazareth.
aa.) It was here near his own home that Jesus revealed the glory of God through this first miracle.
B.) There are religious traditions of Jesus doing great miracles even from his childhood, but Scripture would certainly refute that idea.
C.) While we are not told the number at this wedding feast, it would likely have been a substantial number of people, just as there would be at most weddings today.
D.) We should note that the Scripture says this was a sign.
ca.) The value of the miracle was in what it signified, not in what it produced.
cb.) The first 10 or eleven chapters of John deal with many things which Scripture calls signs.
cc.) The primary purpose of the signs, wonders, and miracles Jesus performed were for the purpose of revealing the glory, and the deity of Christ.
cd.) This first miracle established his deity and revealed his glory.
2.) “He thus revealed His glory.” (2:11b.)
A.) That was the very reason Jesus had performed this miracle.
aa.) The transformation of the water to wine was not merely an end, but to point the disciples (and others) to the glory of God.
ab.) Likewise, it was not to satisfy the request of his mother though that also happened.
aba.) The miracle had one purpose which was to reveal the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
ab.) Did it work?
3.) “And his disciples put their faith in Him.” (2:12)
A.) It absolutely did. It brought the disciples to come to faith in Jesus, not merely as a man or Messiah, but in the person of God himself.
CONCLUSION:
1.) As I bring this message to a close many would look at this Scripture and only see that Jesus had changed water to wine.
A.) If that is all that has caught your attention in this passage of Scripture you have missed the entire point of the passage.
2.) The important thing is not that Jesus turned water to wine, but that by so doing, he revealed in himself the glory of God.
3.) May we continue to see the glory of God and the deity of Jesus Christ as we go through this gospel.
