The Miracle at the Marriage
John 2:1-12
John 2:1-12 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
11 This beginning of 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, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
11 This beginning of (miracles) signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
God is real but he will never be real and our lives until we put our faith in him.
Our faith can be increased as we fellowship with Christ and see his mighty hand at work in our lives
As I said, Jesus didn’t do miracles to emulate; He did them to authenticate.
NOW they saw that He has almighty power, and their faith was established.
mir·a·cle [mírrək’l] (plural mir·a·cles) n act of God: an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and is regarded as an act of God
There are some 40 separate miracles of Christ recorded in the Gospels, and they are divided into four categories
One is healing miracles; next, casting out of demons; and then Resurrection from the dead; then one we see tonight is a miracle of nature;
All the miracles of Christ point to the future; they point to truths that are listed in the book of Revelation, e.g., the raising of the dead tells us that all death one day will be done away with, the casting out of demons signals God’s invasion on Satan and his ultimate defeat. The healing of the sick and the provision of food tell us that someday all suffering will be done away with. But now we see Jesus supplying a need. This also tells us that God will forever have power to supply our need.
Philippians 4:19-20 19 And my God. (My uncle D Swann used to say my Holy Spirit and I love that) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Not our wants but our needs.
Acts 2:22-24 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by (or a man approved of) God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know– 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
The way a Hebrew wedding comes about
- The Engagement (Erusinor Kiddushin)
Arrangement: Marriages were typically arranged by the parents or a negotiator (often called the “friend of the bridegroom”). Or the best man at a wedding, the one who helps prepare the way. He would get everything together and makes sure that the wedding goes smoothly.
We see that in the next chapter with John the Baptist, he calls himself a friend of the bridegroom, the best man, the one who is showing the world how to come to Christ
John 3:29-36 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
He must increase, but I must decrease.
A song that Eddie Rogers and his family used to sing here. I wish somebody could sing it again here; it’s a great song. It’s called More
More
Song by Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart ‧ 1983
Break my heart and change my mind
Cut me loose from ties that bind
Lead me as I follow You
Give me strength to follow through
Oh, more, more
I wanna be more like Jesus
More of Jesus, less of me
By His power I will be
Like a flower in the spring
Brand-new life in everything
Holy Spirit fill me up
Gently overflow my cup
Touch my eyes and let me see
Me in You and You in me
Oh, more, more
I want to be more like Jesus
More of Jesus, less of me
By His power I will be
Like a flower in the spring
Brand-new life in everything
I need to know more
And that’s what we need: we need more of Jesus and less of us.
Now back to how this Hebrew marriage is put together and see if it brings to your mind anything we see in our Savior.
So, we have the groom, and everything is set up with the arranged marriage and then:
The Bride Price (Mohar): The groom or his father paid a bride price to the bride’s family. A price has to be paid for the bride. to compensate them for the loss of her labor and presence.
The Contract (Ketubah): The couple signed a binding marriage contract detailing the bride’s rights and the financial obligations in case of divorce or death.
The Commitment: Drinking a cup of wine together sealed the engagement. Legally, the couple was considered married—breaking this bond required a formal bill of divorce, even though they did not yet live together or consummate the marriage.
Heard about a cup before, hadn’t you? If I can let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will but yours be done.
- The Separation and Preparation
Building the Home: Following the engagement ceremony, the groom returned to his own father’s house. He typically spent about a year building a new bridal chamber or an addition onto his father’s estate.
John 14:1-6 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Bride’s Preparation: The bride used this waiting period to purify herself (often utilizing the mikvah or ritual bath) and prepare her wedding garments, remaining ready for the groom’s unexpected return.
2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT2) If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
- The Arrival and Procession
The Midnight Abduction: The groom, often accompanied by a shouting procession of male friends at night (frequently alluded to in parables like the Ten Virgins), would go to the bride’s house.
Matthew 25:1-13 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!‘ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Transfer: The groom would take the bride and her bridal party back to his father’s house, often under a canopy (chuppah).
- The Marriage (Nissuin) and Feast
The Bridal Chamber (Chuppah / Cheder): The couple entered the bridal chamber together to consummate the marriage.
The Seven-Day Feast: Following the consummation, a massive wedding reception and feast (7 days of celebration) began for the guests, while the bride and groom remained secluded in the chamber for the first part of the celebration.
Now back to our lesson:
Before Jesus began his public ministry, he attended a wedding in Cana with his mother Mary and some of his disciples. During the wedding banquet, Jesus performed a miracle that involved changing water into wine. Cana is in Galilee, which is a region within the Biblical land of Israel. It is near Nazareth where Jesus spent much of his childhood.
John, the author of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible, indicates that this was the first miracle of Jesus, or at least the first that was witnessed by his disciples.
- The Master. 1-4
When we think of our Christ, we think of Calvary
Don’t miss the humanity of Jesus He’s enjoying a party and it’s OK for us to enjoy things don’t miss that.
John 2 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
On the third day after his conversation with Nathanael.
[Cana] This was a small town about 15 miles northwest of Tiberias and 6 miles northeast of Nazareth. It is now called Kerr Kenna, is under the government of a Turkish officer, and contains perhaps 300 inhabitants, chiefly Catholics.
It was called “Cana of Galilee” to distinguish it from another Cana in the tribe of Ephraim, Josh 16:9.
This was the native place of Nathanael, John 21:2.
[The mother of Jesus] Mary. It is probable that she was a relative of the family where the marriage took place.
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
We’ll deal a little more with that at the end of this lesson
[His disciples] maybe His plus 1 or more in this case. Those that he had made when in Judea. These were Peter, Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael. And I got to believe that John was there because he’s the only one that wrote it in his gospel.
They were not yet called to be apostles, but they believed that He was the Messiah. The miracle performed here was doubtless to convince them more fully that He was and is the Christ.
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
[When they wanted wine] A marriage feast among the Jews was commonly observed for seven or eight days. It is not probable that there would be a out of wine at the marriage itself, and it is possible, therefore, that Jesus came there some time during the marriage feast.
[They have no wine] Mary told this to Jesus. It would seem that she had a belief that he was able to supply it, though He had as not yet worked a miracle.
John 2:3-4 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
or
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
When Jesus referred to His mother as “woman,” it was not disrespectful but rather a culturally appropriate and respectful form of address in ancient Israel.
Understanding the context behind Jesus’ words reveals their deeper meaning.
Cultural Norm — In ancient Israel, the term “woman” was a respectful address, akin to “ma’am”. I’ve heard people get upset that are new to the South when people call them ma’am. When I was a house parent at the children’s home and the little girls there, and to this day young girls, I’ll say yes ma’am, no ma’am to them.
The best way to get respect is to give respect.
Symbolic Role — By calling her “woman,” Jesus emphasizes Mary’s role as the new Eve, paralleling her with His mission.
Moments of Address — This term appears in key moments: at the wedding in Cana (John 2:4); it is the same term by which he tenderly addressed Mary Magdalene after his resurrection (John 20:15), and at the Crucifixion with His mother (John 19:26).
John 20:15-16
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. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Not Rude — Jesus’ use of the term was not meant to be rude; rather, it indicated a shift in their relationship as He began His public ministry,
what does your concern have to do with Me?
Most of the ancients supposed this to be the intention of Jesus was tenderness but to us harsh, but they might have been spoken in a tender manner, and not have been intended as a reproof.
It is clear that He did not intend to refuse to provide wine, but only to DELAY it a little; and the design was, therefore, to compose the anxiety of Mary, and to prevent her being concerned about it.
It may, then, be then expressed:
“My mother, be not anxious. To you and to Me this should not be a matter of concern.”
The proper time of my interfering has not yet come. When that is come, I will furnish a supply, and in the meantime neither you nor I should be worried. Or anxious”
So, understood, it is so far from being a “harsh reproof,” that it was a mild exhortation for her to dismiss her fears and to put proper trust in him.
[Mine hour …] My time. The proper time for His interjecting.
Perhaps the wine was not yet entirely exhausted. The wine had begun to fail, but he would not work a miracle until it was entirely gone, that the miracle might be free from all possibility of suspicion.
It does not mean that the proper time for his working a miracle, or entering on his public work had not come, but that the proper time for his interjecting THERE had not arrived.
7 times
John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 12:24 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 17:1 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:
This also is to establish his independence from human timing and to point towards his ultimate sacrifice
Sometimes when we pray and God doesn’t answer right away it maybe It just may well be it’s not His time yet.
- The Master. 1-4
- The Miracle 5-9
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Mary then gets ready and instructs the servants to do what Jesus says. When Jesus told her My hour has not yet come I’m sure she turned and gave him a look, and He knew it was time to do what she said.
I made a mistake Thursday. I told another Mary not to do something, and Mrs. Mary Rich, and after I did, she turned around, and I got that look.
That Mamma look, that look that says you better shut your mouth, big boy, and I did.
Great advice: whatever he says to you, do it.
[His mother saith …] It is evident from this verse that His mother did not take what He had said as a harsh reproof and rebuff, but as an indication of His willingness at the proper time to furnish wine.
In all this transaction He displayed the appropriate feelings of a Son toward a mother.
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
John 2:6 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.
A firkin holds 9 US gallons, which is approximately 34 liters. This measurement is commonly used in brewing and cider-making contexts.
18 to 27 gallons a piece.
Details About Firkin Measurements
Understanding firkin measurements can be useful in various industries.
Volume — A firkin is equivalent to 9 US gallons or 34 liters. A Keg is about 7.75 gallons or 62 pints.
Historical Context — Traditionally, a firkin was a wooden barrel used for storing liquids.
Usage — It is commonly used in the brewing industry for cask-conditioned ales.
Weight — A firkin filled with salted butter can weigh around 100 pounds
[Six water-pots of stone] Made of stone; or, as we should say, stoneware.
So, we end up with 108 to 162 gallons.
[After the manner] After the usual custom.
[Of the purifying] Of the “washings” or cleansings of the Jews. They were for the purpose of washing the hands before and after eating (Matt 15:2),
As I said this morning in Sunday School:
In the symbolism of Scripture, water for cleansing customarily represents the Word of God;
Water for drinking symbolizes the Spirit of God.
So, the pots of water there are for purification You don’t put your hands in the water you dip it out and pour it over your hands or your feet or whatever you’re cleaning the scribes and Pharisees got mad at Jesus because the disciples, we’re doing all the purification.
Matthew 15:1-2 1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
and for the formal washing of vessels, and even articles of furniture, Luke
11:39; Mark 7:3-4.
Luke 11:39 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.
Mark 7:3-4 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
So, the Jews all had these water pot for cleansing.
Listen all through the scriptures you’re gonna see Jesus using what is there. The water pots are there. When He tells parables he sees guys throwing seeds out so He tells a story about seeds. When He healed the blind guy He Need a little water in the clay to make it mud and stick to his eyes so He spits down in the dirt and he rubs it on his eyes. He uses what he’s got.
Back to our story:
Mary told the servants do what he says and now this is what he says:
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
[With water] This was done by the servants employed at the feast. It was done by “them,” so that there might be no opportunity of saying that the disciples of Jesus had filled them with wine to produce the “appearance” of a miracle.
In this case there could be no deception. The quantity was very considerable. The servants would know whether the “wine” or “water” had been put in these vessels.
It could not be believed that THEY had either the power to carry out or others in this manner, and the way was therefore clear for the proof that Jesus had really changed what was known to be water into wine.
[To the brim] To the top. So full that no wine could be poured in to give the appearance of a mixture.
The vessels were used for this miracle in which wine had not been kept. These pots were never used to hold wine, but simply to keep “water” in for various cleaning purposes.
A large number was used on this occasion, because there were many guests.
The servant knew what others did not know.
8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
[Draw out now] This command was given to the servants. It showed that the miracle had been performed immediately. As soon as they were filled, the servants were directed to take it to the governor of the feast.
Jesus made no spectacle about it, and it does not even appear that He approached the waterpots. He willed it, and it was done. This was a clear application of divine power, and made in such a manner as to leave no doubt of its reality.
[The governor or the Master of the feast] One who presided on the occasion. The one who stood at the “head” or upper end of the table. He had the charge of the entertainment, provided the food, gave directions to the servants, etc.
Only a true handful of people knew what had happened. The crowd did not know what Jesus had done; the servants and the disciples and Mary, the mother of Jesus, did.
So, sometimes, sometimes miracles are just for us, our small crowd.
Sometimes we see things happen. The world can’t explain it; the world doesn’t understand it, and we just sit back and smile and know that was the hand of God!
I bet everyone of you at one time or another has set back and said that had to be God and it probably was.
God always saves the best for last 9-10
9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
This is shown to be a REAL miracle by the following considerations:
- Real water was placed in the vessels. This the servants believed, and there was no possibility of deception.
- The water was placed where it was not customary to keep wine. It could not be pretended that it was merely a mixture of water and wine.
- It was judged to be wine without knowing where it came from. There was no agreement between Jesus and the governor of the feast to impose on the guests.
- It was a change which nothing but divine power could affect. He that can change water into a substance like the wine must be clothed with divine power.
What did the grape say when it was stepped on. Nothing it just let out with a little whine.
Back to our story:
[And knew not where it was from] This is said, probably, to indicate that his judgment was not biased by any favor, or any lack of favor, toward Jesus.
Had he known what was done, he would have been less likely to have judged impartially. As it is, we have his testimony that this was REAL wine, and of so fine a body and flavor as to surpass that which had been provided for the occasion. Everything in this miracle shows that there was no conspiracy or understanding between Jesus and any of the persons at the feast.
10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
You saved the best for last
[Every man] It is customary, or it is generally done.
Wine= NT:3631oinos (oy’-nos); a primary word (or perhaps of Hebrew origin [OT:3196]); “wine” (literally or figuratively):
KJV – wine. OT:3196 yayin (yah’-yin); from an unused root meaning to effervesce(fiz); wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication:
KJV – banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].
Well drunk=NT:3182 methusko (meth-oos’-ko); a prolonged (transitive) form of NT:3184; to intoxicate: KJV – be drunk (-en).
NT:3184 methuo (meth-oo’-o); from another form of NT:3178; to drink to intoxication, i.e. get drunk: KJV – drink well, make (be) drunk (-en).
NT:3178 methe (meth’-ay); apparently a primary word; an intoxicant, i.e. (by implication) intoxication: KJV – drunkenness.
(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
So, did Jesus make wine with alcohol? Yes, because it’s the same word used in Ephesians to be not drunk with. So, if you can get drunk with it in Ephesians, I believe you can get drunk with it in the book of John.
Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) 18 And do not be drunk with wine (oy’-nos); in which is (excess) dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Paul is talking in Ephesians about the Spirit of God leading you the same way that alcohol can lead you. He’s just using it as a comparison. Just an example. The verses before, he’s not talking about drinking; the verses afterwards, he’s not talking about drinking, and in this verse, he’s not talking about drinking. He’s talking about being filled with the Spirit of God.
Andy Stanley says There’s good, and there’s bad, but that’s not our cue, but rather what is the wise thing to do
The right question about alcohol
Christians keep asking the wrong question about alcohol.
I know because I have heard it asked for years.
I am not trying to justify drinking; I don’t drink I never have or ever will.
We want to know if drinking is a sin, but underneath that question was often. Another one: how much can I drink and still be OK with God? Eventually, I realized they were asking the wrong question because following Jesus isn’t about discovering how close to the line we can live, but it’s about asking where He is leading us. Everything is permissible, but for us not everything is beneficial.
1 Corinthians 10:23 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
Edify = English Words used in KJV: build 24 edify 7 builder 5 build up 1 be in building 1 embolden 1 [Total Count: 39]
from the same as <G3619> (oikodome); to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figurative) confirm :- (be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.
To encourage, inspire, bolster. Is what you’re doing building up the kingdom of God when somebody sees you drinking or drunk is that glorifying God in any way.
Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
In other words, something can be allowed and still not be helping you, so stop obsessing over Am I technically allowed to drink and start asking Who are you becoming when you drink that question is much harder to avoid. Alcohol will not lead you towards peace, self-control, joy, or spiritual growth.
It will make all of those things harder.
The question we should be asking about everything. social media, relationships, entertainment, and alcohol. Not how close can I get to the line, but does it help me glorify God?
When I was talking to a man about eternal security, I asked him where the line was because I know me, and I know mankind, I know our nature. We want to know where the line is, and we’re going to go right to that line. That’s not what God wants.
God isn’t trying to take good things from you. He’s trying to lead you into abundant life. Sometimes freedom begins when we stop asking. Is this a sin, and start asking, is this helping me become who God created me to be?
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Back to our story:
10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
[Is worse] Is of an inferior quality.
[The good wine] This shows that this had all the qualities of real wine.
We should not be deceived by the phrase “`good wine.'” “The best wine,” The most useful wine – This wine was truly better than the Napa Valley Cabernet.
Jesus made it so it’s the best wine that it was ever made
The Internet says the aging process makes the best wine the finest wines develop complex secondary flavors over decades in the bottle
So, Jesus made the best wine you could ever drink and it tasted like it had been sitting in a bottle for years and it was just in the well moments before. It was just water.
The miracle, too, would in this way be more apparent and impressive. On this supposition, the casks would APPEAR to be filled with water ONLY; as it was drawn out, it was pure wine. Who could doubt, then, that there was the exertion of miraculous power?
I. The Master. 1-4
II. The Miracle 5-9
III. The Manifestation of his Glory. 11
Our faith can be increased as we fellowship with Christ and see his mighty hand at work in our lives
11 This beginning of 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, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
[This beginning of miracles] This is His first public miracle. This is declared by John the writer to be a “miracle” – that is, a force of divine power, producing a change of the substance of water into wine, which no human power could do.
[Manifested forth] Showed; exhibited. [His glory] His power, and proper character as the Messiah; showed that He had divine power, and that God had certainly commissioned Him.
[Believed on Him] This does not mean that they did not believe on Him beforehand, but that their faith was confirmed or strengthened.
They saw a miracle, and it satisfied them that He was and is the Messiah. “Before this” they “believed” on the testimony of John, and from conversation with Jesus (John 1:35-51);
John 1:35-51 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
The miracle at the marriage is Christ Himself showing that He is the bridegroom and He can supply all the needs we ever will have
Bridegroom. In the New Testament. Jesus constantly calls Himself the bridegroom and us the bride. This is intentional in Jewish tradition.
The groom paid a bride price to the bride’s family before the marriage. This payment compensated for the loss of her contribution to the household. The dowry is what the bride brought into the marriage, A price has to be paid
Jesus paid a price for us. He paid with his life on the cross, and our dowry to Him is giving him our lives after the agreement was made, and the price was paid; the engaged couple drank from a shared cup of wine to seal the covenant at the Last Supper.
Jesus gives the disciples wine and says: This is my blood, so the cup becomes covenant language: the bride drinks the cup that represents the groom’s life poured out for her, and Jesus‘s blood was shed and the Cup was filled for us on the cross before the wedding was completed.
The bride would undergo purification.
She would immerse herself, which is a ritual water bath; it symbolizes cleansing and a new beginning that parallels baptism perfectly.
We go into the water, leave the old life behind, and rise identified with our bridegroom Jesus Christ;
Then the groom would leave. He would return to his Father’s house to prepare a place for his bride, and Jesus says the same thing: He says I go to prepare a place for you and my Father‘s house, but while He was gone, the bride was not left alone; she was given a token, sometimes called a comfort pledge, as proof of the covenant.
It testified that she belonged to him and carried His name, and when Jesus ascended, He left the comforter, the Holy Spirit; the Spirit testifies that we belong to Jesus Christ and powers us and bears witness to the covenant because the Jewish tradition also required witnesses.
It was publicly affirmed in the New Testament: The Father and The Spirit both testified to The Son and to those who belong to Him now.
Here’s where we get to the verse. Only the Father knows the hour, in Jewish wedding tradition. Only the Father decided when the wedding preparations were complete.
The Son did not announce the timing; that mirrors Jesus saying only the Father knows the hour. This doesn’t mean that the Son was uninformed. It means the Father had the authority to clear the timing, and remember Jesus is fully God and fully human. In His earthly role in His human nature, He submitted to the Father; when the time came, it was often unexpected.
The groom would arrive with shouts and trumpet blasts to fetch his bride, and Jesus says to stay ready because you do not know the hour.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
And back to our example of this miracle:
Then the bride was taken to the Father‘s house for a wedding feast. There was celebration food, wine, and joy.
Jesus says He will not drink the fruit of the vine again until he drinks it New and His Father’s kingdom; that is wedding language, so the images are very deliberate.
Jesus is presenting Himself as the covenant bride group who pays the price, prepares the place, sends the Spirit, and will return for his bride.
NOW they saw that he was invested with almighty power, and their faith was established.
And I close with this:
The Miracle at the Marriage
Ever been invited to a wedding and you have to RSVP?
Before you know it, the wedding date is here, and you forgot.
You figure I’ll just go and surely, they’ll let me in. After all, I was invited.
So, you clean yourself up and put on your best clothes. You look in the mirror and think, I look so good, there’s no way I’m not getting in.
The wedding is at a beautiful gated private estate. You can’t wait to see what’s on the inside.
This is going to be a special night, and it costs you nothing.
Then, there’s a problem. At the gate, they ask your name and tell you that you’re not on the list. You tell them, but I was invited.
No matter how much you argue, they send you away, telling you that it was your responsibility to accept the invitation.
That’s Heaven. God wants you there.
He sent you the invitation.
All you have to do is accept it.
Not after you clean yourself up.
Not when you “look” presentable, the way you think you’re expected to look.
No, you have to accept before it’s too late.
Otherwise, you’re not getting in.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to respond.
PRAY!!!
Calvary Baptist Church August 30, 2026 PM
