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Verse 1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

I. The third day has reference to the preceding days. This is referring to the beginning ministry of Jesus Christ. Exactly which day is unknown, whether the third day refers to the time sequence in John 1 or the third day from John 1:43-51.

A. The first day appears to be in John 1:15 when John bare witness of Christ, and was asked concerning him.

1. The passage begins in John 1:15 and continues until John 1:28.

2. In these passages, John explains he is not the promised Messiah, but there is another they should look for.

B. The next day – John 1:29-34 – John gives testimony when he sees Jesus coming to him.

1. John bears record that Jesus is the Christ, because of the evidence at the baptism of Christ.

2. John reveals a previous conversation with God when he is told the promised Messiah will be revealed to him by the spirit of God descending like a dove, which happened at the baptism of Christ, when he was baptized by John in Matthew 3:16,17.

3. Jesus had traveled from Galilee to be baptized by John the Baptist, to the wilderness for 40 days of temptation by Satan, then John the Baptist saw him and testified he is the Christ.

C. The next day – John 1:35-42 – John gives testimony that Jesus is the Christ to two of John’s disciples.

1. The disciples then leave John to follow Jesus, which is as they should do.

2. When Christ saw them following him, he asked them what they wanted, to which they replied, where do you live?

a. Jesus said, "Come and see."

b. This is speaking about a personal knowledge, not just hearsay.

c. It is excellent when people understand for themselves who Jesus is and what he is about.

d. They will stand continually for Christ if they do that, if they do not have a personal relationship with Christ, they will likely fall away from faithfulness.

3. One of the men who followed Christ was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, who told Peter they had found the Messiah, and he brought Peter to Christ who changed his name Cephas, which means a little stone.

D. The following day – John 1:43-51 – The followers of Christ call others to follow Jesus.

1. They are excited because they have found the Messiah, and want everybody else to know what they know.

a. The excitement of telling others about Christ is pretty much lost today.

b. I believe the reason there is little excitement about telling others about Christ is because most often those that make a public confession of salvation have not really accepted Christ, they have accepted a concept.

c. There is a lot of different in professing Christ and possessing Christ.

2. Jesus goes into Galilee and gets Philip to follow him.

3. Philip finds Nathanael and tells him they have found the Messiah, who is from Galilee.

a. John 1:46 - Philip uses the same phrase as Christ by stating, "Come and see".

b. It is good for all to come and see for themselves.

c. Once a man said to a preacher, "Are you a really a preacher?" The preacher replied, "Come and see!" Can others see we are a real believer if they "come and see" for themselves?

4. Nathanael doubts any good thing can come from Galilee, because the Jews have discredited the prophet Jonah, because he preached to the enemy of the Jews, at Nineveh.

a. John 7:41 reveals others believed the Messiah would not come from Galilee. They used the scripture concerning the birth of Christ, not where Jesus would be raised, therefore there was confusion about him.

b. John 7:45-53 gives the statement of those that were to take Christ, as ordered in John 7:32.

c. John 7:52, they use the scriptures to convince themselves no prophet would come from Galilee, but they had disregarded Jonah, whom God did not disregard.

1.) II Kings 14:25 gives the prophecy of Jonah of Amittai, who is described as a prophet, of the return of the coast of Israel from Hamath to the Sea of the Plain (Dead Sea), which happened during the reign of Jeroboam, not recorded extensively in the Bible, or anywhere else.

2.) Jonah 1:1 records that Jonah of II Kings 14:25 and John 1:1 is the same - Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

3.) II Kings 14:25 records that Jonah is from Gathhepher, which, according to Joshua 19:13 is a city of Zebulun, which is located in Galilee. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

d. It is imperative that we use the scriptures correctly, or we might also miss the promises of God.

e. Let us never disregard anything God regards!

