Sermon Tone Analysis

Before we go any further in our study, it’s important that we take a minute to talk about the uniqueness of John’s gospel.

John is the 4th gospel and the last one written (85-95 AD)

90% of material is unique to John!

John’s material is markedly different from that of the other gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, & Luke)

This has led some to conclude John either; 1) did not know of the others; 2) set out to write a completely independent account of Jesus’ life

1) Highly unlikely someone in John’s position was unaware of the others

2) Too much interdependence among early Christianity for him to have gone rogue

Kostenberger: “Rather, he assumed much of the content of the earlier Gospels and theologically transposed various motifs to bring out the underlying significance of particular aspects of Jesus’ person or work...” (35)

One of the most prominent examples of this focusing on Jesus’ miracles.

The other 3 gospels most often refer to Jesus’ miracles as “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20)

John records 7 miracles of Jesus and refers to them all as “signs”

Water to Wine (John 2:1-12)

Cleansing the Temple (John 2:13-22)

Healing the Centurion’s Son (John 4:46-54)

Healing the lame man (John 5:1-15)

Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)

Healing the man born blind (John 9)

Raising Lazarus from the grave (John 11)

John was communicating something deeper than just the surface act of power that the witnesses beheld as Jesus performed these works.

It was not just the validation of the message and the messenger

It was also a revelation of something greater, something deeper, something theological

John 20:30-31

These miracles were there to support John’s thesis about Jesus

John wasn’t going rogue, he was adding to the picture that had already been started by the synoptics.

So as you and I read and study John and come across these “signs,” it would behoove us to ask what deeper truth John was communicating about Jesus.

It wasn’t just that he was a man or teacher of power, so we should pay attention.

Each of these signs had a purpose to pull back the curtain a little more on the person and work of our Savior.

P1: Read with John’s Purpose in Mind (John 20:30-31)

John 20:30-31 clearly tells us that John was intentional about what he included, as were the other gospel writers.

But as we’re studying John, let’s make sure we pay close attention to what he includes and remember this was not random but purposeful.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We believe and fully affirm that the Bible contains the words of God not simply men’s thoughts about God

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We believe that in the original writings, every word recorded was precisely what God wanted recorded.

This is called verbal plenary inspiration

This means that every single word of the Bible without distinction or qualification was inspired by God.

We believe that through this process the personality and style of each human author was preserved.

2 Peter 1:21 Writers were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Scriptures are therefore the authoritative standard for the people of God

John 17:17

And, that means, that everything contained within the pages of the Word of God is there for a reason

So as we read and study John, we must not gloss over anything but understand the great intentionality and purpose behind each of these signs.

When you’re reading and come across a sign or miracle, remember the words of John 20:30-31 and ask how this particular sign was accomplishing John’s intended purpose.

Pentecost: “By His miracles Christ demonstrated His authority in the realms in which He will one day rule as King in His kingdom.

Further, the miracles revealed conditions in the kingdom over which Messiah will rule...Thus in studying the miracles we must consider what they reveal about the person and authority of Christ, as well as the benefits that will be provided through His reign for those in His kingdom.”

(The Words & Works, 118-19)

Recommended Resources:

Signs of the Messiah - Andreas Kostenberger

John (Pillar NTC) - DA Carson

John (Tyndale) - Colin Kruse

John (Boice Set) - James Montgomery Boice

John (MacArthur) - John MacArthur

John (NICNT) - Leon Morris

There is no filler material in the Bible

END P1

Now to our text.

As we come to John 2 we come to the beginning of what is sometimes called the Cana Cycle because of the bookend miracles that take place in Cana in our passage today and in John 4:46-54 with the healing of the Centurion’s son.

John 2:1-2

Cana

Unknown precisely, but likely the modern town of Khirbet Cana about 9-10 miles due north of Nazareth (MAP)

Weddings involved grand feasts that may have lasted anywhere from a day to a week depending on the family and their resources

Jesus and the 5 disciples (Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and John) he had gathered so far were invited to this feast, and it seems that his mother, Mary, had a significant role to play as well.

John 2:3

Wine during Jesus’ time:

Wine was almost always mixed with water

It could range from 20 to1 all the way to 3 to 1

It was a way to purify the drinking water

Also, Rabbis would not bless any wine that was not first mixed with water

Wine was also a symbol of joy and celebration; it reminded people of their expectation of the Messianic age

Wine at a wedding

This was an honor/shame culture where hospitality was crucial to the honor of a family

It was the host’s responsibility to provide enough wine for the entire feast, with some ancient examples of people suing the groom’s family if the wine ran out too soon.

Mary’s expectation

Not that Jesus would do what he does as this was the first sign (John 2:11)

Possible Mary shared some responsibility in the provision of the wine?

Likely though, Mary knew enough of her Son to know he might be able to help

Angelic revelations

John the Baptist’s testimony

His baptism

If not directly, Mary was at least implicitly suggesting that this was the time for Jesus to reveal his full identity.

John 2:4-5

“Woman, what does this have to do with me?”

This is Jesus distancing himself from his mother in the traditional mother-son relationship

2 Kings 3:13

Hos 14:8

Carson: We must not avoid the conclusion that Jesus by rebuking his mother, however courteously, declares, at the beginning of his ministry, his utter freedom from any kind of human advice, agenda or manipulation.

He has embarked on his ministry, the purpose of his coming; his only lodestar is his heavenly Father’s will (5:30; 8:29).

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 171.

Jesus’ priority was always the Father’s will, but this was another marker that since his public baptism, things had changed, even down to his relationship with his own mother

“My hour has not yet come.”

hour = hour of glorification

John 17:1

P2: See Jesus’ Purpose in View (vv.

1-5)

The “hour”

Metaphor for the crucifixion and subsequent exaltation

One commentator made the point that this somewhat ambiguous statement “whets the reader’s curiosity” with questions about what the hour could refer to and when it will come.

This in turn prompts us to read paying closer attention in our search for the answers to these questions.

The hour was not yet...

John 7:6

John 7:8