John: The New Wine

Exegetical Point: John shows that Jesus is the Christ via his first Sign that draws together images of fullness, abundance, renewal and power. This revelation of Glory prompted the disciple’s faith.

Homeletic Point: Jesus is the New Wine, fulfilling the Old lack.

Intro

Hey kids, have any of you been to a wedding? What was it like?

Sometimes things go wrong at weddings. Not everybody will get married, but alot of people do, and there's usually at least 1 thing that goes wrong. In fact when Laura and I got married we truned up at the church and it was locked!!

No-one had a key!

We had to wait for ages for someone to come and open the church for us!

It was ok, because even though we were late getting into the church to get married, Laura was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo late that it didn’t matter. (it wasn’t her fault!)

In John 2 there was a big problem at a wedding that Jesus went to with his disciples. They ran out of nice drinks for the party! They didn’t buy enough!

How awful! It’s like a birthday party where someone forgot the cake!

Even though Jesus didn’t need to help at the wedding party, he wanted to show his disciples that he was Sent by God, so he did something really special. Do you remember what it is from the Bible reading?

Yes, he took ordinary water and made wine!

And not just a little bit, he made HEAPS of wine. Lots and lots! SO the party could keep going!

When he Did that, the disciples knew that Jesus was from God. They saw the glory of Jesus in that miraculous sign.

But that sign wasn’t just for the disciples that were at the wedding, Jesus did that sign so that even you here today could hear about it and believe. He did it so that disciples everywhere, young and old, could believe that Jesus came from God!

Now we’re going to spend some more time delving delving into this passage. I invite you to listen as much as you can! While you listen you can colour in a picture, or draw your own picture, or, if you can write, you can try to write down the 4 Big things this passage tells us about Jesus.

Recap

So far we have seen that John the Apostle is trying to show people that Jesus is Messiah, King, Prophet & God. John leaves out the extraneous and puts in detail that proves the point. This will be the same pattern across the whole book.

JB saw it and testified that Jesus was the Anointed one of God, now some disciples have started to recognize it.

Now begins the Book of Signs - all different signs of Jesus divinity and anointing.

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath (v1-2)

John 2:1–2 NIV

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

Two symbolic numbers come out of this three days.

John has been counting days across chapter 1, especially counting out the first week of Jesus public ministry. Using Jewish counting, the “third day” bring us to the 7th day of Jesus ministry!

This clues us in to be thinking about other key weeks in the bible

Primarily the 7 days of creation - this book starts with “In the beginning”, casting our minds to Genesis 1. We’re told that The Word was a conduit of that creation which took place across 7 days. We’re told that the Spirit descended on Jesus much like the Spirit that hovered over the world in creation.

Then John lays out a story in which he marks off the days: The next day... the next day... the next day… much like Gen 1.

So John 1 has continually drawn us back to the idea of God’s creative work - and now with this three more days we land on 7 days.

What happened in creation on the 7th day? Kids, do you know what God did on the 7th day?

He Rested! God introduced the Sabbath - the day of Rest!

A day of reprieve and enjoyment!

A day of fullness and completeness!

Now in John we hear of Jesus at a wedding on the 7th day, where he is going to bring fullness and abundance at a party!

But, if John wanted us to remember the 7 days of creation & rest, why didn’t he just mention it was the 7th day since the start of the ministry?

He also wanted to call our minds to the three days. What key three days? The three days of Jesus death. While we haven’t go there yet, most people, even people reading John for the first time would be familiar with the fact that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and three days later (in Jewish counting) was raised from the dead!

He was resurrected on the third day!

Here the mention of a “Third day” hints at resurrection and new life. (might make a good name for a band or something…). Intriguingly, on this third day Jesus will perform a sign of newness, fullness and life - shadows and hints of what is to come!

Am I grasping at straws? What about historicity? The symbolism in the numbers comes from real events. John saw the numbers and communicated it to us in such a way as to help us make the connections while it remained a historically accurate account.

