The First Sign: Turning Water into Wine
John 2.1-11
Have you ever missed a sign? You were looking for some place and you missed the sign. Signs are an important part of our society.
Road signs provide direction. They give information or instructions.
* DMV test—you had better know your signs.
White rectangular signs give information.
Yellow signs give warnings.
Red octagon shaped signs mean stop.
As a driver, you better know your signs.
Signs are also used by virtually every business and restaurant in our culture. One of the keys to a successful business or restaurant is advertisement, and signs play a large part in that venture.
* If I pull into a restaurant that says McDonalds, I want McDonalds and not Burger King. Furthermore, if there is an inspection sign on the wall that has a C, I want to know it. Signs.
Signs are also used for advertising products, places of entertainment, radio stations, television shows, movies, clothing stores, cars, and almost every thing that can be purchased, leased, or borrowed in our society.
Churches even use signs.
Funny church signs—3 mile BC, 2 miles this way. Burnout BC. Hope BC. New Hope BC. Greater New Hope BC. Signs.
People are looking constantly for signs of the end times. The Left Behind series is one of the top-selling novel series of all times. End times preachers warn of the signs of the times. People are searching for religious signs.
A recent BC comic. God give me a sign to know you are there! Wham! A sign drops from the sky.
In our text today, we have what John labels, the first sign. In his gospel, John highlights 7 of these signs in order to fulfill his primary purpose. Do you remember our purpose statement from 20:30-31? “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
In his gospel, John provides signs/markers that encourage the reader to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing on Him, one is granted eternal life. In today’s text, we read about our first sign. Let’s examine the narrative together and then draw some life lessons from the first sign. Read text.
Jesus and his disciples (at least 5 at this point), along with his mother, have been invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee. And during this midst of this celebration, the wine runs out. Now understand, weddings were a major event in Jesus’ day (not to suggest they are not major events today). Weddings of that time lasted a week or more; therefore, it was necessary to have plenty of food and beverage. To run out of either was a disgrace and embarrassment for the groom and his family and was even grounds for a lawsuit. So when the wine runs out, it is a major catastrophe.
Mary, who seems to have some organizational role in the wedding, does not know what to do about this situation, so she turns to Jesus and says, “They have no wine.” Evidently, Mary believes that Jesus can fix the problem (this may be motherly ambition). There is no indication that Jesus has performed any miracles prior to this event, but for whatever reason, Jesus’ mother believes Jesus can solve the setback. He may be the primary caregiver in the family at this time.
Jesus’ response may appear a bit harsh: “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My hour has not come.”
I do not suggest any of our youth use this response at home with your own mother. Take out the trash. Woman, what does that have to do with me? My hour has not come. Make your bed. Woman… If you do try this, you may discover that your hour has come sooner than you had anticipated.
What is going on here? Is Jesus setting a bad example for how we should treat our parents? Actually, Jesus’ response is not as unkind as it may appear in our English translations. His reference to His mother as “Woman” was a common term in the first century that does not reflect irreverence or disrespect (but neither is it a term of endearment).
And what about his reply, “what does this have to do with me” or “what do you and I have in common,” is this disrespectful? It appears that Jesus’ abrupt response seems to be setting the parameters for his relationship with his mother. For many years, Mary has raised Jesus as her son. But now, Jesus is redefining their relationship. He is establishing distance between them. Why?
No longer are family relationships to be the determining factor in Jesus’ life. He is beginning His public ministry. He is starting a journey that will end on Calvary’s cross. And just as every other human being, Mary must respond to Jesus in saving faith. She must embrace Him as her personal Savior and Lord. The relationship between Jesus and Mary has changed.
Jesus seems to be reminding Mary that He is controlled by obedience to the Father and not by human relationships. His hour is coming, but it is an hour determined only by the Father. His destiny is not controlled by human relationships but by His divine appointment with death. Indeed, His hour is coming, but it has not yet arrived.
Mary seems to understand at some level this break in their relationship for she instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus says to do. She shows some faith here.
Jesus points to the six stone water-pots that were used for the ceremonial cleansing performed before the meals and instructs the servants to fill them to the brim with water. With all 6 containers, there would have been around 150-180 gallons of water. Why to the brim? So there would be no doubt about the genuineness of this miracle.
The servants obey. Let me interject the words of JC Ryle here: “Duties are ours. Events are God’s. It is Christ’s to make the water wine.” Be faithful to do what we are told to do—fill the water pots and leave the miracle/event to God.
Jesus next commands the servants to draw some of the water out and take it to the chief waiter. Suddenly from the time the servants draw the water and the head attendant tastes the liquid, a miracle occurs. The Bible simply states, the water had become wine. A few simple words for such an extraordinary event. The water has become wine!
The headwaiter is shocked. He has never tasted wine so good. As a matter of fact, he accuses the bridegroom of breaking a first century custom and saving the best wine for last. “You have kept the good wine until now,” asserts the attendant. From all indications, only the disciples and servants know the real story.
In v. 11, John states that this was the beginning of signs in the ministry of Jesus. And as a result of this sign, Jesus’ glory was revealed and the disciples believed in Him. So the miracle created 2 responses: the glory of Christ was revealed and the disciples believed. Remember John’s 2-fold purpose? He wants to tell us who Jesus is (reveal His glory) and to create belief (the response of the disciples). So in recording this miraculous event, John is fulfilling His purpose.
Now let’s draw some life lessons from this story, but before we do, let me mention a couple of things we need to keep in mind about this text.
1) I believe this event is an actual miracle. I do not believe that Jesus merely added water to a half container of wine. I believe when the Bible says the water became wine that the water actually became wine.