5. John 1:51 – The angels descending and ascending upon the son of man.

a. The meaning is that Jesus is the true Messiah, the mediator of fallen mankind, the one all was looking for.

b. The true Messiah is represented in Jacob’s ladder, the angels descending and ascending on the ladder, who is Jesus Christ, the mediator between heaven and earth.

c. Jesus, being the ladder, is the way between heaven and earth.

d. The passage could also refer to the Mount of Transfiguration, where Christ is recognized by God as the mediator of Moses, and Elijah.

E. It is very interesting to note that all these men believed without the miracle of Christ turning the water into wine.

1. Miracles do not make for strong Christians.

2. The first miracle was by Moses when the world was approximately 2,500 years old.

3. The miracles Christ performed, which were to confirm him as the promises Messiah, did not convince those determined not to believe.

4. The Pentecostal movement, with all its wondrous works have not changed the world for the better, rather for the worse.

5. Things have not gotten better in this world because of the miracles claimed by modern Pentecostal, rather the world has gotten worse.

II. The mother of Jesus was there.

A. This is the most honorable title of Mary, but she is not to be worshipped, as some do.

1. The fact of her being mentioned, as well as both Christ the his disciples, might indicate they were some of the principle guests, perhaps the wedding was some close family member.

2. There is no mention of Joseph being present, so it is presumed he has already passed away.

B. Mary is there, but Jesus and his disciples are called to the marriage.

Verse 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

I. Jesus and his disciples were called to the wedding.

A. The first miracle of Christ was done "at home".

1. Sometimes we might think it would be better to move to a place where nobody knows our wicked past, and there begin to live for God.

2. It is always best to live for God where you are – where people know all about your wicked past.

3. You cannot run far enough to get away from your past, because somebody will always know what you were before you were saved, and began to serve God.

4. If you will not serve God at home, in front of those who k now all about you, you will know serve him anywhere else.

5. The way you serve God at home is the way you will serve God in other places.

B. Jesus readily accepts the invitation, teaching us it is good to be social when the situation calls for it.

1. Our religion should never call upon us to be anti-social.

2. John the Baptist would perhaps called anti-social, as he preached in the wilderness, not in the popular places.

3. Let every person and every situation be what God demands, not what men demand.

C. Jesus already has disciples at this time.

1. The disciples would include those mentioned in John 1, which are (1) the unnamed disciple, (2) Andrew, (3) Peter, (4) Philip and (5) Nathanael.

2. It is likely the other disciples of Matthew 4:18-25 are not yet chosen.

II. The public observance of weddings is good and necessary for the well being of society in general and individual in particular.

A. The fact that Christ attended the wedding shows that weddings are good and ordained of God.

1. It is always good to have God present at weddings today.

a. Many do not want God present, but it is good.

b. The duties of pastoring does not scripturally include marrying or burying people, but it is good for pastors to be present and participate in that service, to reflect the presence of God to all.

c. It is good to call Christ to our weddings by public and private prayer.

1.) It is wrong to "assume" Christ will atomically appear when we have not actively asked him to come.

2.) If we want the blessings of God upon our marriages and families, it is good to ask for those blessings.

2. It is good to have Christ present at the beginning of our marriage, because we do not know what problem we will face.

a. The problem of lack of wine is to us a small problem, but it is a problem.

b. There are all kinds of problems in a marriage, and a family, but God knows all about all them, and is able to answer all of the difficulties, if we have him present and we ask him to take care of them for us.

3. The disciples of Christ also attended.

a. It is not only good for Christ to be present in our marriages, our families, and our homes, it is also good for his disciples to be present.

b. Surrounding ourselves with the people of God is a good thing, and beneficial for all.

c. Christ had no means of support, yet he promised to take care of all those that follow him.

