THE MIRACLE AT CANA
John 2:1-11
INTRODUCTION TO MIRACLES
1. A miracle is “an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event” (Webster)
2. Bible miracles were always done “completely, instantaneously, for an infinite variety of diseases, including raising from the dead, and not necessarily requiring faith on the part of the person being healed.” (Roger Chambers)
3. Counterfeit miracles are a reality. We must test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
a. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
b. Matthew 24:24 “For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
4. Many will say that there are not signs and wonders today because we don’t have enough faith. But seeking signs and wonders is really a lack of faith. “So Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe’” (John 4:48).
5. The purpose of the miracles, signs and wonders was to bring about faith in His teaching. The emphasis was never on the healing that could save the body but the gospel that could save the soul.
a. John 2:23 “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.”
b. John 20:30-31 “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
c. Mark 16:20 “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”
d. Hebrews 2:1-4 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
THE PARTY (v. 1-2)
1. A wedding in Cana of Galilee
a. Not Jerusalem, Not Rome but Cana of Galilee
b. A small village about 4 miles from Nazareth – this is where the first miracle performed.
2. Who was present
a. Jesus’ mother
b. Jesus – He is for weddings
c. Jesus’ disciples – follow their master or teacher; witness his life; learn from him.
THE PROBLEM (v. 3-5)
1. “They have no wine” – Mary
2. “What does that have to do with us” – Jesus.
a. That is their problem but Jesus shows compassion anyway.
b. We may see Mary anxious about her Son manifesting His glory. Something that she had already known but had not been revealed.
3. “My hour has not yet come” – Jesus.
a. There is the manner of perfect timing in the kingdom.
i. Jesus came at “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4).
ii. Jesus died at the “right time” (Romans 5:6).
iii. His administration over the kingdom is appropriate to the “fullness of the times” (Ephesians 1:10).
b. Jesus’ time had not yet come
i. Jesus didn’t go to the Feast of Booths with His brothers because His “time is not yet here” and “has not yet fully come” (John 7:6, 8)
ii. He went up secretly but was found out and they desired to kill Him but “no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come” (John 7:30)
iii. Again He taught in the treasury “and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come”
c. Him manifesting His glory by way of miracles, signs and wonders would start the persecution and onslaught of rejection. His hour had not yet come – or had it.
4. “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
a. This is the only command in the Bible by Mary and it is a good one.
b. She apparently knew that He would follow through.
THE PROVISION (v. 6-10)
1. Six water pots at 25 gallons each = 150 gallons of “wine”. Are we to believe that Jesus first miracle produced 150 gallons of beer, knowing that drunkenness is a sin? Or is the wine of that day different than the wine of our day?
a. Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe to him who is giving drink to his neighbor, pouring out thy bottle, and also making drunk, in order to look on their nakedness.”
b. “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God;’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.”
2. They were filled to the brim – no room for a counterfeit miracle.
3. Normally the best wine is served first. “The ruler of the feast means that when the palates of the guests have become less sensitive through indulgence, an inferior quality of wine is offered” (Vincent). Jesus saved the best for last.
THE PURPOSE (v. 11)
1. This was His first sign, not clay pigeons that fly or healing friends at the playground, as some false gospels report.
2. The purpose was to manifest His glory and the result was belief
a. Glory – DOXA – Who He is and what He is like
i. The "glory of the Lord" has to do with what He has revealed of Himself, for His glory is what emanates from Him – what makes His Person and purpose known (Given Blakely).
ii. Glory is “the luminous manifestation of His person, His glorious revelation of Himself (Colin Brown).”
b. Do we still need miracles today to manifest His glory and bring about belief? All we need is the gospel.
i. 1 John 5:10 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (KJV)
ii. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (NASB)
The Gospel reveals who God is and what He is doing through Christ.
“The Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14)
“The Gospel of God” (Mark 1:14; Rom. 1:1; 15:16; 2 Cor. 11:7; 1 Thess. 2:2,8-9; 1 Pet. 4:17)
“The Gospel of His Son” (Romans 1:9)
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1)
“The Gospel of the Lord Jesus” (2 Thess. 1:8)
“The Gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 9:12,18; 2 Cor. 2:12; 9:13; 10:14; Gal. 1:7; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 3:2)
“The Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24)
“The Gospel of Your Salvation” (Eph. 1:13)
“The Gospel of Peace” (Eph. 6:15)
“The Gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 16:16)
“The Gospel of the Glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4)
“The Mystery of the Gospel” (Eph. 6:19)
“The Word of Truth, the Gospel” (Col. 1:5)
“The Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God” (1 Thess. 1:11)