October 15, 2023

The Wine

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: John 2:1-11
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Looking at the Wedding Feast in Cana of Galilee
    • Where did Jesus Christ perform His first miracle?
      • At a wedding
    • Jesus graced the wedding with His presence
      • A wedding is a time of thanksgiving before God
      • Marriage was ordained before Adam and Eve fell
    • Galilee (and Nazareth) was a small place
      • A place where Jesus was well known
  • But 4 months later, when He read a prophecy from Isaiah about Himself and spoke of those saved outside Israel
    • The people were about to throw Him off a cliff
    • The could not stand the blessing of the Gentile people
  • Jesus is amongst sinners whose hearts need to be transformed by the gospel
    • Many believed in Him - v11
  • There is often hatred in the hearts of mankind
    • Because of beliefs
    • Because of old history
  • Jesus came into this world to save sinners - to reconcile sinners to Himself
    • This miracle is symbolic of what Jesus came to
    • As He could turn water into wine, He can change the human heart

Showing who Jesus is

  • This miracle was called a sign - not a wonder or work of power
    • The first of many other signs
  • Each miracle that Jesus performed was pointing to something
    • Deity
    • Glory
    • Ability to transforming the heart of believers
  • John 20:30-31 - the signs are for a belief in Jesus Christ
  • In John's Gospel
    • Words witnessing to His Deity
      • E.g. John 1, the Light
    • Works witnessing to His Deity
      • These often match up with the seven 'I AM sayings'
      • Feeding of the 5,000 - bread of life
      • Lazarus - the resurrection and the life
      • The healing of the noble mans' son
      • The healing of the lame man
  • Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and performed these miracles?
    • The Bible cannot be taken as partly true
    • Either you accept it all or reject it
    • Do you believe the words and works of Jesus - that prove His Deity
  • Many believed in Him

Showing what He came to do

  • The miracle is instructive - we need to look at the details
    • They had run out of wine - very embarassing
    • Mary asks Jesus to intervene - before He has ever performed a miracle
    • Jesus chooses six water pots used for purification and turns the water into wine
    • The master of ceremonies can't understand how the best wine is now served
  • Why instructive?
    • Water pots of purification
      • Cleaning of themselves and their utensils
        • Lev and Mark 7
      • 6 - in the Jewish mind is the picture of incompletion and imperfect
        • 7 - is the number of completion and perfection
      • Jesus is bringing in a new, complete and perfect way
    • The good wine now
      • What Jesus has come to do is far better than anything laid down in the Old Testament
        • Heb 8:13
        • The old ceremonies - all pointing forward and fulfilled in Jesus Christ
      • The old covenant could never transform the heart - the law of God can convict of sin but not bring salvation
      • The new covenant brings transformation and forgiveness of sin
      • Hebrews - the whole book talks about how Jesus is better than the Angels (chap 1), Moses (chap 3), High Priest (chap 7)
    • Wine - a symbol of joy and happiness
      • 20-30 gallons in each pot - on average 150 gallons
      • Jesus is providing an abundance - symbolic of the gospel (John 10:10)
      • Jesus came to bring abundant life to sinners
      • Christians should be the happiest people in the world
    • Pointing towards the marriage supper of the Lamb
      • Isa 25:6 - noticed the language, the best things, a place of super abundance
  • What is your view of Christianity?
    • Trying to keep the Ten Commandments?
    • Looking to Jesus who has secured your salvation?
    • It is only Jesus Christ that can transform the hearts and lives of people

Showing how He came to do it

  • v4 - these seems rude to our minds
    • Our culture is not the same as in the 1st Century
    • What was Jesus' mind on?
      • The "hour"/upon the cross
        • John 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 13:1
        • A term that always referred to His death
      • His mind was on the cross to allow the marriage supper of the Lamb
      • John 3:14 - Jesus had to be lifted upon on the cross
      • His mind was on much greater things
    • Jesus was different form every person on the planet
      • Not just Mary's son
      • Gen 3:15 - the Seed of the woman

Closing Remarks

  • Jesus introduces a new covenant in His blood
  • We celebrate this in the Lord's Supper
  • May we know more of Jesus' transforming power
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