1.) John 12:26 - If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

2.) Matthew 19:27-30 – Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

3.) Note: the disciples would likely not been invited to the wedding if they had not surrendered to follow Christ.

a.) There are literally thousands of blessings we would not have today if we had not surrendered to follow Christ.

b.) We never know what Christ will do for us or where he will take us.

c.) We must surrender first, then follow him unconditionally, if we are to receive any blessings or see any benefits of obedience.

d.) Often, we want to see the benefits, then decide to follow him.

e.) This is error – we must first follow him, which is living by faith, not sight, then we will receive the benefits he offers to us.

B. There is no mention of who is getting married, which must be insignificant for the lesson at hand.

Verse 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

I. There is much dispute as to what Mary had on her mind by this statement.

A. We could make many statements as to her intent, but they would all be useless and senseless, because we have no idea what she intended.

B. Jesus knew what she intended and rebuked her for it.

II. Why did Mary approach Jesus with this statement?

A. Some suppose someone had approached Mary with the problem, which they figured she could help with a solution, as she was probably a kinsfolk.

1. Whether the people who approached Mary wanted her to approach Jesus about the lack of wine is unknown.

2. There is some indication to me that people approached Mary about the lack of wine because they expected her to speak to Jesus about it.

B. Whether the majority of people knew about Christ or considered him to be a prophet is unknown, but this passage gives an indication that some people, at least, knew about him and considered him a prophet.

1. I don’t think they were looking for a miracle, because Christ had not performed any miracles to this point.

2. If Christ was a prophet, as some expected, he might be able to perform miracles, as some Old Testament prophets did.

III. Mary intended Jesus to proclaim himself the prophet, or Messiah, of Israel, as Jesus stated in verse 4.

A. Mary understands the coming Messiah will fulfill all needs, regardless of how small or insignificant they appear, therefore she approaches her son with the need.

B. The answer Jesus gave reveals he knew her heart.

1. If Jesus understood Mary was asking Jesus to create wine for the wedding, why did he answer her thus, then create wine?

2. Jesus understood Mary’s thoughts of his proclaiming himself to be the king of the Jews, as was revealed to her.

a. Luke 2:19 – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

1.) No doubt Mary remembered the words of the angel in Luke 1:31-33, which proclaimed the child in her womb would rule over all Israel.

2.) She remembered the days of her pregnancy, and the childhood of her son.

b. Luke 2:51 - …but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

1.) Mary had watched Jesus grow in wisdom and statue, and would understand more than most that he was the son of God.

2.) Luke 2:49 – Mary would remember leaving Christ behind in Jerusalem, the scribes questioning him and his declaring to them, …How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

3.) Neither Joseph nor Mary understood what he meant, but they would come to understand and desire God’s kingdom, just as we all do.

Verse 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

I. Jesus called his mother woman.

A. This is not a saying of distain or rebuke, but a simple fact as to her status.

B. Jesus never calls his mother by the name "mother", as he knows there are those that believe Mary is the "mother of God."

1. Mary is not the "mother of God", but the chosen vessel by which Jesus receives his earthly, fleshly, physical body.

2. God has no mother, but is eternal.

C. What have I to do with thee?

1. All that Christ loves, he chastises.

a. Matthew 16:21-23 – When Peter declared that Jesus would not suffer on the cross, Christ also chastised him by exclaiming, "Get thee behind me Satan."

b. Christ continued to work with Peter, just as he continued to deal with Mary in all necessary fleshly things, just as he continues to work with us in our fleshly mistakes and misunderstandings.

2. It was not the place of Mary to tell Jesus to do anything, as she does not understand nor know the times and seasons of God’s eternal will.

3. We must never expect Christ to do as we expect or desire.

a. Jesus did not allow any of his relations tell him what to do, nor will he allow us, even though we are his children.

b. As his children, we should be submissive to his eternal will, and encourage others to submissive as well.

4. This is a continuing message to all who would try to legislate God’s will.

a. Baptists often accuse Catholics of legislating God’s will when they add to the Bible by making theologians words as important as the Bible.

b. Some Baptists do the same thing Catholics do, but some Baptists do not see what they are doing.

c. The doctrine of solo scriptura (only Scripture) should always be followed.

d. Our place is to be submissive to God’s will even though we do not understand exactly what it is.

e. Our place is to be completely obedient to God, never trying to impose our thoughts or our will upon him, or his ways.

