“Water to Wine” (John 2:1-12)

“WATER TO WINE” (John 2:1-12)

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2018

Most mothers are proud of their children, especially if they have become successful:

The first Jewish President of the United States phones his mother in Queens and invites her to come for the weekend at the White House. She says, "I'd love to, but it's too much trouble. I mean, I have to get a cab to the airport, and I really hate waiting on Queens Blvd.... He replies, "Mom! I'm the President! You won't need a cab. I'll send a limo for you!" His mother replies, "I know, but then I'll have to get my ticket at the airport and try to find my seat on the plane. It's just too much trouble." He replies, "Mom! I'm the President of the United States! I'll send Air Force One for you. It's my private jet!" To which she replies, "But when we land, I'll have to carry all my luggage through the airport and try to get a cab. It's really too much trouble." He replies, "Mom!! I'm the President! I'll send a helicopter for you with my Secret Service detail. You won't have to lift a finger." She answers, "Yes, that's nice, but I'll still need a hotel room, and the rooms are so expensive." Irritated, he answers, "Mom! I'm the President! You'll stay at the White House." She responds, "Well...all right...I guess I'll come." The next day, she's on the phone with her friend Sandra. "So, Gilda, tell me... what's new?" Gilda replies, "I'm visiting my son for the weekend." "The doctor?" Sandra asks. "No." Gilda replies, "the other one."

Most mothers are proud of their children, especially if they have become successful. Mary was probably proud of her son, Jesus, although she did not brag even after he turned "Water to Wine."
 

Jesus has assembled his disciples and is about to begin his public ministry. There is one obligation yet to fulfill.
 

I. Jesus attends a wedding reception at Cana (John 2:1-6).

John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Besides this wedding reception at Cana, the gospels record little interaction between Jesus and his mother:

• There is a trip to the temple during his youth when he declares: "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:9).
• There is an impromptu appearance during a session with his disciples, when he asks, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" (Matt 12:48).
• There is her visit to him on the cross when he instructs John: "Here is your mother" (John 19:27).

Apart from these events, the gospels record no interaction between Jesus and his mother.

John does not identify the family of the groom, but it is perhaps a friend to Mary, who is already at the house when Jesus and the disciples arrive. Moreover, it may be the addition of extra guests that precipitates the shortage of wine, and that may be why Mary asks him to resolve the problem.
 

As is common, the master of ceremony saves the least expensive wine for last after most people have had too much to drink, making them less discriminating. Mary does not argue with her son or attempt to shame him into acting. Neither does she tell him how he should perform this miracle. She only has to mention the need, knowing he will understand and respond accordingly.

A. He listens to his mother's request.

Confident that her son will get the hint and act appropriately, Mary turns to those responsible to meet the guests' needs. (Her forthright action, addressing the servants, is another indication that she knows the family.) Mary must have some idea what Jesus will do, because...

B. The woman instructs the servants.

..."Do whatever he tells you." 

 

Application: Mary's instruction to the servants is also good advice for followers of Jesus. He said, "Obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt 28:20). In other words, your obedience to Jesus guarantees that the presence of Jesus will remain with you in whatever you do.

 

II. Jesus supplies a wedding reception at Cana (John 2:7-10).

John 2:7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

The six jars stand empty and ready for the next event, ceremonial washing having occurred earlier in the festivities.' The rabbi's instruction, while premature, is not completely unexpected.

A. He fills the empty jars.

What is unexpected is to give some of the water to the banquet master to drink. While it would be clean, the water is for washing not drinking. Does he know that his beverage is from one of the ceremonial jars? Imagine the servants surprise when...

B. The master tastes the wine

...and, to his delight, it is very good. The servants say nothing, probably thinking that no one will believe them. The bridegroom is surprised too, although he conceals it well. In any case, he gives the banquet master credit for unusual planning in saving the best wine for later.
 

Application: Saving the best for later is typical of the way God operates. That is the whole premise of heaven. So Peter writes,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet 1:3-9)

Heaven is where God doles out the best for His people at last.

 

III. Jesus leaves the wedding reception at Cana (John 2:11-12).

John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus probably attends other wedding banquets in the course of his ministry, but John chooses to record this one because it showcases what Jesus can do and because at this event...

A. He performs his first miracle.

...marking the supernatural inauguration of his mission as Israel's messiah. Many other miracles will follow this one, all testifying to his great power, power over disease, power over nature, power over demons, even power over death. Yet in response to this his first miracle...

B. The disciples believe the teacher.

Herein lies the primary purpose of Jesus' miracles: to foster faith in him.

 

Application: You may wish you had been present for this or any of Jesus' other miracles, but you are not at a disadvantage because of your absence. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). In other words, those who were not able to witness any of Jesus' miracles will not suffer loss, because God intended all his miracles to accomplish one goal, a goal you have already reached: "These [miraculous signs] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:3 1). You missed the immediate spectacle of what Jesus did, but you did not miss the ultimate significance of what he did.
 

When Jesus attends a wedding reception at Cana, it may not be with the initial intention of performing a miracle, but Mary sees a need that her son can meet, and she urges him to do so. Being a dutiful son, he accedes to his mother's wish by turning "Water to Wine," thereby saving the host potential embarrassment and revealing his true nature to the disciples.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.