THE FIRST SIGN
John 2:1–11
Introduction
As a preacher, I have been involved in many weddings. Weddings can be complex or simple, and when it comes to
planning the ceremony, whatever the bride wants is what she gets. The groom is just there for moral support.
Maggy and I will celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary this July. It was a hot day in the Mississippi Delta. We didn’t have much, so there were a lot of helpers. Maggy’s dress was made by a friend of her mother’s, and it was simple and beautiful. I actually sang a song to her during the ceremony - what was I thinking! The ladies at church prepared the rehearsal supper in the church kitchen. A friend made our wedding cake. On that hot Mississippi day, the A/C had a hard time keeping up with the heat. During the ceremony, the top tier of the wedding cake slid onto the floor! Ladies hosting the reception in the church hall scrambled to get it cleaned up and looking presentable. We didn’t know about it until later!
When something goes wrong at a wedding, it’s hard not to panic
In our text today is a wedding where something goes wrong, and someone is about to be embarrassed! The first miracle of Jesus, which John calls a "sign”. John 2:11 “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” There are seven signs in the first half of John’s gospel, all meant to drive us toward believing in Him as the Messiah, the Savior. This first sign tells us at least three things about Jesus.
1. The First Sign Reveals the Heart of Jesus
John 2:1-2 "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”
Cana of Galilee, a small village just a few miles from Nazareth. In the ancient Jewish world, a wedding was the greatest celebration of a lifetime. After the ceremony—often held late in the evening—the bride and groom were led through the streets by torchlight, under a canopy, taking the longest route possible so the whole village could rejoice with them. Instead of a honeymoon, the couple hosted an open house for an entire week. They were treated like royalty, wearing crowns and bridal garments. In lives marked by poverty and constant labor, this was a rare and precious joy. This was likely the wedding of a family member or close friend. Mary is there, Jesus is there, and His newly called disciples are there. And then the unthinkable happens.
John 2:3a “When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
Those five words in verse 3 represent far more than a catering problem. In Jewish culture, wine was essential to celebration. The rabbis said, “Without wine, there is no joy.” To run out of wine would bring deep embarrassment and lasting shame upon the bride and groom and their families. Mary brings the problem to Jesus. Not a theological crisis. Not a national emergency. Just a quiet, humiliating shortage.
I love the conversation between Jesus and Mary—we do not have much insight into their relationship.
John 1:4-5 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” We would love to have heard Jesus’ tone of voice here - it is utmost respect! Mary’s instruction is still good advice, by the way!
The heart of Jesus:
-He cares about ordinary lives and everyday struggles.
-He is interested in even our small concerns.
-Jesus understands what it is like to be a human.
-Your concerns matter to Him. Even the quiet ones.
This sign reveals the heart of Jesus, but also …
2. The First Sign Reveals the Power of Jesus
John 2:6–10 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 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.”
The six large stone water jars each hold 20 to 30 gallons! Somewhere between the filling and the pouring, water becomes wine. Not cheap wine. Not barely adequate wine. But wine so good that the master of the banquet is astonished the best has been saved for last. In total, Jesus produces somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of extraordinary wine. I read about a boy in Sunday School who said, “If you’re going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!”
This sign reveals the power of Jesus over the elements of creation. He does not pray for the water to change. He does not struggle or strain. With quiet authority, He transforms the substance of reality itself. And He does so generously. No need on earth can exhaust the grace of Christ.?He is more than sufficient. This is a Savior who acts on behalf of others, who meets needs fully, and who never does anything halfway.
3. The First Sign Reveals the Glory of Jesus
John 2:11 “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”
That is the purpose of the sign. Not applause. Not attention. But belief. The glory revealed here is not loud or public. It is quiet, relational, and faith-producing. Only a few know what has happened, but their understanding of Jesus is forever changed.
This sign also points forward.
When Jesus says to His mother, “My hour has not yet come,” He reminds us that even in moments of compassion, He is moving steadily toward the cross. Throughout John’s Gospel, “the hour” refers to His suffering, death, and ultimate glorification.
When say we believe in Jesus, we are believing not only in his coming to earth, living a perfect life, and being the greatest teacher. We are believing in the power of the cross, the reality of the resurrection, and the promise of His return.
Conclusion
Jesus began His public ministry not in a palace, but at a wedding.?
The First Sign reveals: The heart of Jesus, who cares deeply about ordinary lives. The power of Jesus, who transforms what we cannot. The glory of Jesus, which invites faith and trust. Mary’s words still echo across the centuries: “Do whatever He tells you.” That is the invitation today. Come and see His heart. Come and trust His power. Come and believe in His glory.
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Discussion Questions for John 2:1-11
1. Karoline Lewis, in her commentary on John, wrote, “Jesus introduces the presence of God into the day-to-
dayness of being human.” In what ways do we unconsciously think that Jesus is only interested in the religious areas of our lives?
2. When Mary tells Jesus that they have run out of wine, what do you imagine Mary expects Jesus to do? Did she expect a miracle?
3. What do you make of the discussion between mother and son, Mary and Jesus? What does it reveal about Mary? What does it reveal about Jesus?
4. John never mentions Mary, the mother of Jesus, by name in his gospel. He never mentions his own name. What possible reasons come to mind about why this is?
5. In his book, King of Glory: 52 Reflections on the Gospel of John, Travis Bookout notes that in the Bible, wine is often a symbol of God’s blessing, a gift to mankind (Psalm 104:14-15), as well as a symbol of the Messianic age (Mark 2:22; Amos 9:13-14). What about this miracle quietly announces these kinds of thoughts/connections?
6. What was it about this miracle that caused the disciples to believe in Him (as noted in verse 11)? What did it reveal about his glory?
7. At the end of the wedding feast, very few individuals knew about the miracle in their midst. Why do you think Jesus didn’t make a bigger deal about his amazing work?
8. The disciples believed more deeply after seeing this sign. How has remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthened your confidence in him?
Next Week: Cleansing the Temple - John 2:13-25
