King of Glory
Notes
Transcript
Warren Brosi
February 11, 2024
Dominant Thought: As Jesus reveals His glory, we trust Him more.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to understand the themes of Jesus changing the water into wine.
I want my listeners to feel closer to Jesus through His compassion expressed in this miracle.
I want my listeners to pursue deeper relationships with Jesus and family.
A few years ago, we attended a wedding reception for some friends. We were excited because the main course for the reception was one of central Illinois signature foods, the horseshoe. A horseshoe usually consists of some toast, meat, french fries and cheese sauce. What sets an ordinary horseshoe from and extraordinary horseshoe is....the cheese sauce.
We had an enjoyable night celebrating the marriage of our friends with the large gathering of family and friends. What would have happened if half way through the serving line of the wedding reception, people lined up with bread, burgers, and fries came to the signature cheese sauce and found it…empty. No cheese sauce. No horseshoes.
In John 2, we meet Jesus and his disciples at a wedding. While I’m pretty sure they didn’t eat horseshoes, they did encounter something that wasn’t planned. At the wedding in Cana, they ran out of wine.
Let’s read the story found in John 2.1-12. John tells us the result of this story in John 2.11, “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”
As Jesus reveals His glory, we trust Him more. We talked last week how Jesus gives us His glory since we represent His image. In Cana, Jesus reveals His glory, His presence and power to His followers. As a result, His followers trust Jesus.
As we look at this story, we see three ways Jesus reveals His glory to His disciples.
Jesus reveals His glory as a New Kingdom. If you read that last few verses of John 1, we see Jesus meeting Nathanael. Philip, a disciple of Jesus, tells Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph (John 1.45). Nathanael is surprised when he hears Jesus is from Nazareth. He replies, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1.46). After Jesus meets Nathanael and surprises him with some what he knows about Nathanael. Jesus says, “You will see even greater things that that” (John 1.50). And soon, Nathanael will have a front row seat to water changing to wine.
Notice in John 2.1, John tells us this happened on the third day. The gospel writers are quite focused on the final week of Jesus life as most of them devote 25-30% of their gospels to the final week. John will devote about half of his gospel tot he final week of Jesus (John 12-21). John also, deliberately tells us about the first days of Jesus ministry by reading, “the next day” (John 1.29, 35, 43). And now, “the third day.” John began his gospel “in the beginning.” Does John want us to see hints at creation in this story? We have water and wine. What happened on day 3 in Genesis?
Genesis 1.9-13 describes day three of creation. “And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place...” (Genesis 1.9). Also, the fruit trees and vegetation come to be. Water and fruit. Water and wine? Maybe John wants us to see a new creation theme beginning.
Mary, the mother of Jesus comes to her son and states, “They have no more wine” (John 2.3). Jesus replies, “Dear woman, what is that to me and you?” He doesn’t call her mom? From the cross, Jesus will commission John later to take care of his mother with a similar feeling of woman and son.
Jesus tells His mom, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2.4). Roughly, nine times in this gospel, Jesus will talk about the hour has not yet come or my hour has come (see John 2.4; 7.6, 8, 30; 8.20; 12.23, 27; 13.1; 17.1).
Then, Mary looks to the servants and tells them, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2.5). Mary, the model disciple gives everyone listening to this message good advice in following Jesus, “Do whatever Jesus tell you to do.” Even if it doesn’t make sense at the time.
Here’s what Jesus tells the servants, “Fill the jars with water” (John 2.7). There were six stone water jars nearby that held between 20-30 gallons. I brought our 17 gallon totes we use to pack for our Nationwide Youth Roundup trip. Imagine these full of water and then some more. These water jars were not for drinking water, but for ceremonial washings. It was to follow the rituals of clean and unclean.
The second command Jesus gives to the servants, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet” (John 2.8). Notice what John writes next, “the did so.” Remember what Mary told the servants? “Do whatever He tells you.” They follow her counsel and the commands of Jesus and receive a front row seat to a sign of His glory. They brought the water that had been turned into wine to the master of the banquet for a sample taste.
Pause right there. Do you think they felt weird filling the water jars? Probably not. It was a normal thing to do. Does the water in the jars turn to wine or does the wine they draw from the well turn into wine? Hmmm. The main idea is the water is turned to wine. Today, I think the water in the jars turned to wine and they draw that water out to give to the master of the banquet.
