Jesus: The Better Wine (2)

Jesus: the Better Wine

John 2:1-11

I.      Introduction

A. Great weddings – Filled with celebration and expectations: vows and ceremony; dinner and speeches; dancing and celebration

1. When I married Lisa, it was a wonderful ceremony, but it had great meaning behind it.  I was making a vow before God and my friends and family to love, honor, and cherish her for the rest of my life       

2. Without the celebration, there would be a misunderstanding of the marriage

3. If it were all just going through the motions of rituals, there would be no life to it

4. The rings, vows, sand ceremonies, and lighting of the unity candles mean nothing without the significance behind them

B. Have you ever heard of a newlywed cheating on their spouse during the honeymoon?  What does that say about what they did in the wedding?

1.  It was nothing more than dry symbolism with no meaning

2. This is what had happened in Judaism in that day – All the rituals pointed to a need for real sanctification, yet they were filled with self-righteousness

3. Matthew 23:1-15

C. This is the first of the seven “signs” in the first half of the book of John

1. Sign – John’s designation of the miracles of Jesus

2. Other gospels use the word δυναμις

3. John sees the miracles as pointing to the truth of who Jesus is – it is deeper than just a magic trick

D. What this passage is not

1. A statement on alcohol

2. A teaching on marriage or weddings

E. Tell the story

II.     Trust Jesus when things go wrong (1-5)

A. Exegesis

1. Mary knows that when the embarrassment and shame of running out of wine comes, only Jesus can make a difference

2. Does she know he will do a miracle?  He has not done one yet.  He is waiting for His hour to come

3. Mary places her complete faith in Jesus to make a difference in the situation

a) She is remembering what happened when He was born

b) She is remembering His teaching the rabbis at age 12

c) She is remembering His baptism and the voice of God

d) She is remembering the proclamation of JB saying that He is the Messiah

4. Her response when he calls her down is to tell the servants to, “Do whatever He tells you!”

B. Application

1. This is the greatest sermon preached by Mary in the Bible

2. We are to do whatever He tells us and have faith in Him

a) That He is leading us correctly and that He knows everything

b) That He can empower us to do all that He tells us to do

3. Real faith is doing whatever He tells us to do

III.   Trust Jesus to turn our insufficiency into His abundance (6-7)

A. Exegesis

1. The problem is huge

a) The lack of wine brings shame upon the groom who was supposed to provide an adequate amount for the entire week

b) This would be like showing up at a wedding dinner and there was not enough to feed all the guest

c) The laws at the time show that it is within the realm of possibility that they could be sued – this is how serious the job of being a host is

d) The disappointment of the wedding guests

2. There is nothing but water and the larger ritual jars

3. Jesus tells them to fill the jars to the top –

4. They filled them to the brim –each jar holds approximately 20-30 gallons times six jars = 120-180 gallons

5. Jesus provides wine in abundance

a) It takes away the problem

b) Brings the joy they are looking for

c) It is more than enough

B. Application

1. When Jesus provides our salvation he provides it in abundance

2. When Jesus provides our righteousness, He provides it in abundance

3. He gives what we cannot give and gives it in abundance

IV.   Trust Jesus over religion (8-11)

A. Exegesis

1. The jars are for purification

a) We know this because they are large stone pots – Clay ones could not be used for rituals because they could not be cleaned correctly, although clay is more common

b) They would use this at a wedding for ritual cleansing, but not actual

c) The water pots, though religious, have no remedy for actual problems because they are symbolic

2. Jesus has them fill the jars to the top with water

3. When the water is drawn and tasted it is so much more than water – It has turned to wine

4. Not only is it good wine, it is the best wine

5. The party can now continue by the grace of Jesus, instead of lawsuits and shame

6. Wine is a symbol of the blessing of God’s people in the OT - Amos 9:13-14

7. It is given after everyone has already drank – uncustomary

B. Application

1. By the time Jesus came, there was nothing left of the Old Covenant Judaism – It had served its purpose of showing the insufficiency of self-righteousness

2. The symbols of the rituals pointed to the reality to come

3. That reality is fulfilled in Jesus – He will bring the real righteousness that the ceremonial cleansing symbolizes

4. Jesus can make us truly righteous and break the bonds of sin when religion alone cannot

5. What Jesus does within our sinful, dead hearts and to bring a very real life and righteousness into them

6. Religion is a wonderful thing in pointing people to Jesus.  It is a horrible thing when it begins the end, not the means

V.    Conclusion

A. Through this “sign” Jesus “manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

B. Ultimately Jesus raises his cup of wine and says, this is my blood of the covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins

C. Our forgiveness is based upon this blood that was shed for us

1. Maybe you have been living your life thinking you were a good person based on your works, but you know deep in your heart it will never be enough to cover the sin that is in your heart

2. Maybe you have been trying to live according to a religious code in hopes that your rituals will bring you the abundance you are looking for, but you still feel empty

3. Maybe you are searching for joy but only feeling frustration – Jesus is sufficient to give you abundant life

Matthew 23:1–15 (ESV)

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Amos 9:13–14 (ESV)

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.