1. JOHN 2:1-12 Wedding at Cana

2. INTRODUCTION Done with John 1 for now (Prologue) Done with John 1 for now (Prologue) Chapter 21 (Epilogue) Chapter 21 (Epilogue) Chapters 13-20 (Passion Week) Chapters 13-20 (Passion Week) Chapters 2-12 (Book of Signs) Chapters 2-12 (Book of Signs)

3. BOOK OF “SIGNS” Common View – signs as “proof” of Jesus’ divinity Common View – signs as “proof” of Jesus’ divinity I find this approach to be lacking (John 20:29-31) I find this approach to be lacking (John 20:29-31) More layers to the signs More layers to the signs They need to make sense of the second half of the book They need to make sense of the second half of the book Answer questions such as “How does God work in the world?” and “How does John want us to understand God as revealed in Jesus?” Answer questions such as “How does God work in the world?” and “How does John want us to understand God as revealed in Jesus?” This particular sign seems to confound most preachers, anyway… This particular sign seems to confound most preachers, anyway…

4. JOHN 2:1-5 (CEB) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They don’t have any wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn’t come yet.” His mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

5. JOHN 2:6-9 (CEB) Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter,” and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

6. JOHN 2:10-12 (CEB) The headwaiter called the groom and said, “Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now.” This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this, Jesus and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.

7. SETTING THE SCENE Third Day Third Day Wedding Wedding Cana of Galilee Cana of Galilee

8. KHIRBET-QANAH

9. SETTING THE SCENE Third Day Third Day Wedding Wedding Cana of Galilee Cana of Galilee Invitees Invitees Honor and Shame Honor and Shame

10. JESUS’ RESPONSE Traditional Reading Traditional Reading Softer Reading Softer Reading Skip it entirely Skip it entirely My own view – family dysfunction My own view – family dysfunction What did this mean for the original audience? What did this mean for the original audience? What does this mean for us? What does this mean for us?

11. JESUS’ ACTION Stone Jars Stone Jars Wine at a wedding Wine at a wedding Reaction of the headwaiter Reaction of the headwaiter “First miraculous sign…” “First miraculous sign…” As an act of mercy As an act of mercy As pointing to a new way of understanding God As pointing to a new way of understanding God Back to ordinary life… Back to ordinary life…

12. COMMUNION A very human Jesus… A very human Jesus… …who shows (abundant) mercy to those who need it… …who shows (abundant) mercy to those who need it… …and invites us to join the party! …and invites us to join the party!