John 2:1-11 Wedding at Cana

Introduction

Least Successful Wedding Cake: At the wedding reception of Signor Faldini in Naples in 1981 the wedding cake exploded when a waiter was lighting the candles, with the result that two guests, two waiters and a tourist taking a photograph where treated for shock. Credit goes to the chef who later said; “I think I must have used too much alcohol in the mix.”

I never knew what real happiness was until I got married, and by then it was too late.

Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks & the wife listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the husband listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.

“By all means marry! If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Socrates

The speaker at a women’s club was lecturing on marriage & asked the audience how many of them wanted to “mother” their husbands. One member in the back row raised her hand. “You do want to mother your husband?” the speaker asked. “Mother?” the woman echoed, “I thought you said smother.”

Our Gospel reading this morning takes place within the context of a wedding in Cana. Cana was a inconspicuous little town that lay outside of Nazareth.

Weddings in Jesus’ day where big affairs, in small villages like Cana, it would have involved the whole community.

Illustration
When Beata and I were planning our own wedding, one of our major concerns was to ensure that we had enough food and drink for all the guests, but our wedding celebrations only lasted one day. Jewish wedding celebrations could last a whole week!

We are told that at this particular wedding that Jesus attended, the wine ran out. To run out of food or drink at a wedding would not only cause major embarrassment, it would have been a social disgrace for the bride and groom. In the closely knit communities of Jesus' day, such an error would never be forgotten. In fact, according to one commentary I read, lawsuits were not unknown in these circumstances because it was considered a breach of hospitality! So the situation was a potentially serious one. We can sense some of the urgency of the situation in Mary’s words to Jesus, “They have no more wine.”

So Jesus instructs the servants to fill up six stone water jars, normally used for ceremonial washing, with water, and draw some of the water out of the jars and take it to the master of the banquet. And miraculously the water is turned into wine.

Illustration
A small boy was asked by a visiting relative what he had learnt at church today.

"Today" came the reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and made water into wine."

"And what did you learn from that story?" the relative inquired.

After thinking for a moment, the lad answered, "If you're having wedding, make sure Jesus is there!"

John describes this miracle as a sign, so what does this sign have to tell us?

The wine can run out

First of all it informs us that the wine can run out.
To the Jewish people wine symbolized joy. The Jewish rabbis had a saying, “Without wine there is no joy.”

This wine can be seen as symbolic of our lives. If wine symbolizes joy, then there are times in our lives when the wine runs out. Times when we are empty of joy.

There are many different reasons why the joy may run out in our lives. It may be because we are going through difficult times, at work, or at home. It may be because we are under a great deal of stress or anxiety, and we are exhausted. It could be that we have neglected the one person who can give us true joy, and that is God. It could be that we are trying to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life in things which cannot truly satisfy, money, relationships, hobbies, alcohol, drugs, etc.

It can be a scary thing when the ‘wine runs out’, when we lack joy. You and I have no resources within ourselves to replace the joy. Only Jesus can provide this new wine. If you go to St Matthew’s you will see on their notice board the words, the secret of Joy is putting Jesus first, others second and yourself last. Jonathan Edwards, a theologian and preacher from the 18th century said the following. Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight.

The Bible talks a lot about joy, for instance in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul writes, Be Joyful Always, and Jesus prayed that we may have the full measure of joy within us. Joy is different to happiness. Henri Nouwen, said that “Joy is knowing that you are unconditionally loved.” Jesus prayed that we may have the full measure of joy within us. It is only through Jesus that we can discover true joy. Jesus is chapter 16 of John’s gospel, says, Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

The transforming power of God

The second thing this sign shows us is the power of God to transform something ordinary into something wonderful. The wine that Jesus produced was not ordinary wine, but the finest wine imaginable.

This is how God deals with us. He takes us as we are, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we are transformed. Jesus is able to take that which is tired, worn out, devoid of joy, empty, and lacking purpose, and transform it into something wonderful. It can be turned into something rich, fragrant, and ripe with the fullness of joy through his presence, through his care.

Jesus wants to transform our lives, just as he transformed that water. When he does this our lives take on a new nature.
Jesus turned…· water into wine; · he turns frowns into smiles; · he turns whimpers of fear into songs of hope; · he turns deserts into gardens, · he turns sorrow into joy;· he turns sin into grace; · death into life.

Jesus can transform anyone, consider for example Paul, who described himself as the Worst of Sinners (1 Tim 1:16), who before he encountered Jesus, was determined to destroy the church. Through Jesus, Paul was transformed into someone completely different. No one, is beyond the transforming power of God.

The question we need to ask ourselves, is what areas of our lives would we like to see transformed, and are we prepared to allow God to make those changes?

The abundance of God

Thirdly, this sign emphasizes the abundance of God’s provision. The wedding guests went from having no wine at all to having an overabundance of wine. There were six jars containing between 20 and 30 gallons apiece. So, at the very least, the jars contained 120 gallons of wine, and as much as 180 gallons. There is no way the guests could have consumed that much wine. Why did Jesus give so much wine? Because he is an extravagant giver. He never gives just enough; he always gives superabundantly.

We see this else where in the Bible. For instance, when the Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness, each day God sent more than food that their needs required. In the feeding of the 5000 Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish so that everyone could have their fill, and at the end there were twelve baskets of bread and fish left over. He gave them more than they could possibly eat. This is the way God gives.
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). We have an extravagant God who lavishes us with his blessings. We can ask him for anything. The Bible says he gives “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

He loves to bless. To a dying thief on a cross he gave the gift of paradise. To a woman caught in an immoral act he gave the gift of God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. To a grieving father he gave back a child from the grip of death. He is lavish with his gifts. And to us who come with our requests, he gives the promise of abundant life here and now, and beyond this world, eternal life. When the new wine was brought out, the master of the banquet was amazed 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” (John 2:10). Jesus always saves the best till last. In John 1:16 we read: “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16). We have been filled to the brim with the blessings of God. And as Christians we have the assurance that the best is yet to come, because we can look forward to being with God in heaven. Heaven is where the deepest longings of our lives will be met. The Bible assures us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The best that the world has to offer now is only a hint of what is yet to be. The difference will be as different as water is to wine. Conclusion

The miracle of the changing of the water into wine, demonstrates the power of God to transform, and the amazing generosity of our God, that we have a God who lavishes good gifts on those who love him.

What would have happened at the wedding banquet if Mary had not had the courage to speak to Jesus, and tell the servants to do whatever he commanded? The wine would have ran out.
Has your joy ran out today? Jesus wants to transform you! Bring your need to him!