The Seven Signs in John: Jesus is Lord of the Feast

Text: John 2:1-11

Theme: A wedding party encounters Jesus and discovers that he is Lord of the Marriage Supper.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 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 that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:1–11, NASB95)

Three words are used in the New Testament to describe what we call miracles —supernatural intrusions of God’s power into the created order. The Apostle Peter used all three terms on the Day of Pentecost when he reminded the Jewish people of Christ’s ministry. All three words are used in Acts 2:22. “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22, NIV84)

Miracles means powers or mighty works. It’s a word that refers to the power of God behind the miracle. The word is never used in John’s gospel.

Wonder means wonder works and is used by John one time. It’s a word that focuses on the effect of the miracle on those who witness it.

Signs is used by John seventeen times. He uses the word to signify the theological significance behind the miracle.

Jesus is just beginning his public ministry. John the Baptist has announced that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world.” He’s beginning to draw followers and he is calling the first disciples (John 1). As chapter two opens Jesus and his disciples have been invited to a wedding in the town of Cana—about an hour walk northeast from Nazareth. It is here that Jesus essentially inaugurates his ministry.

The passage easily breaks down into three points:

Jesus and the marriage, vs. 1-2

Jesus and his mother, vs. 3-5

Jesus and the miracle, vs. 6-11

I. JESUS AND THE MARRIAGE

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.” (John 2:1–2, NIV84)

1. it’s the third day since Jesus has returned to Galilee when a wedding invitation arrives ... “Jesus, you are cordially invited ...”

a. his mother, Jesus, and five disciples attend

b. though we can’t be absolutely sure, it seems that Mary is close to the family of the groom, and appears to have a part in helping with the preparations for the festivities

1) vs. 1 indicates that she was already there when Jesus, and his disciples show up

2) she knows when they’re about to run out of wine even before the steward of the feast does, and she speaks to the banquet servants on as if she knows them

2. 1st century Jewish weddings were a big deal

a. marriage consisted of three separate ceremonies

1) 1st came the contract signing

a) arrangements between two fathers were established making a match between their children

b) in the contract the rights of the wife were spelled out as were the responsibilities of the groom in caring for her and any subsequent children

2) 2nd, came the betrothal period where the bride and groom were legally married although the bride remained in her father’s home

a) in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, the bride and groom are separately immersed in a mikveh which was symbolic of their spiritual cleansing

b) afterwards they would enter the marriage canopy where vows were made

c) the groom would then go back to his parents and—over the next year—build a home for his new bride, and establish himself in a business or trade

d) if the couple ended the betrothal it took a legal divorce

3) 3rd, came the wedding

a) this was when the bride, along with her bridesmaids, prepared for the groom’s arrival

b) on the appointed day the groom, along with a throng of friends, would set out for the bride’s home, lift her up in a chair, and bring her back to their new home with music and great fanfare

c) the wedding feast would then commence, and would last a week and was referred to as a joyous occasion

d) the bride and groom’s families and friends would take turns hosting the banquet each evening which included roasted lamb, herbs, bread and wine, lots and lots of wine

b. guests would come and go, extending their congratulations, bringing gifts, and enjoying wine

1) the final evening was the grand finale, and the couple was escorted to their home with flaming torches, walking past the adoring crowd

A. JESUS IS LORD OF THE FEAST

1. John tells us that turning water into wine was the first of seven “signs” that Jesus performed that revealed his glory, and reveals something significant about his redemptive work

a. the question is, “Why would Jesus choose to inaugurate his ministry with this particular miracle?”

2. the sign reveals that Jesus is the true Lord of the Feast

a. vs. 8 refers to the Master of the Banquet

1) some bibles translate the word as Steward

2) the word literally means ruler of the table or lord of the feast

3) in western culture we would refer to him as a Master of Ceremonies ... the person who is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly, that food is abundant, and the entertainment festive

b. to be Lord of the Feast was an important responsibility

3. a Jewish wedding feast was a picture of the abundance and joy of God’s Kingdom

a. it’s a great banquet that goes on for ever and ever and ever

"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 25:6–8, NIV84)

b. Jesus comes to bring festival joy to the lives of his people

II. JESUS AND HIS MOTHER

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”” (John 2:3–5, NIV84)

1. this is one of those passages that bible students has queried over ever since the Apostle penned it

a. what’s going on here?

2. Mary’s comment seem innocent enough, They have no more wine

a. in that culture this is not just a minor faux pas, it’s a major social embarrassment

1) remember, Israel at that time was a shame and honor culture

2) any kind of social embarrassment that brought shame to an individual or family was hard to live down

ILLUS. This is something townsfolk will be talking about for years to come ... The Goldstien wedding ran out of wine. Can you believe it? They didn’t plan very well, did they? If I were them I’d be mortified. I’d never be able to show my face in town again.”

b. while I don’t think that Mary had a full sense of her son’s abilities at this point, she certainly know that he’s “different”

1) an angelic messenger, and a miraculous conception told her that

c. so when the wine is almost gone she comes to Jesus with the assumption that he can do something about it

3. it’s Jesus’ response that scholars have mulled over

a. it’s terse, and it brusque

b. most modern translations have attempted to soften it by having him say, Dear woman ...

