John 2:1-12
“The First Sign”
In today’s sermon we continue the transition into the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth as He continues to reveal Himself as the Christ.
The invitation of “Come and see” and the calling of “Follow me” now has Andrew, John, Peter, Philip and Nathaniel walking with Jesus –
And today, He would bring them along with Him to a wedding being held in Cana.
Most have heard this story if they have been around the bible much – It is the First Sign, the First Miracle, that Jesus gave as evidence and confirmation of His divine identity.
Before we jump into the story, it may be helpful to outline a traditional Jewish Wedding for context.
Marriages in biblical days were often arranged for the benefit of both families, rather than on love.
The groom’s father would negotiate with the bride’s father for the (Mohar) the “Bride price” which would be paid to the bride’s family to compensate for the loss of her labor in the family home.
(Although this was generally gifted to the bride to begin her new household.)
Both families met at the bride’s home to draw up the marriage contract which included expectations of the groom and the acceptance of the “Bride price.”
The groom and the bride would then both drink from a cup of wine, legally binding them to the marriage to come.
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Following this was a waiting period,
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When the room was ready and the time was right the groom would return and collect his bride, accompanied by his male friends blowing trumpets to announce to the bride the arrival of her groom.
The bride had no other warning that her groom was coming and so was expected to keep herself prepared for his arrival at any hour.
There would be a joyous procession as they brought the bride to her new home. When they arrived, the groom and bride were part of a more private wedding ceremony and then joined their guests for a celebration.
The following was a multi-day celebration, hosted by the groom and his family that was complete with food, wine, music and dancing.
Much social importance was placed on the groom and his family for the celebration.
Wedding ceremonies that went poorly were not soon forgotten and could result in public embarrassment and loss of opportunity for the family in the future.
So, with all this on the line – Let’s join Jesus and His disciples as the Ministry of the Messiah Begins with the First Sign!
John 2:1-12
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.12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
Just for clarity’s sake, I was not there, so I do not know.
But I have this image of this scene whenever I read through it of how this went down.
I doubt VERY much that it happened that way – but that’s the scene that rolls through my head…
Here is what DID HAPPEN – and let’s break it down to see what we can learn as we follow Jesus today.
I. His Presence in the Ordinary (v. 1–2)
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
Cana was a small town about 9 miles from Nazareth. So, not a surprise that Jesus or His mother, Mary, would have friends or family there.
In John 21:2, we learn that Nathaniel was from Cana – further reason to see who both Jesus and His disciples were invited and welcome at the wedding.
The Wedding in Cana demonstrates to us that Jesus, Immanuel, entered into the fabric of human celebration, community, and domestic life.
The imagery of weddings plays a strong role in biblical teaching throughout scripture.
In relationship to Christ-
We see Jesus as the “Groom” and the Church is His “Bride”
Jesus has committed to love, care for and protect us – and we have committed to submit and honor Him.
In relationship to Judgement and Reward-
Matthew 24:37-39
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The 2nd Coming of the Lord will be like the day when the groom comes – The mundane things of the world will be going on as they generally do.
In Matthew 25 we read Jesus will return at an hour the world does not expect.
(Jesus) the Groom will come – He will gather to Him His bride (the Church) and the Tribulation, the time of trouble, the time of judgement will come.
And will be too late to avoid it. Once the bride is collected, the doors are shut.
Another observation- Finding Jesus in the Everyday:
We often look for God only in crisis or strict religious duty.
We seek Him in church, but Jesus showed up in the everyday – He showed up at a neighborhood party. He showed up in busy marketplaces.
He showed up in quiet countrysides, funerals and festivals. He sat down for dinner, He walked on the beach and went for boat rides with friends.
Invite Jesus into your everyday life.
Back to the wedding!
II. A Matter of Respect and Faith (v. 3–5)
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.”
SCANDAL! The family would never hear the end of it!
Again, Mary knew who her son was. – The song asks, “Mary did you know?” the answer is YES – the angel had told her so. Luke 1:31-33
You will become pregnant, give birth to a son,
and name him Jesus.
32 He will be a great man
and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his ancestor David.
33 Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,
and his kingdom will never end.”
Jesus’ response to His mother sounds harsh, even rude. But it is not meant to be taken that way.
The phrase "Woman, what does that have to do with us?" is not a rude snub, but a respectful boundary line.
First – while Jesus would always be His mother’s son, and she His mother – there was a distinction between Him and normal child – namely, that Jesus was the Word made flesh – God incarnate.
