BIG IDEA:
JESUS FIRST MANIFESTED HIS GLORY IN SATISFYING THE HEART OF MAN WITH THE WINE OF NEW COVENANT LIFE AND FULLNESS OF JOY
INTRODUCTION:
What really satisfies the heart of man? cf. all of the Jewish OT expectations – looking forward to that promised Messiah who would usher in the New Covenant of new spiritual life and joy and righteousness and peace …
cf. all of the types and shadows in the OT pointing to the reality that would come in Christ
Does water truly satisfy?? my wife would say so … certainly enough to quench thirst; to sustain life … but not the ultimate drink in my opinion
I. (:1-2) THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST SIGN MIRACLE =
SON OF MAN AT WEDDING FEAST OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS
A. Significance of the Setting = a Wedding
1. What it was not:
– Not a classroom setting – Jesus taught His most important lessons through the tapestry of experience and relationship through the good works which He performed
– Not a funeral or even a serious, somber occasion (I was just at a funeral of a dear sister last evening – a time of remembrance and of many important lessons)
– Not an achievement-oriented, task-oriented occasion
2. What it was:
– an occasion of joy; cf. eschatological wedding feast
– a celebration of life – the intimate and precious union of husband and wife into a new family unit that holds the promise of fruit and blessing
– a demonstration of the humanity of Jesus
Jesus was not an ascetic — He came eating and drinking; God not some sourpuss out to rob men of joy and fullness of life
He was not scared of contact with the world, but welcomed opportunities to manifest God to those around Him; did not live in a shell, but a lighthouse
B. Significance of the Participants
1. Mother of Jesus
Transition stage where Jesus enters into His earthly ministry and is about the work of doing His Father’s business; we see Mary submitting to Jesus here
2. Disciples of Jesus
Galvanizing of their support; impressing upon them the magnitude of His person and mission; first mention of the important concept of personal faith
Were they also invited …or came along with Jesus unexpectedly??
II. (:3-5) THE EXPECTATION = JESUS CAN SOLVE ANY PROBLEM
A. (:3) Supplication for a Successful Solution –
Bringing the Problem to the Problem Solver
“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’”
– very embarrassing situation; more guests than expected??
– failure to plan ahead, or failure of resources, or lack of generosity …
– a hindrance to the joy of the feast
What was Mary’s expectation in bringing to Jesus’ attention the need of the moment = “They have no wine”
Jesus had been laboring faithfully in obscurity for 30 years; now His mother felt the time was ripe for Him to demonstrate His powers and resourcefulness in an open show of glory; Jesus chose to make this a much more private miracle – intended primarily for His disciples
B. (:4) Sensitivity to the Lord’s Program and Timing
“And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’”
What do different translations read here?? Not a rude slap in the face as it appears in the KJV:
“Our point of view and interests are wholly diverse; Why do you mingle them?”
Stedman: What I do will not accomplish what you are hoping. It will not persuade the nation that I am the Messiah. Miracles were indeed part of the plan of God. They would be performed, but they would not convince the nation.
Is Jesus being disrespectful to address Mary as “woman”?
Why not “mother?”
Shift from relating to Mary primarily as His mother and authority figure to carrying out the divine agenda — even when His mother did not understand all of the details or timing
“My hour has not yet come” — Possibilities
7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 13:1; 17:1 — it seems like all of these must be tied together with the switch coming in 13:1 where it is noted that the hour had now come; hostility reached its height immediately
The Son is glorified thru the total experience of death, resurrection, ascension, and coronation — all viewed as a totality
C. (:5) Submission to the Lord’s Instructions
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatsoever He says to you, do it.’”
Was Mary discouraged by this response?
Not at all; still had confidence that Christ would meet the need in His own way and timing (even if her expectations had been different)
III. (:6-10) THE SIGN MIRACLE – CHANGING THE WATER OF OT JEWISH PURIFICATION INTO THE WINE OF NEW COVENANT LIFE AND JOY
A. (:6-7) Fulfillment of OT Types and Shadows
“Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim.”
The simple obedience of the servants — crucial to the miracle
Stone was believed to preserve the purity and coolness of water
So no room was left to add anything else (no Kool Aid packages)
topping off what already remained in the jugs
Significance of “purification”
B. (:8-10) Surpassing Value of the Wine Provided Miraculously by Jesus
“you have kept the good wine until now”
He who could make matter out of nothing could easily change one form to another
Why did Jesus make wine that was not just the same as the previous wine, but superior?
symbolic statement regarding the superiority of the New Covenant
other symbolism of wine
the Lord’s Supper
IV. (:11) CONCLUSION – SUMMARY
A. The miracles Jesus performed were intended to be Sign Miracles
“This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee”
B. The miracles Jesus performed were intended to manifest His glory = grace and truth
“and manifested His glory”
C. The miracles Jesus performed were intended to stimulate faith
“and His disciples believed in Him”