Book Of John: John Ch. 2

Book Of John: Something About The First

September 24th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Story: Officiating weddings. I was told by my pastor “you always have to be ready to take on any and every role.” So as a wedding officiator, I’ve been the dj, wedding planner, family therapist, EMT, uber driver, photographer, and pastor.

My first wedding was when this became apparent. I showed up to the wedding, looking to find the wedding planner and take my orders, to realize that I was the wedding planner. 😀

Intro: In this passage we see Jesus take on several different roles at a wedding He attended as well.

Passage: John 2:1-12 CSB

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.

3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, together with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

Pray:

Background:

John, the disciple Jesus loved, is the author. The entirety of this gospel reveals the identity and divinity of Jesus and points us towards God’s love for the world and how we can have life in Jesus Christ.

We’re going to work through this text, extracting the details surrounding the miracle to see that there is a deeper and more significant truth revealed. It’s not merely a story of a miracle, but it’s a “sign” pointing to something that is to come.

This story is unique to the Gospel of John. It is not mentioned anywhere in any of the synoptic Gospels. Synoptic meaning similar in content and structure. We also see 37 miracles performed by Jesus, but only 7 are mentioned in this gospel, including this first miracle.

Story: There’s something special about the first. The first time you ate Rocky Road ice cream. The first time you rode a bike. The first time you went on a mission trip. There is significance in the first. Here we see Jesus’ first miracle, and it’s special.

Title: Something About The First

Main Points: Jesus in three different roles

1. Jesus the Guest

   1. On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.

   2. On the third day

      1. This is referring to the third day after Jesus' encounter with Phillip and Nathanael.

      2. It’s possible that it is also pointing towards the significance of the third day in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

         3. a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee.

      3. Cana was a small town close to Nazareth where Jesus was from, about 4 miles away. It was also the hometown of Nathanael.

      4. It could have been that they were invited because of Nathanael, but it’s more likely that the invite came through Mary.
      5. Weddings in historical jewish tradition hit different. It was not an evening ceremony with a cake cutting, flower toss, and a few speeches. Noooo, This was a several day, sometimes up to a week long party!

      6. This also wasn’t just a few close friends and family with a “small intimate setting”, it’s likely that most of the town was present along with family and friends from neighboring towns. NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A WEDDING!

         4. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.

      7. Jesus attends this wedding with his mom and 5 of His disciples. There’s no mention of His father Joseph, tradition says that he had most likely already passed away. It’s likely because we see as Jesus was on the cross, He entrusts the care of his mom to the apostle John.

      8. I love that as Jesus was beginning His earthly ministry, He doesn’t overlook the special moments of his friends.
      9. Warren Wiersbe speaks of this “Our Lord entered into the normal experiences of life and sanctified them by His presence. Wise is that couple who invite Jesus to their wedding!”
         5. Jesus' identity had been revealed, but no miracles had been performed up to this time.

      10. John 1 gives eight titles for Jesus:

          1. the Word (v1)
          2. God (v1)
          3. Life (v4)
          4. Light (v7)
          5. Fullness (v16)
          6. Christ (v17)
          7. Lord (v23)
          8. Lamb of God (v29) 2. The miracles don’t define His identity, but they do reveal His divinity. They are evidence of His glory on display.
          9. App: This does not mean that we wait for the miracle before we truly believe that He is who He says He is.
          10. Jesus even questions Nathanael in John 1:50 “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree?”
          11. Believe in Jesus because His glory has been revealed and He is alive, not because you are waiting on the miracle or demanding a sign. Don’t be like the Pharisees and Sadducees testing God. (Matthew 16:1-4)

2. Jesus the Son

   1. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.

   2. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.”

      1. It was the groom's responsibility to provide for the feast. Weddings could easily last a week in Jewish culture and failure to provide enough provision for the festivities was not only socially embarrassing, but could actually result in a legal issue from the bride's family. This was a big deal to mess up!!!
      2. The only modern equivalent I could imagine today would be if the groom lost the wedding ring, forgot to hire a DJ, and booked the wrong flights for the honeymoon! IT WOULD BE A DISASTER!