As the ministry of Jesus the Messiah became center stage – Mary had to learn to see her son as both her child – and her God. Something her other children, Jude and James, also struggled to see!
We see this respectful distinction but relationship manifest again as Jesus hung on the cross – In John 19, Jesus would look down on His grieving mother and see there also John.
Jesus then declares to her, “Woman, behold your son” speaking of John by her side. And to John, “Here is your mother.”
Second: Jesus signals that His public ministry cannot be directed by family obligation or human pressure.
As He would later decare in John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
Jesus would repeated reference this statement, “My hour has not yet come.”
Holding strictly to the timing and agenda of the Heavenly Father that would ultimately lead to the Cross and His Resurrection.
Whether Mary’s response is in resignation or anticipation – her understanding and commitment to her son’s authority is made evident in her words -
"Whatever He says to you, do it."
III. The Waterpots (v. 6–8)
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.
What happens next is richly steeped in symbolism.
Under the Law, the Israelites were subject to several types of ritual washings for purification. The priests underwent several of them during their priestly duties in the temple.
But there were some that were observed in the home as well.
These were not simple washings of dishes, hands, feet or clothing for cleanliness –
This was especially important before taking food to eat.
This was highlighted as reported in Mark 7:1-3 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders-)
Under the law, the water for purification washings had to be pure.
In Leviticus 11:32-34, it was established that if anything unclean came into contact with earthen-wear vessels used for water – that the water, and the pot, would become unclean and the pot was to be broken.
Six stone pots containing 20 to 30 gallons of pure water for the washings would have been very expensive pots – and a lot of water!
The sheer size – volume – and the fact of many witnesses and helpers who had just filled these pots to the brim with water – would make what came next an even greater mystery to the guests and sign to the Disciples.
IV. Water into Wine – The First Sign (v. 9–10)
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.”
Wait a minute, did Jesus just supply the party with alcohol? Yes.
There are couple of quick cultural and biblical truths I want to cover here -
Stripping away all the cultural constructs of the church, both liberal and conservative regarding the use of alcohol – let’s look at what GOD has to say on the subject using a Systematic Theology approach.
1) Wine as a Symbol of Blessing and Restoration
In the Old Testament, wine is frequently listed among God's material blessings upon a fruitful land, representing joy, abundance, and restoration.
A Gift of Creation: Psalm 104:14-15 – "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine which makes man’s heart glad..."
A Sign of Covenant Abundance: Joel 2:24 – "The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil."
(Similar teaching in Deuteronomy. 11:14).
Prophetic Restoration: Isaiah 25:6 – On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
(Similar teaching in Amos 9:14).
2) Wine as an Agent of Ruin and Judgment
Moral Deception: Proverbs 20:1 – "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."
Physical and Spiritual Destitution: Proverbs 23:29-31 – "Who has woe? Who has sorrow?... Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder."
A Symbol of God's Wrath: Psalm 75:8 – "For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; it is well mixed, and He pours out of this; surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs." (Similar teaching in Jeremiah 25:15 and Revelation 14:10).
3. New Testament Imperatives
The New Testament moves the discussion into the realm of Christian ethics, church leadership, and the preservation of the believer's mind and witness.
The Command for Sobriety: Ephesians 5:18 – "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit..."
Qualifications for Leadership: 1 Timothy 3:3, 8 – Both the Elders and the Deacons of the church must be "not addicted to wine"
The Law of Liberty and Stumbling Blocks: Romans 14:21 – "It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles."
Did Jesus drink wine? Yes. That’s not just a cultural assumption, but a biblical fact.
One day, Jesus was being challenged by the Pharisees who denied the teaching of John the Baptist and were now denying Jesus’s teachings as well.
He pointed out their hypocrisy in Luke 7:33-35
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Even Paul, who warned against drinking wine in a manner that might cause a brother to stumble, advised Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23)
Conclusions –
According to the Word of God- Is wine or the consumption of alcohol sinful? No. – But its abuse is.
Just as food is good – but gluttony is sinful
Reward for our labor is good – love of wealth is sinful
Even passion is good between man and wife – but lust of the flesh is sinful
Water, Wine and modern Drink
Still water that sits easily breeds bacteria, parasites and pathogens.
In the ancient world, and even long into the modern era, it was commonplace to add wine to water for sanitation.