II. Why did Christ say, "Mine hour is not yet come"?

A. The hour of his kingdom had not yet come.

1. It was the hour of his doing miracles.

2. Mary had not asked him to do a miracle, but to establish himself as the king of the Jews.

B. It is not the hour for him to reveal his authority over the Jews.

1. Christ would have willing converts because his eternal power, not converts because of miracles.

2. Christ understands the miracles do not make for strong converts, yet miracles will be performed to confirm he is the prophet from God.

Verse 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

I. Mary accepted Jesus’ rebuke willingly.

A. Hebrews 12 explains that Christ chastens those he loves, and that all believers are chastised.

1. It is good to recognize the frowns of Christ, and not continue in wickedness and rebellion.

2. Mary did not reply to Jesus’ rebuke, but accepted it, and made necessary corrections in her thinking and speech.

B. We willingly accept Christ’s chastisement because we understand it is correction, not rejection.

1. If we rebel at Jesus’ instructions to us, we have rejected his word and way, and will suffer the evil consequences.

2. If we accept Jesus’ chastisement, we are glad when the punishment is over, and the blessings of obedience follow.

II. Mary desires Jesus instructions to be followed, not hers.

A. Because Mary accepted Jesus’ chastisement correctly, she was able to point others to Christ.

1. If Mary had rejected her just chastisement, she would never been able to point others to Christ, instead would desire others look to her.

a. Those who reject God’s proper chastisement find their lives empty and vain, while they continue to strive for holiness.

b. Their earthly afflictions are continued, as God continues to deal with them in their fault.

c. Their prayers are hindered, and deliverance delayed because they refuse to submit themselves to God, choosing instead to continue in their own unprofitable ways.

2. Those who reject God’s chastisement are placing themselves over God, which is a terrible thing to do.

3. Note: Mary was wrong, but she admitted it, repented, and received great blessing from God.

B. Mary directed all to look to Jesus for further commands, not to look to her.

1. Mary will leave all the results with God.

a. She will not longer interject her ideas as the right way, but willingly submits herself to whatever Christ will do.

b. We should also be completely open to whatever God desires, never even suggesting to God that things be done our way.

2. Catholics are directed to pray to Mary, who will commune with Jesus about their requests, which is clearly taught against in this scripture.

a. Mary does not attempt to be a go-between, or ambassador, or anything else.

b. She directs all to follow his instructions immediately, without disputing, or questioning.

3. I doubt Mary understood or knew what Christ would do, as she gave him no instructions whatsoever.

a. She would find out what Christ would do as others also discovered.

b. She was as submissive to Christ as the servants who filled the waterpots with water.

Verse 6,7 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

I. These waterpots of stone were sitting, they were large and would be very difficult to carry.

A. Pictures of the servants carrying the waterpots to the governor are wrong.

1. It would be very difficult to carry 17-26 gallons of wine.

2. This is not even considering that the waterpots were filled to the brim.

B. The size of the waterpots reveals that God always provides abundantly, as well as the size of the wedding party.

1. One firkin is approximately 8 7/8 gallons.

2. Each waterpot contained approximately 17 3/4 (2 firkins) or 26 5/8 gallons (3 firkins).

3. Six of these waterpots would contain 106 ½ (2 firkins each) or 159 ¾ gallons (3 firkins each).

4. Remember, the wedding party had already run out of wine.

C. This was no small miracle, as is often supposed.

1. I have seen pictures of this miracle as servants carried a small waterpot around.

2. It is possible the servants drew wine out of the large waterpot and carried that about, but it was hardly easy to carry about such a large waterpot, as is described in scripture.

