The New Beginning

Shortly after being called as the Associate pastor in Georgia, I recieved a message from some of my close friends in DFW.

They had been dating for a while and now felt like it was time for them to get married.

And they asked me to officiate the wedding.

I was honored to be asked.

This was going to be one of my first “official” duties as a newly ordained minister.

No joke this was a quick turnaround.

I was called to serve the church Mid-July.

We moved there at the beginning of August.

I got ordained at the beginning of September.

Then officiated the wedding on Nov 19.

There’s something special about weddings.

This wedding was no different.

They were a special couple.

That I had been able to minister to while we lived in DFW and I had watched grow in their love for each other and their love for God.

When you think of weddings what comes to your mind.

I can’t help but think of a celebration.

A party.

Joy and happiness flowing.

At a wedding, we get to witness the start of something new.

We get to watch as two people become one and start their new life together.

It’s an amazing sight.

And I don’t think that it’s an accident that Jesus’ first recorded miracle in John’s Gospel is at a wedding.

Jesus could have started his ministry anywhere.

But he chose to begin in one of the most intimate settings.

John 2:1–2 CSB

1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.

A New Beginning

We’ve talked about this before, but John is very precise when it comes to his choice of language when writing this gospel.

And it’s no accident that he uses the phrase “on the third day”

This is most likely the third day after talking to Nathanael in 1:47-51.

And Many want to equate this third day to the three days in the tomb.

They want to say that it’s point toward the resurrection and it very well may be doing that.

But I and others think something else is going on here as well.

If we look at the timeline from when John the baptist steps on the scene in 1:19 that’s day 1.

Then the next day 1:29 is day 2.

1:35 day 3 “the next day”

Andrew brings Peter to Jesus day four

1:43 day five “The next day”

2:1 “on the third day” or day eight.

Why is this important?

Why would I want us to see this and draw it out?

Because from the beginning of John’s gospel he is pointing to Jesus as the one bringing a new creation.

We see him being the creator of all in John’s prologue 1:3.

And here in 2:1 we see the beginning of something New.

Jesus’ ministry beginning on the eighth day.

Jesus is bringing about a new creation on the eighth day.

And he demonstrates his power, authority, and divinity by doing something that only God could do.

And where does he choose to demonstrate that power at a wedding.

We should also remember that the Bible begins with the wedding of Adam and Eve.

Where the two become one flesh.

Part of beginning of creation was a wedding and Jesus’ earthly ministry, the beginning of a new creation starts at a wedding.

And don’t forget that Jesus had just promised Nathanael that he was going to see some amazing things in 1:51.

What’s significant about that is that we learn in 21:2 that Nathanael is from Cana where this first miracle takes place.

We don’t know who this family is that the wedding is for, but it is likely that Nathanael knew them.

And he gets to witness Jesus’ first sign around people that he knows.

Another thing that we shouldn’t overlook is that Jesus was invited to the wedding feast.

People wanted to be around Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t a wet blanket or party pooper when it came to celebrations.

People wanted to hang around him.

If we’re being honest there are too many people who call themselves Christians that aren’t any fun to be around.

They don’t radiate the joy of the Lord.

But Jesus came to bring Joy.

And as his followers we should radiate that Joy that we have in him.

I know personally people who steer away from Christianity b/c they see us as absent of joy and fun.

We should take our faith seriously and not take ourselves too seriously.

It’s a shame that there are Christians out there that think having fun and cutting up is unbecoming of Christians.

Jesus had so much fun and spent enough time with sinners that he eventually got accused of being one himself.

Luke 7:34 “34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

What this means is that the life of a Christian is not to be one living like a hermit cutting ourselves off from fun.

Rather we are to be taking part.

In fact, we should be the life of the party.

That doesn’t mean that we get to ignore God’s commands, but that within those boundaries we should be a joy to hang around.

We aren’t called to live as separatist monks, we are called to be the light of the world.

How will we shine the light of Jesus if we never go where the darkness lives.

We were created to experience the full gambit of the human experience.

Including joy. Friendship, camaraderie, celebration.

Jesus came to bring the greatest joy.

And we should celebrate that.

We should point others to him as well.

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So Jesus is at this wedding but now there’s a problem that occurs.

John 2:3–5 CSB

3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.

A Big Problem

Weddings in the ancient world aren’t like they are today.

During Jesus’ time they really knew how to party.

Weddings would last up to a week.

They were full of food, fun, dancing, singing, and wine.

When I was thinking about this story this week I was thinking about my mom.

The reason why I was thinking about her is because her biggest fear when hosting a gathering is running out of something.

Because she feels as if running out of something whether it be food or drink brings shame upon her.

So what does she do she over prepares everything.

One year for Christmas dinner there were only going to be about 6 of us eating.

She fixed a 12lb turkey, a ham, mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and 3 pies.

She didn’t want to run out. Because running out of something would mean to her that she failed.

When weddings were going on during Jesus’ life the groom and his family were responsible for the festivities.

And it was a shameful if you ran out of wine specifically.