Ratios varied depending on the setting. Ranging from 2:1 to even 4:1 but it was nearly universal in both the Jewish and Roman culture to consume diluted wine.
While the alcohol by volume was less than modern day wine, beer, and liquor – it did not remove the potential for drunkenness – which scripture repeated warns against.
When did Wine go bad in the church?
For the first 1800 years of the church the teaching and practice regarding alcohol condemned drunkenness, but not the moderate consumption of alcohol.
Even the earliest Baptist confessions of faith letters had no prohibitions against consuming alcohol but rather viewed this as a matter of Christian Liberty governed by self-control.
This was the standard until the 19th Century when the introduction of cheap, mass-produced distilled spirits like whiskey and rum flooded the market and led to widespread social devastation and systemic alcoholism.
The response in America was a movement led primarily by the Southern Baptist Church and other conservative movements to vilify and ban alcohol that began in the 1820’s and led to the Prohibition amendment.
Alcohol was banned in the church and the consumption of it was labeled as sinful.
It is oddly coincidental in history that until this time wine had been used in communion – banning wine created a gap for the sacrament.
However, in 1862 – French chemist Louis Pasteur invented a process for using heat to kill off microorganisms in food and drink that became known as “Pasteurization”
In America – seeing a need and an opportunity – A Methodist doctor of dentistry – Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch –
began using the “Pasteurization process” to market a non-alcoholic grape juice/wine substitute he called “Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine”
The resulting business success became the company we know today as “Welch’s” with global sales of pasteurized grape juice, jams and jellies.
Prohibition “legally” existed for 13 years in America. Its effect in the conservative church carries on still today.
I will conclude with this – While drinking alcohol is not a sin – and is a matter of Christian Liberty - if a person lacks self-control in this – or in any matter of Christian Liberty – then abstinence is something I would strongly counsel for.
As we read from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
Friends- if you have anything in your life that is drawing you apart from your relationship and full honoring of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior –
You don’t need it.
Suggested Illustrations from the First Sign
There are some suggested illustrations for us to consider within this “First sign” performed by Jesus.
Consider that the water in the stone pots was to only be used for washings to remove impurity – that is to make items or oneself clean, before the Lord.
Jesus turned the water in the pots to wine-
At the last supper – Jesus took the cup of wine and handed it to His disciples saying- “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:20
Matthew 26:28 records His words – “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
So then, the water that ritually purified – is now replaced by the wine –
Which Jesus would later use to usher in the Covenant – of Grace, and Faith – where the wine became a symbol of His blood, which was shed to cleanse and purify us ETERNALLY!
Another suggested illustration lies in the discovery of the best wine at the last.
The wine may have been watered down, but there was still a difference between average wine and good wine!
It stands to reason to serve the best wine up front – when people are making their first impressions and evaluations. As the event went along, the servers would begin to introduce wine of lesser value.
This is much in the way of the world as well – All the best up front. People who want it all and want it now.
But not so with God!
1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
V. The Purpose of the First Sign(v. 11–12)
11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
John explicitly uses the word Sign rather than just "miracle."
It is also important to note this was the “beginning of His signs” which rules out any claims about Jesus performing miracles as a child.
Extra-biblical and false writings have ascribed a few-
Even the Islamic Quran, which writes of Jesus as a historical person and prophet of God – claims that Jesus as a child molded birds out of clay, breathed life into them and they flew away.
None of these have any support from the inspired Word of God and in fact – John declares this was the “first sign.”
Add this Jesus decares to Mary even now that His time had not yet come – so even this sign is done in private – that His disciples would know, trust and follow Him –
As we read later in John 20:30–31 – "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed... but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ..."
IN CLOSING- Let me ask you-
Have you ever experienced a moment in life where the 'wine ran out'? I don't mean a literal beverage. I mean that moment where your emotional reserves hit zero.
The marriage hits a wall, the career loses its spark, your patience with your kids completely evaporates, or your spiritual life feels entirely dry.
You are going through the motions, trying to keep up appearances so nobody notices, but secretly, you are running on empty.
The world tells us that when things run dry, the party is over. You pack up, you go home, and you manage the disappointment.
But in John 2, we see a completely different point of view.
We meet a Savior who specializes in meeting us precisely at the point of our insufficiency.
When our resources are completely wiped out, He steps into our empty spaces to show us that His best work doesn't happen when we have it all together—
It happens when we have nothing left to give – and trust in Him to provide everything we need.
Let us Pray~