II. Why did Jesus make so much wine?

A. Christ does not condone drunkenness.

1. Christ would never do a thing that would make his people (or anybody else) sin.

a. These people were not drunk, but used wine in an entirely different way, and purpose than we think today.

1.) In our day, we think of drunken parties, wild orgies, and wicked sin.

2.) In those days, most people did not drink to drunkenness, rather as we would drink punch.

b. Verse 10 states that the normal procedure was to set for the best at the beginning, then the worse as the wedding party progresses.

c. The people at the wedding party were still able to taste – they were not drunk.

d. They still had a memory of the first taste, and they were able to compare that taste to the taste of the wine Christ made, and they would tell Jesus’ wine was best.

2. Scriptures showing God is against drunkenness.

a. Proverbs 20:1 states, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

b. Proverbs 21:17 confirms, He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

c. Proverbs 23:29-35 gives the condition of the drunkard, Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

d. Isaiah 5:11-14 gives the end of those that drink, Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

B. If Christ is against all these things, why did he make wine in the first place, and in the second place, why did he make so much of it?

1. People did not sin when they drank this wine, because Christ would never have agreement with sin.

2. First, What we have in our minds about wine and what God has in his mind about wine are very two different things.

a. We often think of drinking wine and all the things that go along with it, which is exceedingly great wickedness.

b. We think of bars and all the wickedness that goes on in bars.

c. We will probably picture a wedding that takes place today with all the drinking, dancing, and riotous behaviour, which is not becoming to godliness.

d. In the days of Christ, many people drank wine, but most often, not to excess.

e. There were, of course, some who drank to excess.

3. Secondly, we often judge affairs and events of the past by our present day "modern" circumstances, which cannot be done.

a. People often mixed wine with water to purify and cleanse water, as the water was often not pure or good to drink.

b. You might picture the wedding feast as a drunken orgy, but that is not what it was, because Christ was there, and he would not have been partaker with such wickedness.

C. Why did Christ make so much wine? Because he is the God of abundance, not the God of poverty or want.

1. Just because Christ made 150 gallons of wine, doesn’t mean it all had to be drunk.

a. Once Tim Marshall had a hog roast at his house.

1.) There was plenty of meat to go around to all, and all were filled, but all the hog was not eaten.

2.) Some was left over for other meals.

b. When we have a fellowship meal, we never eat everything that is brought, although we try! (grin)

2. Matthew 14:20 states, And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

a. Why did Christ make more food than was necessary?

1.) It is not that he wants food wasted, but he wants us to understand he can adequately provide for us, in every situation we ever find ourselves in.

2.) Just as Christ produced more wine than could be drunk, so he produced more food than 5,000 could eat.

b. It is important that before Christ fed the 5,000, the disciples not only had no food, they did not have a basket to put any food in.

c. After Christ fed the 5,000 with two fishes and five loaves of bread, the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of food.

d. None of the "extra" food was wasted, but there was plenty of food for some folks who probably should have been there, but were not.

3. John 10:10 states, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

a. Jesus gives us not only eternal life, but the great life on this earth – the best life.

b. Often people believe if they are to be "Christian" they must be sad, withdrawn and never tell a joke or be happy.

c. That kind of life is not what God has in mind for us.

4. There are many people who live from payday to payday, but I don’t believe that is the way God wants them to live.

a. Deuteronomy 28:12, 13 states, The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

b. The first part of Deuteronomy 28 speaks of the blessings God will give his children if they obey him, but the latter part of the chapter speaks of their cursing they shall be under if thy disobey him.

c. Malachi 3:10-12 states, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

5. I believe God wants his people to enjoy the pleasures of this world, yet not sin in enjoying those things.

1. The Obedient Servants.

2. The Unknowing Participants.

3. The Disciples Believed.

III. Jesus gave the command to fill the waterpots with water.

A. Jesus did not allow just anything to be put into the pots.

1. Water was free and easy to obtain, nevertheless it would be a lot of work to carry 100-150 gallons of water.

2. Sometimes it takes effort on our part to see a miracle God will perform for us.

3. Jesus often desires us to show our faith by obedience.

4. God will always give us more than we expect.

B. The obedience of the servants.

1. They not only filled the waterpots with water, they filled them to the brim.

a. This is a good lesson for us.

b. God commands us to bring our tithes and offerings into the storehouse of God, and he will provide a blessing we will not be able to contain.

c. May be always take God at his word, because God will always hold up his end of the bargain.

d. If we, like the servants at the wedding, obey the commands of God, we will have enough.

