The First Sign of Glory

John 2:1-12

Glory in Marriage:

From beginning to end, Scripture presents marriage as far more than a social arrangement: it’s a God-ordained picture of His grace, His covenant love, and His redeeming work.

In Genesis, the first human relationship is a marriage, God brings Adam and Eve together in covenant union, calling them to reflect His love and His purposes.

Throughout the Old Testament, God describes His relationship with His people as that of a husband to His bride, faithful, patient, pursuing, even when His people wander.

The prophets, like Hosea, paint the heartbreaking picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness, yet God’s relentless, redeeming love remains.

When we reach the New Testament, Paul tells us that marriage points beyond itself, to the relationship between Christ and His Church.

And in Revelation, the story ends with a wedding, the marriage supper of the Lamb, the joyful, eternal union of Christ and His redeemed people.

So it should come as no surprise that Jesus’ first public miracle takes place at a wedding feast. It’s not just a coincidence, it’s a deliberate signpost pointing to who He is, why He came, and the joy He alone can bring.

But, as we’ll see, the joy of that feast is threatened; the wine runs out. And in the midst of this ordinary crisis, Jesus quietly reveals Himself as the Lord who cares, the one who brings true joy through His glorious work of salvation.

Christ is Sovereign—and He Cares for Us

The Situation: The joyful occasion turns to crisis, the wine runs out. In that culture, this wasn’t a minor inconvenience, it was a social disaster.

Weddings weren’t a few hours long, they often lasted a full week. The entire village, family, and friends would be involved.

Hospitality was a sacred duty, the family’s reputation was on the line. Running out of wine wasn’t just embarrassing; it was a public shame. Some historical sources suggest families could even face legal consequences if they failed to adequately provide for their guests.

The Reaction: Mary brings the problem to Jesu, likely expecting Him to act. So when Mary comes to Jesus, it’s not about fussiness, it’s about avoiding shame, disgrace, and broken relationships.

Jesus’ response: "Woman, what is this between you and me? My hour has not yet come."

“Woman” A respectful but distancing term, reminding us His mission is directed by the Father, not human expectations.

“My hour” In John, this is pointing ahead to the cross, the true moment of His glory, when Jesus is raised up for the salvation of His people.

The Response: Even so, Jesus cares and He acts, not on human terms, but in divine wisdom and timing. His mission unfolds according to God's timing, not human crises.

Application: We often bring our crises to Jesus, but sometimes, if we’re honest, we bring not only our needs, but our instructions: "Here’s the problem, Jesus, and here’s how I’d like You to fix it."

But He is Lord, we are not. Yet His sovereignty doesn’t mean distance, it means assurance. He cares for the details of our lives, but He answers according to His perfect timing and purposes.

So bring your needs to Him, but then trust Him. Don’t try to run the show, He’s already in charge.

Christ Brings True Joy Through His Glorious Work of Salvation

The Situation: The six stone jars for purification - symbols of religious ritual, unable to produce true joy.

John is deliberate in mentioning them, “for the Jewish rites of purification.” These weren’t ordinary water pitchers for drinking, these were used in ritual washings, symbolizing the need for cleansing before God.

But here they stand, empty. It’s a picture of what the old system had become: external, ritualistic, unable to truly cleanse the heart or produce lasting joy. Like broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer. 2:13).

The Response: Jesus transforms them, filling them with new wine, abundant and far superior.

Jesus doesn’t discard the jars, He fills them. But not with ordinary water for washing, with rich, abundant, superior wine.

In Scripture, wine is often a symbol of joy, celebration, blessing, the fruit of God’s goodness (Ps. 104:15, Isa. 25:6).

At this wedding, it points to the joy of the New Covenant, where Christ Himself provides what the Law could never achieve.

The old ways could point to the need for cleansing, but only Jesus can truly cleanse and satisfy. Here Jesus gives a sign of the new, joyful life He brings, the fulfillment of what the Law could never accomplish.

Abundance: God’s provision isn’t meager; His grace overflows. Not for excess, but the new couple could sell off the remaining wine as a financial foundation for their new life.

Application: The world offers temporary joy; religion without Christ leaves us empty. But Jesus offers the joy that lasts, the joy of salvation, the joy of knowing Him.

Many still chase joy in rebellion, self-sufficiency, or empty rituals, religious performance, good works, external appearances.

But Jesus came not to patch up the old system, but to fulfill it, and to replace empty jars with the overflowing joy of salvation.

Are you still chasing joy in empty jars? Clinging to rituals that leave your heart dry? Or have you tasted the new wine—the abundant, lasting joy that only Christ provides?

Our Call to Believe and Obey—and Find True Joy in Christ

The Servants:

They obey Jesus even when His instructions seem unusual. Filling water to the brim, serving water to the guests. Only they knew what had happened.

Did they know it was wine? Did they know it was the best wine? They might have faced the anger of the master of the feast.

The Disciples

The disciples believe after seeing His glory. His glory revealed, they believed. Prior to this, they had heard John’s testimony, they heard Jesus teaching, but now they saw with their own eyes a wonder no one could explain.

Faith and Obedience Lead to Joy

The servants obey, the disciples believe, and in doing so, they experience the joy that Christ brings.

It’s not that obedience earns joy, but as we trust and follow Him, we discover that His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), and that in His presence there is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).

True joy isn’t found in doing life on our own terms, but in trusting Christ and walking in obedience to Him.

Application

So many chase joy in rebellion, self-sufficiency, or religious performance. But the joy that lasts is found in surrender, through simple, humble trust and daily obedience to Christ.

Like the servants - are you willing to do what He says, even when it seems ordinary or strange?

Like the disciples - are you growing in faith as you see His grace and power at work?

The irony: The world promises joy through autonomy. “Do what you want.” But Jesus shows us that true, lasting joy comes through submission, through faith and obedience to the One who turns water to wine, and sorrow to joy.

You may not always understand what Christ is doing, but will you trust Him? Will you obey His word? Joy follows belief. Blessing follows obedience.

Conclusion

This miracle wasn’t just about saving a wedding, it was a sign pointing to the greater joy, the greater celebration, the greater salvation Christ brings.

It was the first sign of His glory, the glory that would ultimately shine at the cross and in the empty tomb.

And it points us forward to the greatest wedding yet to come, the marriage supper of the Lamb, when Christ will return for His bride, the Church, and we will dwell with Him in unending joy.

He is sovereign and He cares.

He brings true joy through His glorious work.

Trust Him. Obey Him. And rejoice in Him as we await that greater day.