It appears something new is happening. A new kingdom has come. In John 1.17, we see Jesus full of grace and truth. John states, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Jesus fulfills what the law and the prophets spoke about.
Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 25.6-8.
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
Jesus reveals His glory as an Abundant Gift. To run out of wine at a wedding celebration in the ancient world was a serious problem. One that they brides family could actually take the groom’s family to court. For more information see, K. T. Cooper, “The Best Wine: John 2.1-11,” Westminster Theological Journal 41 (Spring 1979): 364-380, referenced by Mark Moore, The Chronological Life of Christ, 1:96.
So, Jesus intervenes to save the bride and groom the shame of disappointing their neighbors and family. In this sign, we see the compassion of Jesus.
We may have up to 150 gallons of wine. The jars are filled “to the brim” (John 1.7). In John 1.16, we read, “Out of His [Jesus] fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Jesus gives generously and fully.
He covers the supply needed. And his wine is better than the wine the ran out. The head of the banquet, comments to the groom, “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 til now” (John 2.10).
Jesus reveals His glory as an Intimate Relationship. What’s beautiful is where this first sign takes place. It’s at a wedding. Weddings are special events. In the ancient world, weddings were a several day celebration. Throughout scripture, God uses weddings and marriage to celebrate His love for mankind.
On the opening pages of Scripture, God gives away the first bride when He brings Eve to Adam (Genesis 2.22). When Israel doesn’t honor God’s covenant, Scripture uses images like unfaithfulness, adultery, and prostitution to describe Israel’s relationship with God.
And now here on the opening pages of the gospel of John, one of Jesus’ first public encounters is at a wedding. As I researched some of history of Berlin Christian Church, I ran across a couple of sources that shared that Andrew Scott, the founding preacher of our church conducted the first wedding in Island Grove Township for a Nelson Roberts and Miss Tabor (Marjorie Robertson, “A History of Berlin Christian Church” for Church History III, Lincoln Bible Institute, 1958, p.6). It is also listed in the New Berlin Centennial book).
As I read over this account in John 2.2, I noticed the phrase, “and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.” Those of you who may one day get married, can I ask you to invite Jesus to your wedding? Live in such a way that honors Jesus. Before planning the photographer, and booking the venue, and the DJ, will you seek pre-marriage counseling and study with an older Christian couple to build a Christ-centered family?
To those who are married, have you invited Jesus to your marriage? To your family? Are you following the words of Jesus’ mother to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tell s you to do?” Does your marriage and family represent the sacrificial love of Jesus. How is your speech and your tone to your spouse and children?
In the Roman empire, during the third century, emperor Claudius II was trouble by the number of young men who were engaged to be married. These engagements were limiting his crop of potential soldiers for his ambitious military campaigns. So, emperor Claudius II issued a decree canceling all marriage engagements and any new marriages.
A priest named Valentinus believed the decree was a great injustice. In defiance of the emperor’s decree, he continued to perform marriages for young couples in secret. Eventually, he was discovered and Claudius order Valentinus put to death. While in prison, waiting his death sentence it is believed Valentinus fell in love with a young girl who frequently visited him in prison. Shortly before his death, he wrote her a letter signed, “From your Valentine.” Today, Valentinus is celebrated as a heroic and romantic champion of marriage. (Story is recounted in Discipleship Catalyst workbook 5, Loving Families—Building Jesus’ Kingdom, p. 68-69 by Jon Morrissette, 2023).
To those who are singled, widowed, or may never marry, remember you are not alone. As followers of Jesus, we are called the bride of Christ. I said earlier Scripture began with a wedding in Genesis 2 and it concludes with a wedding feast in Revelation 19. The same person who wrote about the wedding in Cana describes the wedding feast in the new heaven and new earth.
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
All of our lives are pointing to this wedding feast.
John gave us the reason he shared these words—to reveal the glory of Jesus. These signs point to our King of glory. John recorded these signs so those who would hear about them would believe of trust in King Jesus. Here’s how John describes the purpose of this book.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I hope you’ll join us over the next few weeks to explore the other signs John recorded that will help us trust in King Jesus.