John 2:1–12 Sermon

Scripture

John 2:1–12 ESV

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Introduction

The gospel of John is about revealing the truth of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 21:20 ESV

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”

This is clearly presented in the first chapter.

In the prologue which covers verses 1 to 18, we see John the Apostle revealing, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is God.

Jesus is the Word that was with God and was Himself God in the beginning.

All things were made through Jesus Christ revealing Him as Creator

In Jesus was life and in Him the light of men

John bore witness of Jesus who was the true light who came into the world

Jesus, who is the Word of God, came into the flesh and dwelled among us

Jesus is revealed as the only Son from the Father who was full of grace and truth

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ

And we see that Jesus was always at the Father’s side

The prologue makes it clear that Jesus was and is God who came in the flesh and dwelt among men. Perfectly revealing the Father as the Son.

After the prologue in verses 19 to 34 we see John giving witness to this truth about Jesus Christ.

John declared Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

John declared that Jesus ranked before Him

John’s baptism was done so that Jesus would be revealed to Israel

This was confirmed by what he was told by God in the wilderness about Jesus Christ, where he was told that the Spirit would descend and remain on the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit

Where he was told that the Spirit would descend and remain on the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

This led to John to declaring Jesus as the Son of God

After this portion of Scripture where John the baptist gives witness to the truth of Jesus Christ, what follows is Jesus gathering disciples in verses 35 to 51.

John again declares Jesus as the Lamb of God

Which two of John’s disciples heard and they began to follow Jesus

The two were Andrew and John (the writer of this gospel)

Andrew believes John’s witness (we see this in verse 41)

Which compelled Andrew to share with his brother Peter

They followed Jesus to where he was staying and Jesus then renames Simon with the name Peter

Jesus the next day finds Philip

Philip shares with Nathanael and Nathanael also follows Jesus

Nathanael (named Bartholomew in the other gospels) comes to faith

We saw that Nathanael went from a son of Joseph belief to a belief in Jesus as the Son of God

This coming from Jesus knowing and seeing Him before he came to Him

And so the foundation has been laid deeply in the first chapter

Jesus was and is God from the beginning

Jesus came in the flesh and dwelled among men

People gave witness to the truth of Jesus Christ

And men would believe and follow Jesus Christ

Now going into the second chapter we see a transition.

From chapters 2 to 11, we see Jesus performing miracles and signs.

It’s important to define what a miracle is before we continue.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines a miracle as:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Miracle

MIRACLE (δύναμις, dynamis). An event that defies common expectations of behavior and subsequently is attributed to a superhuman agent; an occurrence that demonstrates God’s involvement in the course of human affairs.

An event that defies common expectations of behavior and subsequently is attributed to a superhuman agent; an occurrence that demonstrates God’s involvement in the course of human affairs.

In short, a miracle is an event that defies common expectations and demonstrates God’s involvement in the course of human affairs.

We have recorded about 104 Miracles in the New Testament that Jesus performed.

In Matthew Jesus did 33, in Luke He did 31, in Mark 27 and in the gospel of John Jesus did 10. Which leaves John with the least recorded miracles not counting the book of Acts which has three of them.

Question: If the gospel of John’s purpose was to reveal the truth of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God so that people could believe, why would John have the least recorded compared to the other gospel accounts?

Answer: Miracles in themselves do not cause one to attain saving faith.

What causes one to have saving faith is grace and truth which is found in who Jesus is. Which is strongly laid out in the gospel of John.

This miracle in the second chapter is no exception to miracles being only arrows pointing to the miracle worker.

Miracles are but arrows pointing to Jesus Christ and faith in Him is what causes one to be saved.

That is why John makes no mistake in laying the foundation in the first chapter that Jesus is the Son of God who is Himself God from the beginning.

The transition is simply that in this gospel Jesus goes from being declared, proclaimed and followed to Jesus beginning His ministry with a miracles

In this transition from being declared, proclaimed and followed, Jesus begins His ministry with a miracle at a wedding.

The first of which begins at a wedding.

Outline

1. Jesus at the wedding at Cana (v.1-2)

2. Jesus questions Mary (v. 3-5)

3. Jesus performs a miracle (v.6-10)

4. People in the wedding benefit from the miracle Jesus did (v.9-10)

2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

4. Jesus’ disciples believe (v.11-12)

1. Jesus at the wedding at Cana (v.1-2)

Read Verse 1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

Cana was a small village, which was about ten miles north from Nazareth and west from the sea of Galilee.

