Sermon Tone Analysis

1. Intro

a. Been looking at who Jesus is

i.

The special baby: the king

ii.

The incarnation

iii.

Last week at the baptism and seeing him as one person of the Trinity: Father, Holy Spirit and Son

1.

But it is as if all these have been the prelude to what he does

iv.

Today we look at what is the first thing he did in his ministry

1.

This is the first of his signs

2. The first thing he did

b.

When you consider Jesus' ministry on earth in the three years he wandered around Palestine, you're likely to characterize it by his healing people, casting out demons, calming storms and walking on water, teaching, telling stories and parables, inspiring people to follow him.

i.

But Whenever you read a story, a novel, or see a play, the first act sets the stage for the rest of it.

It tells you what it's all about.

It points ahead to what needs to be done, what needs to be solved.

We get introduced to the characters and what they are there to do.

1.

In that regard, we might have some expectations about Jesus would begin his ministry

a. Healing, teaching, doing something spectacular with the weather

b.

Something big to announce his presence

ii.

Here's the first story: Jesus is using the full force of his divine power to fix a catering disaster.

1. Quick point about it: No one would make this up as the beginning of his ministry and signs.

2. It's here because it happened.

c.

But we also know from scripture, as surprising as some of the stories are, there are reasons for them.

So we have to ask why?

i.

Why did he do it?

ii.

What did Jesus mean by it?

iii.

What's the point, the teaching we can take from it?

d.

Three questions that will help answer why Jesus starts his ministry with fixing a catering mishap

i.

What does Jesus offer here?

What is he coming to do?

ii.

How does he provide it?

iii.

How do we get in on it?

How can we receive it?

2. First, What does Jesus offer here?

What is he coming to do?

a. Weddings are a big deal

i. Years ago, my wife and daughter were enamored with the show "say yes to the dress".

1.

It was a reality show of women shopping at a famous bridal shop for wedding dresses.

2. It was shocking for all the time, effort and expense that went into just the dress for the even bigger event of the wedding

3.

And it made for great drama to hear all the opinions, see the sales, and finally get to the decisions and the weddings

4. Weddings are a big deal

ii.

As big as they are now, in many cultures including the ancient culture during Jesus' time they were enormously bigger

1.

They had seven days of feasting

2. And the key to the whole thing was the wine - 7 days of wine

3.

And it was all up to the groom's family to supply it all

b.

So if the wine ran out early, it really was a disaster

i.

It was no joke

ii.

Especially in a shame culture, if the family did not fulfill cultural expectations, it was a disaster for everyone

1.

This is no small thing

c.

Mary, who must have been close to the situation, finds out what is going on

i.

She knows enough about her Son to know that he would be able to help

ii.

And so she goes to him

iii.

Then the first public sign that Jesus does is produce 150 gallons of wine - the best wine

1.

I have to imagine it was the best wine ever

iv.

And he sends it to the Master of the Feast

1.

He's the wedding guru - the wedding planner orchestrating everything

2. The Greek word literally means, "ruler of the table" or "Lord of the banquet"

d.

When you ask the question, what does Jesus offer?

What is he coming to do?

You see it here

i.

As the source of the wine, he is the Master of the Feast

ii.

So when Jesus brings the wine as his first act, he wants us to know he is the one who establishes the feast.

1.

The feast is not a new notion to the Israelites.

a. - "you prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies"

b.

But especially

c. “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.””

(, ESV)

d.

And we'll see this feast fulfilled in Jesus in the book of revelation