2. Full obedience brings full blessings.

a. II Kings 13:14-19 records the time when Joash, the king of Israel, came to mourn before Elisha, desiring the blessings of God.

b. In verse 17, Elisha commanded Joash to shoot an arrow out the window.

c. In verse 18, Elisha commanded Joash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows.

d. Joash struck the ground three times and stopped.

e. Elisha rebuked him for he would only defeat Syria three times instead of completely defeating them.

f. The lesson for us is to obey when we do not know the end result.

g. God always gives the best to those that leave the choice with him.

IV. Christ gave a command to another’s servants, and they obeyed.

A. Although the servants belonged to another, they willingly obeyed the commands of Christ because they understood all true authority came from him, not from their present owner.

1. All of us are really servants of Jesus Christ, regardless of our station in life.

2. Servants should always be obedient to our master – especially to Jesus Christ.

3. All of us are servants to somebody on this earth, but that does not excuse us from obeying the commands of God.

4. All of us should be the servants of God, but that does not excuse us from obeying the rightful commands of our earthly masters.

5. The two masters should be compatible, but when they are not compatible, we should always obey our heavenly master, because he has control over our erroneous earthly master.

B. It is likely the servants did not understand what was going to happen, but they obeyed, as was their custom.

1. We are servants and should always obey without questioning.

2. The reason we question God’s commandments is because we are not servants.

3. Often, we, as servants, do not know our place, and desire to be in charge.

Verse 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

I. The servants continued to obey Christ even when his commands did not seem reasonable.

A. It would not reasonable to serve water to guests who were expecting wine.

1. Jesus did not command the servants to serve the wine to guests, but to the governor of the feast.

2. The governor is the head of the feast, and likely the master of the servants.

B. It is a stronger test of faith in Christ to serve the wine to the governor of the feast instead of to another servant.

1. The governor would be the most important person at the wedding, not counting the bride and groom.

2. The servants bare the water to the governor, not fearing the consequences, because, according to verse 9, the servants seemed to understand what was happening.

3. It is likely they did not understand the full consequences, however.

II. When was the water turned into wine?

A. I don’t know if the water turned into wine when the water was poured into the waterpot, or when it was taken out of the waterpot, or when it was poured into the cup of the governor.

B. I don’t think when the water is turned into wine is important, or Jesus would have revealed that to us.

Verse 9, 10 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

I. The first miracle of Jesus and Moses – the first to perform miracles in the Bible.

A. The contrast of the work of Moses and the work of Christ.

1. The first miracle of Christ is turn water into wine, while the first miracle of Moses is to turn water into blood.

2. This reflects the difference in the ministry of Moses and Christ.

3. This reflects the difference in the law of Moses and the grace of God.

B. It is not considered a miracle to produce wine from grapes, which are grown from the earth, but it is a miracle of "nature".

1. The miracle of turning wine into water is a true miracle, but both "natural" wine and "miraculous" wine are a miracle from God.

2. One is produced instantly, while the other is produced over time, using natural processes.

C. The governor called the bridegroom, not the bride.

1. The bridegroom is the person who made all the arrangements for the wedding.

2. The bride did not make the wedding plans, as in our society.

II. The word drunk comes from the Greek word "methuo" and is translated "be drunk, have well drunk, to be drunken" as with alcohol.