In fact the party would continue until the wine ran out.

Once it was gone people would start leaving.

Not only that but we do have some records of grooms being sued for the party not lasting long enough.

The shame that was felt by not living up to the social obligations could hinder a family in relationships, work, and trust.

This new beginning would be stained by a catastrophic event like running out of wine.

You couldn’t just run down to the supermarket, gas station, or corner store to get more wine, so the party was over.

Now Jesus’ mother, Mary, is probably helping out with this party.

She was probably either a close friend or even a family member with the grooms side.

So that’s why she is helping out.

And she approaches Jesus to let him know what’s going on.

This is interesting b/c up til this time Jesus hadn’t performed any other miracles.

So why does she approach him.

Well after Joseph’s death, Jesus had to be the one to provide for the family.

He was a carpenter by trade and therefore had to be resourceful when it comes to fixing a problem.

Mary is probably hoping in Jesus’ resourcefulness to help out the family.

She didn’t know what he was going to do.

She didn’t know how he was going to help out.

But she trusted that he would do something.

His response can sound very harsh to our ears.

John 2:4 “4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?”

Jesus didn’t see this problem as his.

It had nothing to do with him.

They were simply guests at the wedding.

And even though she may try, Mary can’t pressure Him to do something.

His will is not to serve his mother or others.

His will is to do what the father has called him to do.

I know one the thing that is probably sticking out to you most is when Jesus calls his own mother “Woman”

But he doesn’t mean it as disrespectful.

Mary plays a small role in John’s gospel. She only appears twice.

Here at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and at the foot of the cross.

At both instances Jesus calls her woman.

But its not the demeaning and disrespectful way people say it now.

It’s almost like Jesus is calling her “ma’m”

In Fact, John never uses her name in the gospel and it was probably to help not cause confusion with all the other Mary’s in the story.

What Jesus is doing here is changing the relationship between him and his mother.

He is now showing her that he is no longer her little boy Jesus, but he is the Messiah.

He is the savior of the world.

And just like those who would eventually come to know and worship him she has to do the same.

She has to now become his disciple.

She must recognize him as Messiah.

She must worship him.

She must submit to him.

She must obey him.

She doesn’t get a free pass b/c he raised Jesus.

Their relationship has now fundamentally changed.

After he tells her that it’s not his problem.

He then tells her

John 2:4 “4 ...“My hour has not yet come.””

What does this mean?

What is he saying?

John’s gospel uses the phrase “the hour” multiple times.

And it always refers to Jesus’ passion events.

His beatings, death, and resurrection.

His time of destiny.

And Jesus knew that this moment, if he did something was going to set the story in motion.

It was the point of no return.

Mary then leaves trusting in whatever Choice Jesus is going to make.

And I love what she says on her way out.

Jn 2:5 “5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.”

She models discipleship here.

She trusts Jesus’ wisdom.

She trusts in his power.

She trusts that he knows what’s Going on.

So Mary goes from loving mother to obedient and trusting disciple.

Isn’t that the calling of every disciple of Jesus.

Every follower of Jesus.

Do whatever he tells you.

So what was Jesus Going to do?

How was he going to handle the situation

What was he going to have the servants do?d

Let’s find out.

John 2:6–10 CSB

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

The New Has Come

Jesus tells the servants to fill six stone water jars to the brim with water.

These six stone jars are important.

They were used as cleaning vessels.

They were made to allow people to clean their hands before they ate dinner.

They were carved out of stone b/c clay pots were more prone to contamination.

Cleanliness was a huge part of Jewish culture.

They distinguished people, animals, and activities as either clean or unclean.

If something was unclean then it was to be avoided.

It was dishonoring to God.

And so therefore they wanted to make sure they were clean.

This was done through ritual washing.

The washing of hands specifically when it came to eating.

And because there were going to be a lot of people at this party they were going to need a lot of water for cleaning.

that’s where these stone jars come in handy.

Each of these jars held between 20 or 30 gallons.

between 120 and 180 gallons of water.

And they were filled to the very top.

This allowed for no type of deception.

There couldn’t be any trickery.

Jesus couldn’t add anything to the jars to make them appear to be changed.

This was only an act of God.

Jesus is demonstrating that there is something better than the purification rituals.

He is showing that he has come to complete the law.

That he has come as the cleansing agent.

When he institutes the Lord’s supper he calls the wine his blood.

Why then would he do this here in John?

To show that true cleansing doesn’t come from water but through the blood of Jesus.

One Commentator said this “Jesus changes the water of Judaism into the wine of Christianity”

Jesus providing the wine is a grace to those present.

Jesus providing his blood is a grace to all those that would repent.

After they had filled the water jars he asked them to draw some out.

Now there is something interesting about the word draw here.

It is the same word used by Jesus when he meets the woman at the well and asks her to draw out some water.

It can be interpreted that drawing from these water jars is now like drawing from a well.

A well that will never run dry.

There is going to be plenty of wine to last for the whole of the festivities.