John isn’t obsessed with counting days everywhere in the Gospel of John, it’s only here. That alone should lead us to pay attention and ask: what is he’s communicating?

So, with tones of Sabbath and Resurrection we dive into this passage, and I promise we’ll move faster than this! But this is an important stage setting for what follows.

So,

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath (v1-2)

Next we see...

2. Jesus is Approachable & Uncontrollable (v3-5)

So Jesus is at the wedding with his Mum and disciples. Probably just the 5 or so that he’s collected over the first week.

From what we know about ancient Jewish custom, this wedding is probably a huge affair. It would be a week-long party with lots of food and drink. Heaps of people would be invited. Family, friends, probably most of the village was involved.

Unlike our weddings which are traditionally a formal ceremony and one nights party, this would kick-on for days.

And it was the groom’s job to supply all the necessary supplies! The wedding would be hosted at his house, and as a good middle-eastern man he would show generous hospitality to all the guests.

Imagine then, horror of horrors if they run out of wine!?!

This is terrible. In a shame-honour culture, this would be intensely embarrassing!

Not like “I forgot the rings” embarrassing,

Not like “his fly was down” embarrassing,

Not embarrassing like kissing the bride awkwardly,

This was a cultural and social disaster!

John 2:3–5 NIV

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

So somehow Jesus’ mum had insider information on the lack of wine. Maybe she was helping out or something. Mary wasn’t gossiping, she tries to get help to remedy this awful situation.

She turns to Jesus.

Why Jesus? Jesus at this stage is not known as miricle worker or great prophet. Why does she ask him for help?

A few reasons seem likely:

Jesus was the eldest child, and probably the provider for the family. His adoptive earthly father Joseph is not recorded after Jesus childhood. It seems that Joseph had died, and as the eldest Son, Jesus would have been the one that Mary leaned on. Given that it was Jesus himself, even before his glory is revealed he was still the Son of God and perfect in all his ways. I guess he would have been a good worker and diligent son in all respects. Mary could rely on him.

But, there seems to be something more going on here, more than just Mary asking Jesus to lend a hand. That is signaled by the way Jesus answers, “My hour has not yet come.” We know from the other Gospels that Mary was quite aware of the fact that Jesus was from God, and had a great ministry to fulfill on earth. Perhaps she expected that it was time Jesus started to make that a reality.

Moses brought water from the rock and mana from heaven, Elijah was fed by ravens and fed the widow. Elisha gave another widow an abundance of olive oil.

It seems that Mary was essentially asking Jesus to step into his prohetic destiny.

Jesus cuts through that all with a reproof: “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

While not rude, to call his mum “woman” was definitely creating an emotional distance. It’s kind like how some Americans call women “ma’am” but there was no respect implied, nor any disrespect.

As Mary tried to leverage or influence Jesus ministry he pushed her away. He put her in her place so to speak. She thought she could benefit from special access as his earthly mother. Sorry no.

No-one can get a special treatment from Jesus. Everyone come to him on the same terms, whether you be his brothers, mother or a thief on a cross. Everyone is on equal footing in their need for Jesus, and in what Jesus will do for you. All who come to him by faith he’ll make into Children of God - but come to Jesus trying to manipulate him to get your selfish desires, and you’ll get no-where.

He’s not subservient to us, he came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many, but not so that we can just treat him a a conduit for our selfish desire. Some of the disciples tried it, trying to win a prestige and power by being Jesus right-hand-man - but Jesus pushed them away. All must come as penitents - all must come humbly and all must come to join His team not try to get him to join your own.

But here’s the beautiful thing - Jesus does not turn us away. Even the disciples that tried to manipulate Jesus he treated them with grace and kindness. He will not allow them to co-opt his mission, but he will gladly accpt all who humbly come to him by faith. That includes you!

So Jesus rejects Mary’s plan of glorious revelation, because it’s not part of the plan. Jesus knows there is a time coming where he will be revealed, and that is at the cross. All throughout John, Jesus refers to his death as the hour to come. It is the climactic moment he is looking forward to. But that is not in Cana of Gallillee. That’s later.

Even though Jesus’ hours has not yet come, he still kindly sets about to both help the Groom and his mother.

Mary seemed to have taken the rebuff and simply left the issue with Jesus. She told the servants to listen to Jesus, because she had left it in his hands - whether she expected to sort it by ordinary means or not is not clear.

So,

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath (v1-2)

2. Jesus is Approachable & Uncontrollable (v3-5)

Next we see...

3. Jesus is the New Wine (v6-10)

Jesus does come to reveal his power, but not openly. It’s kind of like a half-reveal. He changes the water to wine but only the servant and the disciples appear to know the whole story:

John 2:6–10 NIV

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

6 Jars, not 7. Incomplete.

Jesus uses jars from ceremonial washing, an empty system that could never really work.

Jesus takes the old way of incompleteness and rebirths it into something newer and greater! In abundance!

Dawn of a new sabbath age of abundance. Like the prophets foretold! The best comes with Jesus!

Wine is also tied to blood - like in communion. The blood of Jesus cleanses people fully - robes made clean in the blood of the lamb. Here we have water for purification rites being made red. A cleansing blood, that we drink as a sign of Christ’s death and cleansing power. This blood is shed for the remission of sins!

So much wine. 100s and 100s of litres. Wine was usually mixed with water so this would have supplied many many people. Even enough left over to sell maybe.

This was to keep the party going. This was the good stuff, given at a time when people had already had a few drinks. Jesus isn’t encouraging drunkenness, but is supplying the abundance of a joyful party that's enough to ruffle the feathers of the feathers of the teetotalers among us. In another place Jesus is decried for eating and drinking to much at parties. How much partying would you have to do to get that reputation?

The best times come with Jesus - the old ways foreshadow Jesus - but he is the better fulfillment!

Aside: The Misuse of Good things

Wine - good but not in excess

Partying - good but not in excess

Marriage & Sex - good in it’s right place

Spiritual Rituals (like worship) - good but not when the heart isn’t in it.

So,

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath (v1-2)

2. Jesus is Approachable & Uncontrollable (v3-5)

3. Jesus is the New Wine (v6-10)

Next we see...

4. Jesus’ Glory is Revealed (v11-12)

John 2:11–12 NIV

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

This is a sign. What do we use signs for? Kids?

Signs tell us something - they communicate, that point out important things. The John calls the miracles pf Jesus signs because they point out that Jesus is from God - he is God, he is the prophet, the messiah.

There will be 7 signs (depending on how you count them). An complete set pointing to Jesus as the messiah.

This reveals Jesus’ Glory, a glory that is somewhat hidden in His humanity. Yet is is not Jesus glory only, it is the glory of God in Jesus.

When the disciples saw this, the believed.

When you see it - beleive!

For now, Jesus moves on from here. The inaugural week now over, he heads down to Capernaum for a while. Interestingly enough in a few chapters we will return to Cana for another sign!

So,

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath (v1-2)

2. Jesus is Approachable & Uncontrollable (v3-5)

3. Jesus is the New Wine (v6-10)

4. Jesus’ Glory is Revealed (v11-12)

Next we see...

What Now?

So,

1. Jesus is the New Life & Sabbath - Come to Him for restoration

2. Jesus is Approachable & Uncontrollable - come on His terms but with confidence of reception

3. Jesus is the New Wine - He is the fulfillment of the Old, with a cleansing that is superabundant.

4. Jesus’ Glory is Revealed - He is the Christ, believe in Him!

References:

Carson’s Pillar Commentary on John.

Hutcheson’s commentary on John

Hendrickson’s commentary on John

Sermons on John 2:1-12 by John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, Richard D. Philips, Brian Borgman

Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version. Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005.

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Phillips, Richard D. John. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. 1st ed. Vol. 1 & 2 of Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014.