INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES                      12/25/09 07:05:47 PM     John02

Introduction:

We continue our new study this week on the book of John. Last week, we saw John make it vividly clear that Jesus was in the beginning with God and all things that were made were created by Him. The theme of John’s account centers around the Deity of our Savior. In chapter 1, we saw John the Baptist come on the scene as "the voice crying in the wilderness" proclaiming that Jesus was coming soon. And we ended the chapter with Phillip telling Nathanael that they had found the Messiah spoken of by Moses and the prophets. At first he did not believe, but before Jesus was through talking with Nathanael, he not only acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, but called him the Son of God and the King of Israel. This week we see the first of the many miracles performed in Jesus’ public ministry.

I. The Marriage at Cana 

John 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

We see Jesus accompanying his mother to this wedding. In the study of John by John Calvin, he noted that perhaps this was a relative of the family that was being married since both Mary and Jesus were in attendance. Irregardless, Jesus brought also his disciples to the marriage. One day, when Jesus takes his Bride which is the church, there will be a great marriage supper and all the saved of all time will be in attendance. Not all will be in the bride, but all the saved will be at the wedding feast. We see that it was the third day when there was a marriage. We know that it was three days and three nights that Jesus lay in the grave before He came forth in the resurrection. We know that marriage is a divine institution of God. God established the family and marriage before he established the church. The beginning of the institution of marriage began with the first man and woman on earth, Adam and Eve. The church was not formed until the Lord established it in his earthly ministry. We see that Jesus was called and invited to be there. If you and I want to have a successful and happy marriage, we had better invite the Lord to be with us all the time. Jesus is essential to a successful marriage.

John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

We see that Mary’s word indicate two things concerning the wine. She ignored Christ’s deity, for if she acknowledged Him as God, she would know He knew all things. She also seemed to be exercising her parental authority to suggest what Jesus should do to correct the situation. I think it is very significant that Jesus calls her "Woman" instead of Mother. If you look at the scriptures, we have no record anywhere where Jesus called Mary "Mother." On the cross, he told John to look upon Mary and to take her as his mother and care for her. Jesus loved her very, very much, but the fact that he did not call her mother suggests a couple of things. The first in this instance, is that by using the term "woman", Christ is calling attention to the fact that He was more than man, that He was the Son of God. Also at this time, by addressing her as woman, it showed that God was speaking to her, not her son in the flesh. And most importantly, I think God never wanted us to place more emphasis on Mary than was meant to be. In the John commentary I mentioned earlier by John Calvin, he stated the following.

"It is certain that this saying of Christ openly warns men not to transfer to Mary what belongs to God by superstitiously exalting the honor of the maternal name in Mary. Christ therefore addresses his mother like this so as to transmit a perpetual and general lesson to all ages, lest any excessive honor paid to his mother should obscure his divine glory. For Mary has been made Queen of Heaven, the Hope, the Life, and Salvation of the world, and in fact, some [churches] went so far that they have just about stripped Christ naked and adorned Mary with His spoils. In doing this, they do Mary a cruel injury when they snatch from God what belongs to Him that they may disfigure with false praises."

I totally agree that Jesus is the one whom we should acknowledge as Lord and Savior. Mary was a great woman, probably the greatest that ever lived, but she was just that. A woman honored by God to be the mother of Jesus Christ.

We see in verse 4 that Jesus says that "mine hour has not come." J. Vernon McGee in his study commentary on the book of John  pointed out that at the time when Jesus looked upon Mary from the cross, His time had come.    In three days he would come back from the dead. When the disciples met in an upper room after His resurrection and ascension, Mary could look around, for she was there, and she could say to each of those disciples, "I told you that He was the Son of God!" Paul said that He is " declared to the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead." (Rom 1:4)

There are many references to the statement "Mine hour is not yet come."

• John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

• John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

The term "hour" referred to the time when Jesus would be subject to man’s will, and be delivered up into the hands of sinners. 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.

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Mary showed meekness and wisdom in her answer. She recognized Jesus’ right to act as He so chose, and left the manner in His hands. We need to learn from Mary’s attitude here and learn not to dictate to God. Are we not prone to even pray in such a manner as to tell God how to answer our prayers. But God wants us to be a humble and contrite people, ones that look to Him for our necessities and every day guidance. Our duty is to commit our way unto the Lord and then leave Him to supply our need in His own good time and manner.

2 Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

2 Cor 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

II. The First Miracle

John 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

This is the first miracle that Jesus performed in His earthly ministry. Christ was the one who performed the miracle, but we see the servants were involved in doing much of the work. They brought water and filled the waterpots with water. I don’t think there is any work in this world that comes close to working for the Lord. What an honor to be used as a vessel "mete for the Master’s use." But like these servants, we have to be willing to be used. God does not force His children to be about His work, but how He blesses those who will hearken to the call.

The servants did several things. First they filled the waterpots with water. Then they drew off the wine, and finally, they bore it to the governor of the feast. We need to be willing to start the work, but when other chores come up, we need to continue to be willing to be used. When we started the building of our church, it was an exciting time, and we had dozens of people out to work at the beginning. But as the months wore on, it became increasingly more difficult to want to be involved, and it took perseverance and faith by all of us to hang in and get it built. God is honored when we don’t just start a work, but we finish the work. Jesus set the example. He set out to do the Father’s Will, He lived the perfect life, and ultimately died for our sins on Calvary. Started, stayed, and finished. What a testimony and example to you and I.

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

I think it is interesting that the first miracle that Moses performed was to turn water into blood, whereas Jesus’ first miracle was to turn water into wine. The Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. What a contrast.

We see that many spectators witnessed the miracle. Jesus created something from nothing. We don’t see them bringing in grapes that he squeezed to make the water into wine. God was pleased to use human instruments to help in this miracle. Why did God choose to save lost man by sending Christ to die on Calvary? I don’t know, but I do know that God’s ways are beyond finding out, and they are the best ways.

I agree with J. Vernon McGee on his comment about how we are the empty waterpots that God uses today. We’re just beaten and battered water pots, not even attractive and worthy to be used. But God does use us, and He fills us with water. And that water is the Word of God. And when we ladle out that which God gives us, it becomes like that wine in those water pots. It becomes the wine of joy through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Many have asked, was this wine fermented wine? I dare say that it was not. Those who have traveled to the Holy Lands will tell you that there are two wines in those countries, the wine of the "grape of the vine" and then the fermented wine that has set up. Since we know that God’s Word never contradicts itself, and every other example of those who were drinking fermented wine led to sin, it certainly would not make sense for our Savior to be putting forth fermented wine to those at the supper. Some of the verses in context to staying away from strong drink are:

• Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

John 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

We see that his discipled believed on him after seeing the miracle performed. All of these miracles had a reason, and they were done to allow those who knew not to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

It says that they went down to Capernaum and continued not too many days. This was probably due to the fact that in His hometown the people would not accept him. Remember when he went into the synagogue and read from Isaiah?

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

We see that they asked "Is not this Joseph’s son?" It was hard for them to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the true Messiah sent from God.

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