A drunken coal miner came to Christ & went stone cold sober. He began telling all his friends about his freedom in Christ & the evils of alcohol. One friend decided to trap him. “Do you really believe Jesus turned water into wine?” “Absolutely!” he replied. “For me, He’s turned wine into a house, furniture, clothes, & food for my family!”
In John’s gospel, in Jn 1:19-28, on the 1st day John the Baptist says he isn’t the Christ. It’ll be One Who comes after him. On the 2nd day, in Jn 1:29-31 he sees Jesus & says He’s the One. Early in the 3rd day, in Jn 1:35-42 two of John the Baptist’s disciples, Andrew & John (unnamed), started following Jesus. Later that day, Jn 2:1-11 picks up the story. Let’s look.
1aOn the 3rd day was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Tiny town, whereabouts unknown. 1bJesus’ mother was there. (John never names Mary.) Why there? Relative of bride or groom? Maybe. She’s helping to cater it. 2Jesus & his disciples had also been invited. He isn’t yet well-known. So, he & his posse are likely invited due to Mary. He goes! Jesus loves a good party. Then, & now. Wouldn’t it be wise to invite Jesus to every party? Especially weddings?
Suddenly, 3aThe wine was gone. They ran out! Trivial? Not so. An ANE wedding lasted days, often a week. It was a community party, not private. Run out of wine? Social disgrace! Scriptures like Jdg 9:13 & Ps 104:15 picture wine as joy. Run out of wine? An omen! Your joy will run out! Worse, it’s likely a financial disaster for the groom. Legally, he has to put on a feast equal to the gifts he expects. If he fails, he can be sued for up to half the value of those gifts! Why run out? He’s likely poor. In every way, it’s a disaster! 3bMary told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” What Mary did is a lesson. Got a problem? Do what she did. Take our problem to Jesus. He’s the answer to every problem. Not just in church.
4aJesus said, “Woman, what concern is that to you & to me? Harsh? No. To her, it’s like Ma’am in our culture. Polite. But it isn’t Mom. Jesus is showing Mary that His time under her authority has ended. The time of His ministry has begun. As of now, His Father is the authority in His life. Not His mother. 4bMy hour hasn’t yet come.” If you live with your folks, be careful with Jesus’ words. Imagine: “Take out the trash!” “What’s that got to do with me? My hour hasn’t yet come!” Or “Make your bed!” “What’s that got to do with me? My hour hasn’t yet come!” Try it, & your hour will come sooner than you want. Jesus’ hour was the time to fully reveal His glory. On the cross, redeeming Creation. Till then, only 3 disciples got a peek, at His Transfiguration. For now, it isn’t time. This is a lesson. If someone asks us to do something, even a parent, it doesn’t mean we should say yes. Ask the Father, 1st.
Mary isn’t upset. She’s known Who Jesus is since before His birth. She readily accepts His new priority. 5Mary said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” This is another lesson. Need Jesus to act on our behalf? Notice how Mary did it. Give the need to Him. Don’t tell Him how to meet it. Just give it to Him. Then step back. Trust Him to meet it. That’s how we should pray. If we pray & trust, He’s free to act any way He pleases. Including ways that amaze us.
6aNow standing there are 6 stone water jars for the Jewish purification rites. 6bEach holds 20-30 gallons. 120-180 gallons of water. Enough for all guests to wash before eating, as custom requires. Guests are already enjoying the wedding feast, so many or all the jars are empty. 7aJesus said, “Fill the jars with water.” They wonder. What will He do? Add grapes, sugar, & ferment it all in a hot minute? Never happen! But, because Mary asked, 7bthey fill them up to the brim. No way to add anything else.8aJesus said, “Now draw some out. They do without tasting. No point, right? 8bTake it to the maître d’.” Really!? Despite their misgivings, the remember what Mary said. 5Do whatever He tells you. So, 8cthey took it. If he’s upset, it’s on Mary. Not them. 9aThe maître d’ tasted the water that had become wine. Now, it’s wine! When did that happen? John doesn’t say. There’s still a lesson. Want God to do something amazing for us? We already saw how to start. Give Him our need. Trust Him. The next step seems obvious. What if He tells us to carry water to a maître d’ who’s desperate for wine? What Jesus asks may seem crazy. Even risky. But I think the water changed to wine while they were obeying Jesus. As they carry it to the maître d’, it changes. So, start by presenting our need to Jesus. Trust Him to act. Then do whatever He tells us. That’s the lesson. Whatever Jesus says do, obey in faith.