A. A secondary meaning is used metaphorically to mean one who has shed blood or murdered profusely.

1. The word does not mean a little drunk, or inebriated, but completely intoxicated.

2. This passage reveals that Jesus made intoxicating wine regardless of what anybody (even our society) thinks about it.

3. Comparing John the Baptist and Christ, in Matthew 11:19, Jesus states, The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

a. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and he was not accepted.

b. Christ came both eating and drinking and he was not accepted.

B. I have heard some who believe in using grape juice in the Lord’s Supper declare that Jesus did not produce wine in this passage, instead he made grape juice, or non-alcoholic wine – whatever that is.

1. They say the word wine is not wine, but grape juice.

2. Therefore they declare the fruit of the vine is not wine, but grape juice.

3. They declare that the word "well drunken" does not mean inebriated, or intoxicated, but filled as in overeating.

III. The custom of the day was to set forth good wine at the beginning of a feast, then when men were well drunk and the taste was not so important to set out the worse wine.

A. The governor is said to have kept the good wine until the last.

1. This is recognizing the wine made by Christ is much better than the wine naturally produced.

B. The wine made by Christ is better than any wine ever made by natural processes.

IV. There are some who never understand the power of Christ.

A. It seems apparent that the governor of the feast and the bridegroom did not know Christ has turned the water into wine.

1. The governor of the feast thanks the bridegroom because of the very good wine, yet the Bible does not record he ever gave Christ credit for the miracle.

2. The bridegroom apparently accepted the governor’s thanks, taking the credit for the good wine.

B. There are those who are in the midst of a miracle, yet never see what Christ has done.

1. Luke 17:11-19 records that Jesus healed 10 lepers, who desired that he heal them.

a. Only one returned to thank Christ for his healing, then he received additional healing, probably of his soul to eternal salvation.

b. The other 9 lepers were also healed, but never recognized to Christ, as far as the Bible is concerned, their healing.

2. Many Pharisees and Sadducees saw the miracles of Christ, yet never understood or realized his power in healing or forgiveness.

Verse 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

I. The first miracle was performed in Cana of Galilee, which is amazing.

A. Galilee had been rejected as being significant to the Jews concerning anything from God.

1. God did not reject Galilee, but confirmed it.

2. See my notes above concerning verse 1.

B. This miracles is not one of necessity, as the feeding of the 5,000 was, but one of convenience, as wine did not have to be produced.

1. God does provide all our necessities, but he also provides all our conveniences.

2. It is never wrong to expect God to bless us.

II. The disciples believed on him.

A. This passage does not state that others believed on him, rather that the disciples believed on him.

1. Disciples are followers.

a. There are all kinds of followers of Christ.

b. Some follow closely, while others follow afar off.

2. I suppose this passage is referring to the 5 disciples mentioned in John 1, not to any other group of disciples.

3. This miracle, and other miracles, would cause others to look at Christ and know he was sent from God.

4. John 3 – Nicodemus revealed he thought Jesus was a teacher from God because no man could do the miracles Christ did without God being with him.

B. The disciples showed they already believed on Jesus before they saw the miracles, but this beginning of miracles revealed to them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

1. Miracles confirmed what the disciples already knew.

2. Those who trust in miracles to prove that Jesus is the Christ will continue to need miracles to continue to prove Jesus is the Christ.

3. Those who believe the word of God concerning Christ do not need miracles, rather they believe the Bible, therefore they do not need continuing miracles to reinforce their faith in Christ.

C. The miracles of Christ did not convince any that Jesus was the Christ, rather the miracles confirmed him in their minds.

1. John 3:1-2 reveals that Nicodemus knew Christ was teacher come from God because no man could do the miracles Christ did unless God was with him.

2. The miracles of Christ caused Nicodemus to determine to find out more about Christ.

3. Nicodemus never rejected Christ, but desired confirmation that Christ was the Messiah.

4. Nicodemus was one of those who took the body of Christ down off the cross, making himself unclean for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrations.