THE WATER TURNED TO WINE

John 2:1-12

INTRODUCTION

John’s purpose in his gospel account was to produce faith...

John 20:30–31 KJV 1900

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Which he sought to accomplish by recording the “signs” done by Jesus

Not all of them, but enough to produce faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God

The “signs” Jesus performed were miracles...

These were expressions of the supernatural - divine power

The signs were designed to attest to His unique relationship with God

Acts 2:22 KJV 1900

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

The first sign/miracle recorded by John took place shortly after Jesus had acquired His first disciples (Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael (Jn. 1:35-51)...

DISCUSSION

THE SETTING

In Cana of Galilee

John 2:1 KJV 1900

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

On “the third day”

The third day after Jesus made two more disciples

Taking two days to reach Galilee from Judea

In the city of “Cana”

Cana was about 4 miles NE of Nazareth, and SW of the Sea of Galilee

Jesus had wanted to go to Galilee...

John 1:43 KJV 1900

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Nathanael was from the city of Cana (Jn. 21:2)

Here Jesus Attends a Wedding Feast

The mother of Jesus was there (Jn. 2:1)

Likewise Jesus and His disciples, who had been invited (Jn. 2:2)

Jesus and His disciples were not ascetics (abstaining from all forms of indulgence) (Mt. 9:14)

He came eating and drinking (Mt. 11:19)

At This Wedding the Wine had Run Out

As noted by the mother of Jesus

John 2:3 KJV 1900

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

She appears to have some role of responsibility and authority

John 2:5 KJV 1900

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

The invitation to Jesus and His disciples may have been a last minute thing

Running out of wine would have been an embarrassment to Mary, if she were in charge

She tells Jesus about running out of wine; perhaps hinting a request?

Jesus responds to His mother

John 2:4 KJV 1900

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

“Woman”

Not a term of disrespect in those days

John 19:26 KJV 1900

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

John 20:15 KJV 1900

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Though a subtle hint may be implied by its use instead of “Mother” that their relationship of mother and son was changing

“What have I to do with thee?” [What does this have to do with me? - ESV]

Perhaps a mild rebuke for her anxiety

Perhaps she was too much like Martha?

Luke 10:41 KJV 1900

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

“My hour is not yet come.”

This suggests that Mary’s request was more than just a desire for a gift of wine

Perhaps she wanted a supreme manifestation of Him as the Messiah

That event would come later, with His death and resurrection

John 2:18–19 KJV 1900

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 12:23 KJV 1900

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

John 12:27 KJV 1900

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 17:1 KJV 1900

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

His mother sought for a supreme sign, but at that time only a secondary sign could be fittingly given

I.e., the triumph at Pentecost was not to be achieved at Cana (McGarvey)

Despite the subtle rebuke, Mary evidently sense a willingness on Jesus’ part to do something.

So she instructed the servants to do whatever He says (Jn. 2:5).

This leads us to...

THE MIRACLE

The Water Turned to Wine

John 2:6–9 KJV 1900

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

Beginning with six empty water pots (Jn. 2:6)

Normally used for the Jewish rituals of purification (Mk. 7:3-4)

Capable of holding twenty or thirty gallons (“two or three firkins”) each

Filled with water (Jn. 2:7)

As instructed by Jesus

Filled to the brim

A sample was drawn and taken to the ruler (master) of the feast (Jn. 2:8)

As instructed by Jesus

Carried out by the servants

Apparently what was drawn was still water; it became wine before reaching the guests (Jn. 2:9)

The Impact On Those Present

Upon the master of the feast

John 2:9–10 KJV 1900

9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

He tasted the water that was made wine

Not knowing where it came from, he called the bridegroom

Telling him that he kept the good wine for last, contrary to normal custom

The impact upon the disciples of Jesus

John 2:11 KJV 1900

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

It was the beginning of signs Jesus did in Galilee

John 4:54 KJV 1900

54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

In which Jesus manifested His glory

John 1:14 KJV 1900

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Their faith in Jesus was even more strengthened

The Impact On Us Today

It should not be to justify the custom of social drinking

The word “oinos” (yayin, Hebrew) can refer to fermented wine, but not necessarily

Romans historians tell us that the “good wine” was pure grape juice,

And fermented wine was rarely used of people with character

Notice the phrase “drunk freely” or “well drunk” (KJV)

Not drunk because they were able to distinguish between the “good wine” and the inferior

Jesus would not be a part of a drunken party

Notice these two important verses:

Habakkuk 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, That puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, That thou mayest look on their nakedness!

1 Peter 2:22 KJV 1900

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

The Bible is filled with the dangers of drinking

Proverbs 20:1 KJV 1900

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29–35 KJV 1900

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, And thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Isaiah 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; That continue until night, till wine inflame them!

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV 1900

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

We do well to consider the influence of our example

Romans 14:21 KJV 1900

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

1 Corinthians 10:31–33 KJV 1900

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

This miracle of turning water to wine reveals Jesus as:

One who honors the bond of marriage by His presence at the wedding

One who bestows His gifts lavishly; if in the physical realm, how much more in the spiritual?

One whose infinite love is made effective by His equally infinite power

One who, accordingly, is the Son of God, full of grace and glory

CONCLUSION

After this miracle in Cana, Jesus went down to Capernaum (Jn. 2:12)

Capernaum, a city on the northwestern shore of Galilee, visited frequently by Jesus

Together with His mother, His brothers (cf. Mt 13:55), and His disciples

Though they did not stay many days (Jn. 2:13)

The disciples of Jesus must have been excited...

They had heard the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus

They had borne their own initial testimony as to Jesus

Now they had seen this “sign” that Jesus was truly what they believed Him to be!

More signs to come would increase their faith in Jesus.

They can have a similar affect in us as we continue to read and study the gospel according to John...