9bThe maître d’ doesn’t know where it came from. All he knows? There’s wine. Catastrophe averted. 9c(Only the servants who drew the water know.) Why is Jesus so secretive? It isn’t time to display His glory publicly. Those who need to know, do. 9dThe maître d’ called the bridegroom. 10a“Everyone serves good wine 1st. 10bInferior wine is served after the guests are drunk. Why not? By then, they either won’t notice or won’t care. 10cBut you… you’ve kept the good wine until now.” Wine /water are signs. Water is the law. It has no taste to attract us. No strength to save us. The age of law has run out. The water of law has been replaced with new wine, the age of grace. This new age has already broken in with the coming of Jesus Christ. He’s our Creator. He makes only the very best. And He’s given it to us. This new wine of grace is already being served as we enter the joy of the KoG. Even so, His very best comes at the end. And, like grace, the wine at this wedding feast came after all human effort had failed,
For the groom, the Lord’s best is better than He could know. How so? Even 120 gallons of water would make over 3,800 4-ounce glasses. If 180 gallons, it’d have been over 5,700 4-ounce glasses. And remember. Wine was diluted 3 parts water to 1 part wine. There’s more wine than this party will need. Jesus doesn’t just give the very best quality. He never skimps. He gives us in ample measure. Full to overflowing. The groom’s gift came when all human efforts had failed. Just so, God’s best also comes at the end of all our efforts.
Our best usually comes 1st. We dress up & put on manners. We hope others won’t see our emptiness & neediness. We clean up the rooms they’ll see & hope guests stay out of wherever we put the messes. Our best, though 1st, is always inadequate. Not so with Jesus. His best comes last! We cautiously tasted His grace at 1st. Now, we now drink freely. We savor the riches of His forgiveness. We rejoice all His Spirit gives us. At 1st, it was us & Jesus. Later, it became Jesus & us. Now, it’s JESUS alone. We worship Him as our victorious, risen Lord, Our Creator. His Spirit taught us to pray. Our long lists of halting requests are now joyous, thankful prayer in everything. We’re always with Him & in Him. We’ve come to know our “Abba, Father.” Death is no longer an end. It’s now a door into an unending wedding feast. Life eternal with our glorious God. With all who have gone before us. New wine at its best.
11aJesus did this, His 1st sign, in Cana of Galilee. It wasn’t just a miracle. It’s a sign. Creating wine from water is a sign that Jesus is our Creator. It’s a sign that old wine has passed. New wine has come. And for His disciples, 11bHe revealed his glory. He gave them a sign of Who He is. 11cHis disciples believed in Him. Their faith wasn’t fully formed. But they had the mustard seed of faith. And that’s enough.
Imagine the Lord preaching this sermon. What might He say? “The world’s joy always runs out. You can’t get it back. The joy I give is always new. It’ll always satisfy. What the world offers will seem best at 1st. Until you’re hooked. Then, it turns bad. Likewise, Moses’ 1st miracle was a plague. Turning water to blood. Judgment. But my 1st miracle was grace. Supplying what’s missing. What I offer will always be fresh. Always the best. When you take what I offer, you’ll never run out. You’ll keep enjoying the best until we enjoy it together in My eternal Kingdom. But remember. You can’t earn what I offer. If you try, you’ll end up empty. Like the 6 empty water jars. What they hold will wash only your outside. It won’t wash you inside. It can’t bring you joy. So, accept what I give, & I’ll replace your emptiness with fullness. Disappointment, with joy. Best of all, it’ll be ours to share, forever.”
