11.09.07
The Belief Through the First Miracle (John 2:1-11)
The Belief Through the First Miracle (John 2:1-11)
It was at a wedding – one of those ‘rites of passage’ for us folks where all things are new again (or where many of our eyes started to become opened…) – where Jesus had the opportunity to present Himself as the Son of God. Looking at our passage today, we can surmise that the mother of Jesus was a close friend (or perhaps even a family member) of the family of the bridegroom. And, because Jesus was the son of Mary, He got an invite as well.
The occasion for celebration at a wedding was a bit different than we are use to. The wedding feast would last from between 2 to 7 days. The time frame was dependent upon the resources of the bridegroom. According to the writing of John, the wedding took place on the third day after John the Baptist’s introduction of Jesus. Looking at the method and time for travel during that time period, it seems likely that the trip from Judea to Cana would take three days and Jesus would have arrived together with his newfound disciples.
Shepard describes the wedding feast: The marriage feast among the Jews was an occasion of great gladness and festivity but also of serious import. It was preceded by fasts in pious families. The betrothal of 12 months duration (or less) before the marriage, was effected through legal proceedings, and was considered as sacred and binding as the marriage ceremony itself. On the evening of the marriage, the bride was led from her paternal home to that of her husband, accompanied by music with the distribution of oil and wine among friends and nuts among the children, and led by the ‘friends of the bridegroom, who bore torches and lamps, myrtle branches and chaplets of flowers.’ The veiled bride on arrival was led to the bridegroom, the marriage formula pronounced, and the legal documents signed. This was followed by the washing of the hands, and finally the marriage feast, which might last a day and sometimes a week.
During the festivities, the supply of wine was exhausted. This would be quite an embarrassment to the bridegroom. The duty of hospitality in the East is an obligation taken very seriously. This would have mortified the bridegroom and his new wife, it would have been the height of disgrace to them.
Learning of this embarrassment, Mary addresses her son in verse 3. This may have been a gentle rebuke because guests were expected to provide wine and delicacies to be enjoyed through the festivities as well. In fact, thinking this through, the disciples of Jesus may have been the cause for the wine to have run out! Mary was invited, and probably requested that Jesus (her son) attend. Jesus, having a newly acquired set of disciples, more than likely brought them along – and they didn’t’ have an invitation (they probably did not know the bridegroom). Had there been provisions for these guests? Knowing that these 6 men had just traveled 90 miles to get there over the last 3 days makes it probable that they did not come with the common Jewish custom of bringing wine and other provisions to contribute to this feast.
Jesus – being there and knowing if this was a pointed remark from His mother or not, responds as if Mary was asking for Him to make a public display of what He could do as Messiah. Now Jesus basically stops Mary’s maternal ‘rights’ to dictate to Him. In verse 4 Jesus lets her know My time has not yet come. Not that this was sin, or disobedience, but the blood relationship now needed to be subordinate to the spiritual relationship. Jesus was now acting as the World’s Redeemer! Note Jesus did not deny her request, instead He let her keep the hope she had (it was confirmed again) in the promise of the future. It is not yet time…
He didn’t deny He was the Messiah. He didn’t deny that He will provide for those in His kingdom. He did say it was not yet time. So, Mary may have been a bit perturbed, but she never gave up hope. In verse 5 she instructs the servants to do whatever he tells you. And Jesus tells them what to do. Fill the jars with water. These were the big jars, the ones for ceremonial washing, and with all these guests there would be a huge need to wash quite frequently for ceremonial purposes.
The servants did so, and brought the water to the master of the feast. This wasn’t just wine, it was the best wine!
Note here is where we can argue, was it fermented wine or unfermented. And in the book, there is considerable ink given to this discussion (pages 115-117). I’m sure we each have opinions on this, but I find the arguments (while interesting) a waste of time in the grand scheme of things. (Especially when we do it today, what if there were AA members taking communion and we served REAL wine, or what if we were to use it and that somehow taught our kids it was OK, etc.) Keep in mind the customs of the day and the intentions of Jesus and his mother. This was not something that was a huge debate to them for this occasion!
It was a miracle that took place. God worked through His Son, Jesus Christ, to provide in this need. This wasn’t some new science experiment (yeah, it was water and they stirred in some kool-aid stuff…), it was supernatural – a miracle.
Look at page 118. Miracles were designed by God to convey a message to the nation Israel. They occurred first in the Old Testament as the time of the Exodus. It was miracles that authenticated the ministry/message of Moses. These would convince Israel that they should obey Moses, forsake Egypt, and follow him into the desert. Miracles convinced Pharaoh that the Lord was the true God and that he should submit to His command and liberate the Israelites.
The second period of Miracles in the OT were in the days of Elijah and Elisha. The third period of miracles occur in connection with God’s program for Israel during the earthly ministry of Christ. The miracles of Jesus authenticate His person and message, the revealed the spheres in which He exercised authority.
Also, miracles show the condition of the Messiah’s rule. Everything in nature will be subject to His authority. And we’re promised to be with Him in a place where there is no more sickness, disease or death. What a great God we serve!
In verse 11 we see 2 results of this miracle. First, it revealed his glory. Second, his disciples put their faith in him. His cousin John had sent these folks to Jesus as the Messiah, now their faith was again confirmed. He was worthy of belief.
For us, what would we need for our faith, our belief in the person of Christ?
