THE MIRACLE AT THE WEDDING
John 2:1-13
MARRIAGE, GOD’S FIRST INSTITUTION
On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus\’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus\’ mother said to him, \”They have no more wine.\”
What is important about the third day? When was the third day?
We are sure. There are some possible explanations.
Since the story is a continuation of the Last part of Chapter 1, It could mean the
third day after the call of His first three disciples.
It could mean the third day of the week. In Jewish times the day began at
6 PM. The first day would be Sat/Sun. The Second day would be, Sun/Mon
and the third day would be Mon/Tue. The time could have been 6 PM Monday.
A wedding celebration would last a week. To run out of wine early in the
celebration would be an embarrassment to the groom and family.
Mary may have been invited because she was a relative of the family. Jesus
and His disciples were invited because He was considered a rabbi and to
celebrate the beginning of a new family. Probably, Jesus arrived
later in the day.
It is fitting that Jesus\’ first miracle was a wedding because His relationship to
the Church is the bride-groom. We are His bride. Wine was the celebratory drink.
We celebrate our faith in Jesus by drinking wine, a symbol of His atoning blood
shed on the cross for our salvation.
Three is a divine number, the Holy Trinity. Jesus rose on the third day. There were three
disciples in His inner circle, Peter, James, and John. Noah had three sons.
Peter denied Jesus three times during His trial.
Jesus is the author of marriage, the keeper of marriage, and the protector
of marriage. Marriage is the first divine human institution formed by God.
Jesus\’ presence represents the love he has for the Church
Running out of wine represents our continuous need for the provisions of Jesus
and our continuous celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.
Mothers are the first to show compassion for their children. They are concerned
about the needs and desires of the family. When we have a need or desire we ought
to make our requests known first to Jesus. Before we try to work things out we need
to be confident that Jesus has already planned it out.
JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCES
V:4 \”Dear woman, why do you involve me?\” Jesus replied. \”My time has not yet co.\”
5 His mother said to the servants, \”Do whatever he tells you.\”
To call His mother a woman was not disrespectful but a change in position. Jesus was
not just her son but the Messiah of mankind. Mary was not just a mother, but a servant of
the most high God. Jesus was beginning the building of His Church. He is the chief
cornerstone.
Jesus time had not come to be seated at the right hand of the Father with all power
over heaven and earth and to be our intercessor before the Father. While our desires are
Jesus concern, our most pressing need to hear the good news and accept Jesus as
Lord and Savior.
The first miracle Mary the the mother of Jesus experienced was the conception of Jesus
in her body by the power of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps she remembered her
visit by the angel Gabriel telling her the good news of being chosen to
be the mother of Jesus by Holy Spirit conception. She was sure of the
power of God by her experience. If God could create a baby of flesh and
blood in her body without the hands of man, He certainly could supply wine for the marriage.
Notice Mary did not doubt Jesus would answer her prayer. She was so
confident that she directed two servants to do what Jesus asked. When we
make a request to Jesus in prayer, don’t limit what He can do by our
knowledge. Never doubt the power and creativity of Our Lord and Savior.
My son has a saying; If you pray don’t doubt, If you doubt don’t pray.
There was no wine in the community, and they didn’t have
time to make wine. It was Monday evening, there was no place to
buy wine. A problem for me. But not for Jesus.
I GOT JESUS, IT IS ENOUGH
V:6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, \”Fill the jars with water\”; so they filled them to the brim.
Notice our greatest blessing starts with obedience to God’s Word. We will never know
where God will lead us or what He will do for us until follow His commands.
FOLLOW JESUS TO YOUR BLESSINGS
V:8 Then he told them, \”Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.\”
Why would Jesus choose water jars used for washing hands and feet? Was it
acceptable to drink? God uses what you have to bless you. What He makes
clean is clean. Water is a precious resource. Water represents the spiritual
purification of Jesus. The six jars, 120 to 180 gallons of water represent the
endless supply in Jesus. Jesus is our storehouse.
When Jesus gives you a command, follow it to your blessing. Not only are you
blessed, but others around you are blessed. The servants didn’t know what to expect,
so it required no faith on their part. Mary\’s faith was Jesus would supply the wine.
She didn’t know how, she knew He would.
When did the water become wine? Was it when the pots were filled, or was it
when it was taken out of the pots? We may never know, but the miracle took
place at the command of Jesus. To validate the quality of the wine it was taken
to the master of the banquet. Anybody can make wine. It takes skill and time to
make quality wine. Jesus doesn\’t operate on human skill or time. He operates on
His divine power.
Notice, that Jesus didn\’t command the water to become wine. It became wine according
to the obedience of the servants to His directions. There are hidden blessings in
Jesus that you don’t know about until you take your prayers to Him.
There was no formal praise and worship going on at the wedding. They were having a
party. Praise and worship begin with faith and obedience. The only party you ought
to attend is a party with Jesus.
JESUS GIVES YOU HIS BEST
V:9 They did so, 9 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 10 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.\”
Whenever Jesus does something, it will always far exceed what man can
do. The best in our lives will always be with Jesus. Jesus does not shop at Walmart
or your local grocery store, He calls the best out of nothing. He takes what He created
and makes it what we need.
THE JOB OF GLORIFYING THE FATHER
V:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
The family ought to always be first. God\’s family and everything else second. This miracle
at the start of Jesus\’s public ministry emphasized family and family development. Jesus should be the center of your family. There is a song that says Jesus is the center of my
Joy. Start your day in Jesus Joy and you will continue in joy.
The first three disciples were introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. It is our personal
experience with Jesus that grows our faith. There is no mention of the disciples being involved in the miracle. It had to be revealed by Jesus to them. We have to believe
what the Word says. Faith comes by hearing and not by sight. You don’t have to see
an event to believe Jesus is involved. We see horrible stuff all the time that Jesus protects us from.
Our first objective in the morning ought to be to give God glory. If you start your
day praising God, you will end in His glory.
DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM
V:12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Jesus started His ministry near His hometown. There is not much discussion
in the Gospels about Jesus’ family life. This text indicates that Jesus kept in contact
with His family. Jesus created a family, and His maternal family was
important to Him. Jesus spent quality time with His family. Many of His miracles
were in that area. We must spend quality time with our families. It is believed that
Capernaum was the central base of Jesus\’s operation.
Never forget where you came from. Your early life experiences are an important part of who you are. Jesus was the son of a carpenter, and a fisherman, raised in a family devoted to God\’s commands. He built His church, fished men out of darkness, and molded the family of God.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