1) “Dear” is simply nowhere in the text, it’s simply “Woman, what does that have to do with us?”

2) “woman” is certainly not a disrespectful term, but as you can see, Jesus is being a little sharp with her

4. the reason is found in the rest of his answer; “My hour has not yet come”

a. I think many of you know this; everywhere in John's Gospel where Jesus says "my hour has not yet come" he is referring to his death

1) Jesus knows this is why he has come

2) he has come to die

3) he has come to become sin that sinners might know true righteousness

b. Jesus is essentially telling his mother, "You're trying to hasten the Father’s redemptive work. I’m on his time schedule, not yours. Besides, I'm not ready to die."

5. it’s almost as if Mary doesn’t hear him, she simply tells the servants Whatever he says to you, do it

III. JESUS AND THE MIRACLE

“Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:6–11, NASB95)

A. JESUS IS THE LORD OF THE FEAST WHO ASSUAGES OUR SHAME

1. this young couple’s wedding feast is about to end in disaster unless Jesus acts

a. and so he does

2. over the years, I’ve read endless debate over when the water turned into wine

a. was it as they filled each water pot?

b. was it after they filled all the water pots?

c. was it after the drew out of each water pot?

d. was it as they carried the pitchers of wine to the guests?

e. was it changed as they raised the cups to their lips?

1) well, who care? it’s a mute point

3. the point is that a miracle is performed, and shame is nullified, reputations are saved

4. John closes with the results of the miracle

a. 1st, it manifested his glory

1) the purpose of Jesus’ ministry was to reveal his glory, which is the glory of his Heavenly Father

a) to see, and understand, and experience the glory of the Son is to see, and understand, and experience the glory of the Father; they are one and the same

b. 2nd, it produced faith

1) when the Son is glorified people believe, and in believing enter the Kingdom, and in entering the Kingdom will share in the glory of the Son and the Father

IV. DEEPER THINGS THE “SIGN” POINTS TO

1. 1st, the Wine Jesus Provides Is the Wine of Compassion

a. the immediate concern which prompts Jesus to perform this particular sign is his own compassion for the family and for Mary

b. by this compassion, he enters into their distress and makes their concern his own

2. 2nd, the Wine Jesus Provides Is the Wine of Replacement

a. Jesus is teaching God is about to replace something good, the Old Covenant, with something better, the New Covenant

b. the old temple at Jerusalem will be replaced by the new temple of Jesus’ body

c. the old life according to the flesh will be replaced by the new life according to the Spirit

ILLUS. Moses’ first miracle was turning water into blood. Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine. The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. What a contrast!

3. 3rd, the Wine Jesus Provides Is the Wine of Abundance

a. this is pictured for us by the incredible quantity of wine produced in the miracle—about 150 gallons

b. Jesus is teaching that there is another great wedding feast on the horizon for God’s people

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."" (Revelation 19:7–9, NIV84)

4. 4th, the Wine Jesus Gives Is the Wine of the Bridegroom

a. in the story the bridegroom gets the praise for the delicious wine

b. as Christians who read the story we understand that the bridegroom who gets the praise is not the true Bridegroom at all

c. three times in Mark’s Gospel, and once each in Luke and John’s gospels, Jesus refers to himself as the true bridegroom come down from heaven

5. 5th, and Finally, the Wine Jesus Gives Is the Wine of Glory

a. the wine of Cana will soon be consumed, and by some forgotten; but not by all

b. the disciples believe, and their faith will continue to grow as Jesus performs greater signs in the years to come

c. many were at Cana that day, but few beheld the glory of the only Son from the Father

1) it’s a reminder that many are called, but few are chosen

F. B. Meyer, a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England, wrote, “The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, is always giving something better. As the taste is being constantly refined, it is provided with more delicate and ravishing delights. that which you know of Him today is certainly better than that you tasted when first you sat down at his board. And so it will ever be. The angels, as his servants, have orders to bring in and set before the heirs of glory things which eye hath not seen, and man’s heart has not conceived, but which are all prepared. The best of earth will be below the simplest fare of heaven. But what will heaven’s best be! If wine in the peasant’s house is so luscious, what will be the new wine in the Father’s kingdom! What may we not expect from the vintages of the celestial hills! What will it be to sit at the marriage supper of the Lamb, not as guests, but as the Bride! Oh, hasten on, ye slow-moving days; be quick to depart, that we may taste that ravishment of bliss! But for ever and ever, as fresh revelations break on our glad souls, we shall look up to the Master of the feast and cry, “Thou has kept the best until now.”“

May God grant us ears to hear, and eyes to see the glory of Christ.