Download - In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus’ First Miracle November 23, 2008

In The Footsteps Of The Master:In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus ChristThe Life and Times of Jesus Christ

Jesus’ First Miracle

November 23, 2008

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The Wedding FeastThe Wedding Feast• John 2:1-2

– “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”

• Jesus attends a weddingcelebration with HisMother, Mary

• Perhaps family or friendswere involved

Marriage at Cana by Giotto


CanaCana• Scholars today are unsure of the exact

location of the village of Cana

• Four different locationshave been proposed,the most likely ofwhich is actually several miles northwestof the common site

• Known as Khirbet Kana– 9 mi North of Nazareth


A Typical Jewish WeddingA Typical Jewish Wedding• Man and Woman were betrothed to each

other for a year– Required a divorce to break the betrothal

• On the appointed night, the bridegroom and friends went inprocession to bride’s home

• Bride and bridegroom thenreturned to bridegroom’shome for a banquet– Often lasted seven days


A Problem ArisesA Problem Arises• John 2:3-4

– “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’ ”

• A marriage celebration in Jesus’ day was an elaborate affair– Ended with a banquet at the groom‘s house

• Yet at this feast, the wine ran out– Could imply that the family was of meager

means and could not afford a large feast


What, No Wine?What, No Wine?• To run out of wine at a wedding feast was

more than a simple disruption

• To improperly manage a such a feast was to bring about a slur upon the bridegroom

• Could possibly even invite legal action toward the bridegroom’s family for not providing adequately for the bride

• Mary was concerned about the situation– Perhaps it was a family event and she wanted

to avoid embarrassment


Mary Gets InvolvedMary Gets Involved• Mary informs Jesus of the problem

– “They have no wine”

• Jesus addresses Mary as “Woman”– The Greek is not as cold as the English– Jesus uses the same word from the cross

when He commends her to John’s care

• However, He does not address her as “Mother”

• Why would Jesus respond to Mary in this way?


Jesus’ Response to MaryJesus’ Response to Mary• Things have changed

– The intimacy of private home life has given way to public ministry

– A new state of relationship now exists between Jesus and Mary

– Jesus makes it plain that He is no longer under her authority

• What does Jesus mean by saying: “What does that have to do with us?”

• What does Jesus mean by: “My time is not yet come?”


Do What He Says …Do What He Says …• John 2:5-8

– “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him.”


PreparationPreparation• Mary instructs the

servants to do what Jesus tells them

• Jesus directs them to fill six nearby waterpots to the brim with water– Pots were there for

purification rituals

• Draw some of the water and take it to the head waiter


Mary’s Motive?Mary’s Motive?• Mary knew Jesus

– She remembered the visitation by Gabriel– She knew she was a virgin when Jesus was

born– She remembered the angels in the heavens at

His birth– She knew that He was different– She knew that He had a mission

• Perhaps she also knew that He could correct this embarrassing situation


Water to WineWater to Wine• John 2:9-11

– “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, 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.’ This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”


The Normal Way …The Normal Way …• In a situation like this, the host would

serve some really good wine first, to get the guests “in the spirit”

• After they had a bit to drink, he would substitute wine of lesser quality and no one would notice

• However, THIS wine, served late in the banquet, was the best of all

• Should we find it at all surprising that something Jesus touched was the best of all?


What Does This Mean?What Does This Mean?• Note that verse 6 tells us that the water

was there for ritualistic purification

• Jesus changed that water into wine

• He changed the old (the Jewish system and its rituals) into the new (the New Kingdom and its freedom)

• Rev 21:5– “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold,

I am making all things new.’”


The ResultThe Result• The result?

– His glory is manifested– Those attending the banquet rejoice that the

new is better than the old– The disciples believe


Fulfillment of ProphecyFulfillment of Prophecy• Jeremiah 31:12

– “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.”

• Joel 3:18– “And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet

wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the LORD to water the valley of Shittim.”


Fulfillment of ProphecyFulfillment of Prophecy• Amos 9:13-14

– “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”


A Few Additional ThoughtsA Few Additional Thoughts• Jesus provided an abundance

– Six jars at 20-30 gallons each provided more than enough for the banquet

• The jars were filled to capacity– In Jesus we have all that we can possibly

need; there is no room for another

• John 1:16– “For of His fullness we have all received, and

grace upon grace.”


For DiscussionFor Discussion• Was Mary forcing Jesus’ hand?

– Did she pressure Him to begin His ministry before His time?

• What meaning do you find in this miraculous incident?– What application can you draw from it?


Next WeekNext Week• Jesus Clears the Temple

Download - In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus’ First Miracle November 23, 2008

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