Cana was a small village

Cana is only mentioned in the gospel of John, 4 times.

The other event we see happening in Cana was the healing of the officials son in chapter 4 of John. And we also know that Nathanael was of Cana in John 21:2.

We see in verse 1 that there was a wedding in which Jesus and his disciples were invited.

About Ancient weddings

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Weddings

In biblical times the father selected the bride for his sons.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Weddings

When the marriage had been arranged, the couple entered the betrothal period, usually lasting a year and much more binding than the engagement of today.

In biblical times the father selected the bride for his sons.

When marriages were arranged, the couple entered what was called the betrothal period. Which usually lasted a year and was much more binding than an engagement we see today.

During that year the man prepared a home for his bride. The betrothal was established with two things in place:

a pledge was made in the presence of witnesses together (which could have included a sum of money)

2.

a written statement on the betrothal was signed with a ceremony that concluded with a benediction

This essentially sealed the commitment to be married.

Parents of the bride and groom would meet, along with others as witnesses and the groom would give the bride a gold ring.

It was said that the groom would speak a promise to the bride.

Once at the home, the bridal couple sat under a tent while festivals, games and dancing happened for an entire week. Sometimes longer.

Guests praised the newly married couple with songs of love and would eat meals and drink wine which was usually done at a banquet hall.

In that time provision for an elaborate feast like this was essential and very expensive.

Sumptuous meals and wine filled the home or banquet hall (). Ample provision for an elaborate feast was essential—failure could bring a lawsuit (). The bridal couple wore their wedding clothes throughout the week; guests also wore their finery, which was sometimes supplied by wealthy families ().

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Weddings

During that year the man prepared the home for his bride. The betrothal was established in one of two ways: a pledge in the presence of witnesses together with a sum of money or a written statement and a ceremony with a concluding benediction.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Weddings

In NT times the parents of the bride and groom met, along with others as witnesses, while the groom gave the bride a gold ring or other valuable item. To the bride he spoke this promise: “See by this ring you are set apart for me, according to the law of Moses and of Israel.”

Not being able to provide for it could have brought a lawsuit because of how binding the commitment was and the agreement made in the beginning of the betrothal being an actual contract.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Weddings

Once at the home, the bridal couple sat under a canopy amid the festivities of games and dancing which lasted an entire week—sometimes longer (Song 2:4). Guests praised the newly married couple; songs of love for the couple graced the festival. Sumptuous meals and wine filled the home or banquet hall (John 2:1–11). Ample provision for an elaborate feast was essential—failure could bring a lawsuit (John 2:3). The bridal couple wore their wedding clothes throughout the week; guests also wore their finery, which was sometimes supplied by wealthy families (Matt. 22:12).

It would have been a huge embarrassment for the groom and it would have put in question his ability to provide for the bride.

Ample provision for an elaborate feast was essential—failure could bring a lawsuit (). The bridal couple wore their wedding clothes throughout the week; guests also wore their finery, which was sometimes supplied by wealthy families ().

The bridal couple wore their wedding clothes throughout the week and also the guests would wear theirs for the whole week.

(). The bridal couple wore their wedding clothes throughout the week; guests also wore their finery, which was sometimes supplied by wealthy families ().

This was one of the most important events in ancient times.

In verse 2 we see that not only was Jesus and Mary invited but also Jesus’ disciples.

Verse 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

The fact that not only Jesus and Mary were there but His disciples were also invited, shows us that this must have been an event with many people there.

4. People in the wedding benefit from the miracle Jesus did (v.9-10)

This also highlights the approval of a ceremony by Jesus Christ.

Jesus providing and being there shows us the validation of the ceremony for those who want to be married.

Verse 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

People want to exclude the ceremony. They want to be content with just living together without approval from God and the local church.

But we see Jesus clearly in favor of this. He favors marriage and the ceremonial process. And by the fact that He provided for it even furthers the argument of the need for a ceremony.

In the first chapter of this gospel we see Jesus revealed and witnessed. But now in chapter 2, we do see a transition taking place.

The transition being Jesus from being declared, proclaimed and followed to Jesus acting out who He said He was.

being recognized to Jesus acting out who He said He was.

This also shows another change.

We see an example of this in Jesus questioning Mary.

2. Jesus questions Mary (v. 3-5)

Read Verse 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Read Verse 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

Remember the embarrassment involved if the groom did not have enough to give his guests.

Mary knew Jesus could have provided miraculously. Otherwise why go to Jesus in the first place.

This is also seen in verse 4 where Jesus responds to her pointing out the problem.

Read Verse 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Notice Jesus addressing his mother as woman.

Jesus would do this again in at His crucifixion.

John 19:26 ESV

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

It’s important to note that Jesus was not rude in calling her woman.

The equivalent today would be to call a woman, ma’am.

Like back in my day MC Lyte and Positive K came out with a song that went: "Excuse me miss” then the ladies would say, “no I’m not having it.”

It would be equivalent to calling a woman miss or ma’am.

This wasn’t a disrespectful term but it was meant to understand something.

A son called his mother “woman.” Which would have felt like the son was distancing himself.

I believe Jesus here is transitioning from the Son she raised to the Savior she needed herself.

Jesus knew that His earthly mission given to Him by the Father had begun.

Jesus had transitioned here from being the Son that she had raised to the Savior she needed.

He was beginning His earthly mission.

Everything they called Him in the first chapter of John was now about to unfold in the miracles He was beginning to do.

Which would fulfill Messianic prophecy.

Mary wanted Him to do a miracle but she now had to understand that His mission given by the Father had been enacted. And that the Father’s will governed His ministry.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Question: Remember when Jesus as a boy stayed behind in Jerusalem?

They supposed that Jesus was in the group with them but they didn’t know Jesus had stayed behind.

Isaiah 35:5–6 ESV

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

So they returned to Jerusalem and found Jesus there in the temple listening and asking questions.

Luke 2:49 ESV

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus was always about the Father’s mission and here in John chapter 2, we see the beginning of it.

It’s important to note that by this time Jesus had already been tempted in the wilderness.

This is important because after His temptation in the wilderness, He called His disciples and His fame spread ().

Which points to His ministry beginning.

Mary responds by telling her servants in verse 5 of our text, to do whatever He tells you.

Verse 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

So the earthly mission of Jesus begins and Mary trusted that Jesus was doing what needed to be done.

Calling her woman was a way of understanding that Jesus was solely about His father’s mission.

Read Verse 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

The miracles done by Jesus was known to be what the Messiah would do.

Luke 4:16–21 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Each jar was able to hold about each one large enough to hold between twenty and thirty gallons.

each one large enough to hold between twenty and thirty gallons.

This would be the beginning of His earthly mission given to Him by the Father.

His Messianic ministry would begin with this miracle here in Cana.

A Handbook on the Gospel of John John 2:6

The fact that the jars are stone, rather than earthenware, is important. According to Jewish law, earthenware jars, if contaminated, had to be broken, but contaminated stone jars could simply be washed.

And He begins this with this miracle here in Cana.

The wine ran out and Mary tells Jesus about the issue.

Jesus tells her that His hour has not come. Meaning the hour of His death which would have been about Jesus revealing Himself to others.

Then we see Jesus performing the miracle in verses 6-10.

3. Jesus performs a miracle (v.6-10)

Read Verse 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

Each jar was able to hold between twenty and thirty gallons of water according to verse 6.

They were jars which was used for what was called the rites of purification.

The jars were made of stone rather than earthenware.

According to Jewish law, earthenware jars, if contaminated, had to be broken, but contaminated stone jars could simply be washed.

In purification rituals one would begin by a waiting period from the time they became impure.

Contact with a corpse, birth of a male child and leprosy were but a few reasons that would make one impure and in need of washing.

Once the waiting period was over, where they would have avoided contact from everyone, they would be washed with the water from these jars and then be examined.

If the examination proved one to be cleansed they would enter back into the fellowship of God’s people.

Verse 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

It’s important to note that Jesus pointed the jars out in verse 7.

Let us read verses 7 - 10.

Read Verse 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

Read Verse 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

Read Verse 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom

Read Verse 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

There were many angles that commentaries had on this.

But what I want to do is avoid speculation and just observe what we just read.

There are two things we see clearly.

First, Jesus pointed out the jars used for purification.

Question: Was it because they were big enough to hold the amount needed for the guests at the wedding or was there a significance to using the jars?

Answer: The text does not say. All we know is that they were used to give the guests at the wedding what they needed. Which saved the reputation of the groom.

Second, Jesus turned water into wine.

This was a miracle.

Remember that a miracle was an event that defies common expectations and demonstrates God’s involvement in the course of human affairs.

Jesus involved Himself in turning water into wine!

Jesus being God Himself involved Himself to do what no one else could do.

This was a demonstration of Himself as the Messiah. He involved Himself to do something that defied common expectation.

Namely, water doesn’t turn into wine.

This event proves what John the Apostle, John the Baptist and the disciples in the first chapter said of Him.

It revealed Jesus as the Son of God. It revealed what the Scriptures said about the Messiah.

We also see that the master of the feast did not know where it came from.

Makes sense since Jesus for the most part kept His Messianic role a secret.

The water turned into wine was done with using jars that were supposed to be used for cleansing.

It seems that Jesus does away with what they were supposed to be used for and then uses them for the guests at the wedding.

He took what was set apart for cleansing and takes the jars for wine. Wine that was better than the wine they had in the beginning.

Remember that the wine ran out in verse 3. They had the good wine and the poor wine already. But the wine Jesus provided was better than even the good wine they had at first. And it was given from jars that were meant for purification.

And it was given from jars that were meant for purification.

I do not think we should focus on the fact that the water turned into wine but we should see that Jesus provided wine that was better than the first.

John

This is clearly what Jesus would do in the New Covenant!

He would give us new wine to drink. And He would take every rite of ceremony and fulfill it with pouring Himself out as an offering.

In fact, we who were unclean and sinful, who deserved the wrath of God, who deserved to be left in our condemnation, we would drink of the vine with favor.

Which came from Jesus drinking not the good wine, but the sour wine at the cross.

John 19:28–30 ESV

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus told Mary that His hour had not come. Which spoke of His death on the cross.

We see twice in the gospel of John that His hour that had not come was mentioned when they wanted to arrest Him (, ).

Jesus knew His mission. It was even declared in John’s witness when he called Jesus the Lamb of God.

While people celebrated and rejoiced when drinking of the wine that was better than the first, Jesus had in mind His death in which He would drink of the sour wine for us.

This act was not done so that they had enough to drink at the wedding. It was done so that the disciples would believe. Which is the whole point of this book!

It was done so that the disciples would believe. Which is the whole point of this book!

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The disciples believed. Not because Jesus turned water into wine. But it was because in doing the miracle Jesus manifested His glory!

Which brings us to our last point and the end result.

4. Jesus’ disciples believed (v.11-12)

Read Verse 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Read Verse 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

The manifestation (which means to become clearly revealed to the mind, the senses, or judgment) the manifestation of Jesus in this miracle caused belief.

Jesus was seen by their own eyes doing what only God could do Himself.

to be manifest v. — to be or become clearly revealed to the mind, the senses, or judgment.

This would have had Old Testament implications to it.

God was the one who provided supernaturally in the Old Testament.

Jesus here is revealing Himself as the God who provided for His people!

Jesus manifesting Himself begs the question of manifesting what?

Jesus is manifesting His glory. Remember

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Miracles are only arrows pointing to the miracle worker. They pointed to a Savior. And their purpose is to manifest the glory of Christ.

We also have to remember the greater miracle here. The greater miracle here is to genuinely believe in Jesus Christ.

This does not come from miracles, signs and wonders. They are only pointing to the object of faith.

Turning water into wine was only a sign pointing to the manifestation of the glory of Jesus Christ which was done so that they could believe.

Jesus gave to men, who did not know Him good wine to drink. Which is exactly what He has done for every believer.

He drank the sour wine at His death so that we could drink of the New Covenant wine when made alive!

This is why we do communion. To remember Him and what He has done at the cross.

Jesus when He instituted communion said in Matthew 26:26-29,

Matthew 26:26–29 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Every week we have the elements as signs of His body broken and His blood shed. Remembering that one day we will drink with Him.

The elements are signs of the New Covenant given to us through His death!

Through Christ giving us the best wine and Himself drinking of the sour wine at His death, we remember every week the gospel.

This is given only to those who have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ!

The miracle here was only a sign pointing to the Savior. It points to the One who has washed and cleansed us from all unrighteousness and guilt.

Communion is the same. It is pointing to our Savior who hung on a tree for sinners.

I pray that you know Him today and come to saving faith!