The Marriage in Cana of Galilee

John 2:1-11

 

INTRO: It was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee that Jesus performed His first miracle.  This miracle, His first, marked the “beginning of miracles that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him” (vs 11).

In these verses we see:

1. The sanctity of marriage.

2. The scarcity of wine at the wedding.

3. The significance of the miracle wrought by Jesus.

 

I.        VSS 1-2, THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

A.       Vs 1, On the third day after Jesus had called Philip and Nathanael, there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee and Mary the mother of Jesus was there.

B.       Vs 2, The Lord Jesus here puts His stamp of approval on marriage.

1. By his presence at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, Jesus distinguished and glorified this sacred institution.

a. Marriage is honorable.

b. Heb 13:4 “Marriage is honorable in all....”

2. Notice that Christ was invited to be at the marriage.

a. To have a happy marriage, Christ’s presence is essential.

b. Whatever a Christian does is to be to the glory of God (I Cor 10:31).  This includes marriage.

1- Marry in the faith (II Cor 6:14).

2- Keep your marriage on the rock, so it will not hit the rocks.  Stay in church.   Stay in prayer.

 

II.       VSS 3-5, THE SCARCITY OF WINE AT THE WEDDING

A.       Vs 3, Of all those at the wedding, none knew better who Jesus actually was than Mary.  She knew what we ahead for Him (LK 1:26-38; Lk 2:19).

1. Mary expected a miracle because she knew Jesus was more than just a man.  If you believe He is more than a man, you can expect a miracle too.

2. Possibly with some impatience, realizing the embarrassing situation that his poor family was in, Mary mentions to Jesus that “they have no wine.”

B.       Vs 4, When Jesus said: “Woman,” He was not being rude.  The term “woman” was used with reverence and affection.  Almost like saying, “Lady.”  While Christ was on the cross, He addressed Mary as “woman.” (Jn 19:26).  “Woman behold thy son....”

1. By saying “woman,” Jesus also wants Mary to “no longer think of Him as merely her son; for the more she conceives of Him as her son, the more also she suffers when he suffers.  Mary must begin to look upon as her Lord” (Hendriksen 115).

2. “Mine hour is not yet come.”

a. The word “hour” speaks of His death.  The “hour” was the time when He would be subject to man’s will, for then He would be delivered up unto the hands of sinners (Mk 14:41).  But until then, He was not to be ordered by man; instead, He was about His Father’s business, seeking only to do His will” (Pink 84).

b. There are seven references in the Gospel of John to that awful hour: 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 12:27, 16:32, 17:1.

C.      Vs 5, This verse indicates that Mary sensed in the reply of Jesus His willingness to act at the proper time.

1. Mary accepts the Lord’s rebuke and recognized His right to act as He pleased.  She left the matter in His hands.

a. We are not to dictate to God.

b. We are not to tell God what to do.

c. Our duty is to commit our way to the Lord and then leave it to Him to supply our need in His good time and way. Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.....”

2. Jesus saw Mary’s call as a call from His Father in heaven.

a. The turning of the water into wine altered the whole course of His life.  Up to this point, he had lived a quiet life in Nazareth.  But from this point on, He would be in the public eye.  He would have little free time to eat.  To have extended times with the Father, He would have to pray while others slept.

b. Once the miracle was performed, Jesus would be the talk of every town.  He would be followed from place to place.  He would be falsely accused by jealous religious leaders and sentenced to die on the cross.  This is what stood before Him if He made water into wine.  As we shall see, Jesus did not pull away from doing the will of the Father.  From this point on, the cross loomed before Him in a particular way.

 

III.      VSS 6-11, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIRACLE WROUGHT BY JESUS

A.       Vs 6, Somewhere near the room where the wedding feast was being held were six water pots or water jars of stone.  Six is the number man.  Man cannot save himself.

1. Each water pot held between 17 and 25 gallons of water.

2. The empty water pots of stone picture the uselessness of religion in helping sinners be saved.  The water pots were “after the manner of the purifying of the Jews.”  They were designed for ceremonial cleansing.  Their uselessness is shown by their emptiness. People need Christ– not religion.

B.       Vs 7, At the command of Christ, they filled with water.

1. Notice that throughout this passage, Jesus Himself does nothing more than instruct the servants in what to do.

a. They filled the water pots.

b. They drew out the wine.

c. They bore it to the governor.

d. All this shows that it pleases God to use human instrumentality in performing the wonders of grace (Rm 10:14-17).

2. Water is an emblem of the written Word of God (Eph 5:26).

a. It is the Word that God uses to save the lost, to quicken their dead souls.

b. The water pots were filled up to the brim.  God gives in good measure.  Nothing else could be added– salvation is by grace plus nothing, minus nothing.

c. God wants to fill us with the word.

C.      Vs 8, I believe that when the servants dipped out the water it immediately became wine.  They dipped again and again and each time the water became wine.

1. God wants to fill us with the Word of God– the water; then as we ladle it out, it becomes wine to those who hear.

2. The Holy Spirit takes the water of the Word and turns it into wine as we ladle it out.