2) This text is not to be used to justify the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The primary focus of this text is not the legitimacy or illegitimacy of drinking alcohol. The focus is upon revealing Jesus and creating belief.
Was this fermented wine? more than likely. Does this text justify drinking alcohol? absolutely not. Why not? First of all, today’s alcohol is not even comparable to the wine of Jesus’ day, which was diluted with water to between 1/3 and 1/10 of its fermented strength. And the Bible is clear about abstaining from strong drink, which is where most if not all alcohol of today would fall. To justify drinking alcohol from this text distorts and twists its intended meaning.
Let me just go ahead and say at this point that I believe it is better for the Christian not to partake in alcoholic beverages (and the staff here at Calvary supports me). I believe it is very unwise to support an industry that is responsible for thousands of murders, abused spouses and children, destroyed marriages and homes, and ruined lives. Alcohol consumption is not productive or wise for the Christian. It hinders one’s testimony and can cause a fellow believer to stumble; therefore, it is my stand that abstinence is the best policy for the child of God.
3) I should also mention, on the other hand, that this text should not to be used to suggest that the wine Jesus made was not fermented. I have heard many preachers, who wanting to justify their stance against alcohol, suggest that Jesus made plain grape juice. Perhaps He did, but this cannot be defended from the text, so it is best left unsaid.
Let’s just stick to the primary purpose of this text. Let’s stay focused on what the text does teach us. So what does this text teach us? What life lessons do we learn from the water to wine miracle? We learn to…
1) Trust His provision.
This text reminds us that Jesus Christ provides for our needs. Jesus meets needs. While wine may seem like a trivial need on some levels, it was very important to this couple and to Mary. And here we find that Jesus met the needs of the situation. This provision testifies of His grace. Jesus did not have to perform this miracle, but He did. Jesus did not have to turn the water to wine and save this couple and family the subsequent embarrassment, but He did.
Do you know what this truth tells me? It informs me that Jesus has my interests in mind. His grace is abundant, and He wants to meet my needs. I must merely learn to trust Him. I must rest in His provision. We get very busy trying to meet our own needs when we serve the One who is able and willing to meet our needs.
Let me tell you this morning. Jesus wants to meet your spiritual needs. Each of us has a need spiritually. We are dead in our sins and condemned, but Jesus Christ came to meet that need. He came to provide for our sins. He came to do what we are unable to do—satisfy God’s requirements.
You see, Jesus is the fulfillment of the OT Law. At one level, I believe this text teaches us that Jesus came to fulfill the OT. The OT prophets spoke of a messianic age when the wine would flow freely and Jesus stands as the fulfillment of those promises. He meets our spiritual needs. He has provided the way to eternal life.
This text also reminds us that Jesus replaces the ordinary with the extraordinary. He replaces the old with the new. And indeed, as John tells us in His purpose statement, Jesus is the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the Law. Spiritually, Jesus wants to meet your need for a Savior. Trust His provision. Come to him in faith. He is able to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
I maintain that Jesus also wants to meet our physical needs. In Matt. 7.7-11, Jesus teaches us that God wants to provide for His children. We are instructed not to worry about our physical needs on this earth b/c God wants to provide for us. Trust Him. Trust His provision. He will meet your needs.
2) Believe His plan.
This passage shows us that Jesus was living in obedience to God’s plan for His life. He was not on Mary’s agenda. His disciples do not dictate his actions. He was not even following His own plan. His life, his destiny, was controlled by the Father. Jesus did not receive His significance from His mother or disciples, nor does He receive it from us. We are to believe in God’s plan and trust it. God has an agenda and we must move onto God’s agenda and not our own. He has a plan for your life as an individual. He has a plan for CBC. He has a plan and we must believe and trust in His plan and not our own.
Also remember that God’s timing is always best. “My hour has not come,” were the words of Jesus. He was living on God’s timetable, not the reverse. Sometimes we want to run ahead of God. We want God to work on our timetable. But we are directed in this narrative that God has a plan, and we must believe that He is in control. Trust his timing. God is in control. Believe His plan. We must do what we are instructed (fill the containers) and then wait to see what event God has planned.
You just be faithful to do what God has told you to do. Follow the example of Jesus. Believe…Obey…Wait
3) See His power.
As we trust His provision and believe His plan, He allows us to witness His power. John testifies that the disciples saw the glory of Jesus and they believed in Him.
Not everyone who was at the wedding that day saw the glory of God. Not everyone witnessed His power. Only a select few were given the privilege to see the glory of Christ. Only a few believed that day. Many failed to realize the miracle that occurred in their presence. Only a few saw the glory. Throughout much of his ministry, Jesus revealed his glory, but most of the time, only a select few saw this power.
Of course, Jesus Christ’s ultimate glory would be revealed through His death, burial, and resurrection. And Christ’s glory is now revealed in the resurrection power and life he offers to those who respond in faith to God’s call.
Jesus Christ has the power to change lives. He is still in the transforming business. He still meets needs through His transforming resurrection power. And those who experience his forgiveness and embrace Him in faith see His glory revealed. They participate in the power of forgiveness. And that is how we see and experience God’s glory.
Even so, as we pray and read our Bibles and learn to trust in Him and are drawn into a closer relationship with Him, we experience the glory of God. We can witness His power of transformation as He molds and makes us more like Christ.
You see this text is really all about Jesus. It is not about the way He spoke to His mother. It is not about the wine. It is not even about the miracle. It is about the fact that the disciples saw the glory of Christ and believed in Him. And the challenge for us is to see and experience the glory of God and as we do, our faith is increased. Through this first sign, we are to catch a glimpse of Jesus. We are to trust His provision. We are to believe in His plan, and we are to see His power.
Look at the sign. The sign breeds faith.
