1. In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus’ First Miracle November 23, 2008 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

2. 2 The Wedding Feast John 2:1-2 –“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.” Jesus attends a wedding celebration with His Mother, Mary Perhaps family or friends were involved Marriage at Cana by Giotto

3. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 3 Cana Scholars today are unsure of the exact location of the village of Cana Four different locations have been proposed, the most likely of which is actually several miles northwest of the common site Known as Khirbet Kana –9 mi North of Nazareth

4. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 4 A Typical Jewish Wedding Man and Woman were betrothed to each other for a year –Required a divorce to break the betrothal On the appointed night, the bridegroom and friends went in procession to bride’s home Bride and bridegroom then returned to bridegroom’s home for a banquet –Often lasted seven days

5. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 5 A Problem Arises John 2:3-4 –“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’ ” A marriage celebration in Jesus’ day was an elaborate affair –Ended with a banquet at the groom‘s house Yet at this feast, the wine ran out –Could imply that the family was of meager means and could not afford a large feast

6. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 6 What, No Wine? To run out of wine at a wedding feast was more than a simple disruption To improperly manage a such a feast was to bring about a slur upon the bridegroom Could possibly even invite legal action toward the bridegroom’s family for not providing adequately for the bride Mary was concerned about the situation –Perhaps it was a family event and she wanted to avoid embarrassment

7. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 7 Mary Gets Involved Mary informs Jesus of the problem –“They have no wine” Jesus addresses Mary as “Woman” –The Greek is not as cold as the English –Jesus uses the same word from the cross when He commends her to John’s care However, He does not address her as “Mother” Why would Jesus respond to Mary in this way?

8. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 8 Jesus’ Response to Mary Things have changed –The intimacy of private home life has given way to public ministry –A new state of relationship now exists between Jesus and Mary –Jesus makes it plain that He is no longer under her authority What does Jesus mean by saying: “What does that have to do with us?” What does Jesus mean by: “My time is not yet come?”

9. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 9 Do What He Says … John 2:5-8 –“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him.”

10. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 10 Preparation Mary instructs the servants to do what Jesus tells them Jesus directs them to fill six nearby waterpots to the brim with water –Pots were there for purification rituals Draw some of the water and take it to the head waiter

11. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 11 Mary’s Motive? Mary knew Jesus –She remembered the visitation by Gabriel –She knew she was a virgin when Jesus was born –She remembered the angels in the heavens at His birth –She knew that He was different –She knew that He had a mission Perhaps she also knew that He could correct this embarrassing situation

12. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 12 Water to Wine John 2:9-11 –“When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’ This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”

13. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 13 The Normal Way … In a situation like this, the host would serve some really good wine first, to get the guests “in the spirit” After they had a bit to drink, he would substitute wine of lesser quality and no one would notice However, THIS wine, served late in the banquet, was the best of all Should we find it at all surprising that something Jesus touched was the best of all?

14. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 14 What Does This Mean? Note that verse 6 tells us that the water was there for ritualistic purification Jesus changed that water into wine He changed the old (the Jewish system and its rituals) into the new (the New Kingdom and its freedom) Rev 21:5 –“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”

15. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 15 The Result The result? –His glory is manifested –Those attending the banquet rejoice that the new is better than the old –The disciples believe

16. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 16 Fulfillment of Prophecy Jeremiah 31:12 –“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.” Joel 3:18 –“And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the LORD to water the valley of Shittim.”

17. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 17 Fulfillment of Prophecy Amos 9:13-14 –“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”

18. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 18 A Few Additional Thoughts Jesus provided an abundance –Six jars at 20-30 gallons each provided more than enough for the banquet The jars were filled to capacity –In Jesus we have all that we can possibly need; there is no room for another John 1:16 –“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

19. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 19 For Discussion Was Mary forcing Jesus’ hand? –Did she pressure Him to begin His ministry before His time? What meaning do you find in this miraculous incident? –What application can you draw from it?

20. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 20 Next Week Jesus Clears the Temple