The Wedding At Cana

Today let us meditate on John chapter 2. The Apostle John has written his gospel for one purpose, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When we believe you might have life, eternal life, in His name. The whole purpose of this gospel is just to line up supporting proofs for the deity of Jesus Christ. We already know that from our experience in chapter 1. There is the first eighteen verses, which is the testimony of John the apostle himself. John gives his own testimony that the Word, who is Jesus Christ, is God, with God, created everything, is the Light, is the life, all of those things are part of that. In verse 14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Then starting in verse 19, we have the testimony of John the Baptist. And he affirms that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (29). And then starting in verse 38 you have the third group of those giving verbal testimony--Andrew, Peter, John, Philip, Nathaniel who give us first-hand testimony that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, He is the Son of God, He is the King of Israel.

So the first chapter is verbal testimony from John the apostle, John the Baptist, and five followers who later become apostles. All of that is verbal testimony. Jesus is God, with God, is the Light, is the life, is God in human flesh, is the Lamb of God, is the Messiah, is the One spoken of in the Old Testament, is the Son of God and is the King of Israel. All of those confessions are made in that first chapter.

Now we come to chapter 2, we move from verbal testimony to testimony by the works of Jesus. And we can see the very first miracle in chapter 2. The Gospel of John gives us eight signs, eight miracles. Our Sunday school children, your children will learn these miracles in this semester under the title of miracle of Christ. The power, deity, miracle of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He turns water into wine in chapter 2.

He heals a dying man in chapter 4.

He cures a paralyzed man in chapter 5.

He creates food for thousands of people in chapter 6.

He walks on water at the end of chapter 6.

He gives sight to the blind in chapter 9.

He raises a man dead for days in chapter 11.

He miraculously catches the fish in chapter 21.

So these are the miracle signs that John records. Jesus did so many signs and so many miracles that the books of the world wouldn’t be able to contain the details of all of them. Many other things; John is merely giving us samples of these miraculous evidences.

Now as we come to chapter 2, it is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. His ministry to the crowds, His ministry to the people of Israel. Dear brothers & sisters in Christ, we may divide the gospel of John into 4 parts. Chapter 1 talking about testimony of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. From chapter 2 to 12, His public ministry; 13 to 17, His private ministry; 18 to the end, His death, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances. This is the way we may divide the gospel of John.

Today we’re going to start His public ministry of His first miracle. (Let me read it to you starting in verse 1, chapter 2.) There is no human way to explain Jesus. He has to be God, because He creates wine out of nothing. We already know He is the Creator: John 1:3, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made, that was made”. Here you have a miracle in which the Son of Man creates wine out of nothing. This is evidence that He is divine. Now let me just break down this account into four simple features.

Party:

It’s a party. It’s a party that exceeds all other parties because it’s the most important event in family life. The wedding at Cana is the most important for us because Jesus attended. John 2:1 says, “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.” Marriage is the most significant and important and carefully planned event that happens in family life.

According to the gospel of John chapter 21:2 Nathanael’s hometown was Cana in Galilee. This is a very small place. The population of Cana at the time of Jesus would be 500. That would be the max. A small place. They’ve been there for generations. They’re not only friends, many are family, and that would be extended into Cana. So we’re not surprised that Nathanael would be there because that’s his village. We’re not surprised that Mary would be there, she had lived in Nazareth for a long time. Surely they would know people in that wedding as well. So on the third day, there’s a wedding in Cana of Galilee. And this is a very significant experience, not because of the wedding, but because Jesus does attend this wedding.