Jesus when he provides for those attending the wedding feast doesn’t hold anything back.

He lavishly blesses them with wine.

He sends this wine to the headwaiter.

Who is like the Master of Ceremonies or person in overseeing the event.

Then he tastes the wine.

He is flabbergasted by the taste of the wine.

He calls it fine wine.

Saving the best for last. Even though tradition has that the best wine was usually served first, so that by the time they got to the end it didn’t matter what the “bad wine” tasted like.

But Jesus’ wine is not just any wine, but the best wine.

Now people do try to say that the wine Jesus made wasn’t wine it was grape juice.

But the Headwaiter would have known the difference between wine and grape juice or unfermented juice.

Others will say that this is impossible.

Turning water into wine couldn’t be down.

But when we recognize that Jesus is the creator of all it doesn’t seem impossible at all.

The greatest demonstration of his power isn’t turning water into wine.

The greatest demonstration is making something out of nothing.

If he could create the universe out of nothing, transforming water into wine is child’s play.

And he does this to increase the joy of those present.

He wasn’t ready for the party to end.

He wasn’t willing for the groom to take on that shame.

So he provided for him new wine.

Why?

B/c Jesus doesn’t bring sadness and shame.

He brings Joy.

Ps 4:7-8 “7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.”

Now we must not overlook the importance of this event.

We spoke earlier that creation began with a wedding and so did Jesus’ ministry.

But the there is coming a day that we will attend the most majestic of wedding feasts.

Jesus is going to call us home and we are going to be wed to him.

It’s not an accident that the church is called the bride of Christ throughout the NT.

We are looking forward to a wedding feast that is going to be of the best quality and provision.

All of time is going to come to completion with a wedding feast.

Revelation 19:1–10 CSB

1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands. 3 A second time they said, Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever! 4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah! 5 A voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great! 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

This interaction of Jesus at the wedding feast is a foretaste of what is to come.

It is a picture of Jesus pouring out his blood for us for salvation.

Why else would he here at the beginning of his ministry mention the fact that “his hour had not come.”

Because he wanted to tie this event at the wedding to his death, burial, resurrection and the reconciliation of people to him.

And just like the groom is responsible for all that happens at the wedding so is Jesus.

He is the ultimate groom.

He is the one who gave of himself to bring people forgiveness.

He is the that authored salvation.

He is the one that calls people to repentance.

He is the one that invites people to the party.

He is the one that provides the greatest joy.

He is the one waiting on his bride to respond.

He is waiting for the day when his bride, the church, will arrive and celebrate a feast with him.

But before that day he had a mission to complete on earth.

So he demonstrated his power at a wedding feast.

And if the disciples didn’t believe before they did now.

John 2:11 CSB

11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Signs

When Jesus does things like this in the other gospels they are always called miracles or acts of power.

But John labels them as signs

“Because they signify the power of God in Jesus as well as show his true nature.”

These signs are pointing to to something greater than themselves.

They are not simply displays of Jesus’ authority or power.

They are pointing to a significant change in the way things are going to be done.

This sign is pointing past the wine itself to something greater.

The Messiah, Savior, Son of God has arrived.

These signs are specifically important b/c the coming of the Messiah is associated with bringing wine.

Here are just a few

Jer 31:12 “12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant with joy because of the Lord’s goodness, because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil, and because of the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like an irrigated garden, and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.”

Hos 14:7 “7 The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.”

Am 9:13-14 “13 Look, the days are coming— this is the Lord’s declaration— when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the one who treads grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it. 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce.”

This sign of turning water into wine is a declaration that the Long awaited messiah has arrived.

New wine is flowing lavishly.

The only people who knew of Jesus sign were the disciples, the servants, and his mother.

He revealed in part his glory to this small group of individuals.

He Showed them that the new had come

That this was the New Beginning that they had longed for.

He showed them his glory.

And he was just getting started.

These signs were displayed so that people would believe.

That they would see that Jesus is the only hope.

Jesus is the only way.

Jesus is the one that can satisfy every need.

Do you know that today?

If you aren’t a follower of Jesus, I want you to know that Jesus wants to have a relationship with you.

He wants to provide you with a new beginning.

He wants to make you new.

You are a sinner separated from a holy God, but he doesn’t desire for you to stay there.

He desires that you would believe that he is God and that he died to set you free.

you needed a savior to bring you back into relationship with God and Jesus does just that.

There is no magical prayer to pray.

There are no enchantments to change you.

Rather cry out to Jesus and turn from your sin and he will satisfy you.

He will fulfill you.

If you are a follower of Jesus.

You should stand in awe of all that he has done in your life.

He may not have turned water into wine before your eyes.

But he has changed your heart.

He has changed you desires.

He has brought you into relationship with the father and that is the greatest thing you could ever hope for.

One day we are going to gather around a table and enjoy a wedding feast.

And today we are going to get to enjoy a meal together.

But it’s not going to be anything like what we have to look forward to when all of the church are gathered around the Lord’s table.

I long for that day.

Let’s pray.