      3. His mother turns to Him looking for some kind of help. Surely there’s something you can do. I don’t believe she was trying to spur on some miraculous act, as much as seeking help from the one who always has good ideas.

         3. 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.”

      4. The more literal translation would be something along the lines of “What do you and I have in common. I’m about my Fathers business now.”

      5. The word “Woman” was courteous but it’s not endearing. It would be similar to the word “mam”. He’s speaking as Jesus, the Son of God here.
      6. John is showing us this exchange where Jesus is coming into His ministry phase and He’s making that apparent with this statement.
      7. “My hour has not yet come.” This is Jesus thinking about something else. He wasn’t saying it’s not time to find a wine solution, He was saying it’s not yet time to die on the cross. He didn’t change His mind and perform a miracle, He was looking ahead at the cross.

      8. He was thinking on the heavenly timetable. He was on assignment from the Father and no longer under her supervision.

         4. 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.

      9. Just as Mary knew to tell the servants to do whatever He tells them, the same is true for us today. The answer to our greatest challenges is found in Jesus. Mary pointed them to Jesus, and that is still our mission today.

      10. Miracles demand recognizing His authority, faith in His ability, and submitting to His Word
      11. “She approaches Jesus as a mother, and is reproached; she responds as a believer, and her faith is honored.” DA Carson

3. Jesus the Host

   1. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, together with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

   2. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification.

      1. The water jars were for ceremonial washings. So we see Jesus replaces the law with new wine. The water of the law with the wine of the new covenant. A ceremonial clean pot, Jesus is the only clean vessel, and He turns it into wine.

      2. In the Old Testament God through Moses turned water into blood as a curse, but now Jesus is turning water into wine, representing His blood as a blessing. “Jesus Christ is sitting in the midst of all this joy, sipping the coming sorrow.” Unknown Minister

         3. 150-180 gallons of wine total. John calls it “Jesus first sign”. A sign is always pointing towards His grace.

      3. Isaiah 25:6 says the Messianic Kingdom would have great wine. This reveals the generosity of God’s Kingdom. It’s so generous that it was more than enough for the party, and afterwards they could have sold the wine and lived on the proceeds for a long time!

      4. “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us —  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21 CSB

         4. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

      5. The groom received the praise for the wine even though it was Jesus that performed the miracle. Jesus took the responsibility of the groom. He is the divine bridegroom. (Matthew 9:15)

      6. “Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” - Matthew 9:15 CSB.

         5. Jesus takes a dying party and turns it into a glorious feast. People may say “I reject Jesus because I want to have fun.” Are you kidding me? There ain’t no party like a Jesus party. It’s fun and different at the same time.

      7. Prayer Life - Jesus uses this sign for a little thing, but when Jesus acts, it’s not little anymore. His miraculous work can take the monotonous or minuscule requests, and make them extraordinary.

         6. Wine is a symbol of joy.

      8. Though the Old Testament condemns drunkenness, throughout the Scriptures wine is often referenced in terms of celebration, blessing, and joy. (Ps 4:7, Ps 104:7, Prov 3:9-10, Song 1:2, Is 25:6)

      9. The world's joy always runs out, but the joy He gives is new and always satisfying.
      10. The world offers the “best” first, and then once you are hooked, then it starts to progressively get worse. Jesus continues to offer what is truly best and provides till we’re overflowing!
      11. Psalms 104. “He causes grass to grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth, wine that makes human hearts glad — making his face shine with oil — and bread that sustains human hearts.” - Psalms 104:14-15 CSB
      12. The more dependent we are on Him, the more we run to Him, the more joy we’ll experience in our lives.
      13. This is not simply a miracle of turning water to wine, but this is a beautiful picture of Jesus bringing joy and provision to those that seek and obey Him.

Walking Points:

1. Who He is - The Song of God
2. What He can do - Redeem that which is broken
3. What He offers - Restored the joy of our salvation
4. How do you receive this? - Recognize you are out

Communion: Mark 14:22-26

As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Colors & Numbers:

Main Points (On Screen)

Main Passages (On Screen)

Supplementary Passages/Thoughts (Off Screen)

Haymakers (On Screen)

Haymakers (Off Screen)

Gears To Choose (1-5)

Key Marker