Question
Jesus Revealed His Glory
John 2:1-11
Key verse 2:11
“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.
He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
1. Read verses 1-3. At this wedding who was invited? What problem arose? Why did Jesus’ mother bring this problem to Jesus?
2. Read verses 4-5. What was Jesus’ answer? Why did he answer that way? How did Jesus’ mother respond? Why?
3. Read verses 6-8. What were Jesus’ two commands to the servants? What does their action of filling the jars ‘to the brim’ reveal about them? Why must it have been hard to serve this water to the banquet master? What can we learn from them?
4. Read verses 9-10. What had happened to the water in the jars? Who knew where this wine came from? How did this miracle change the wedding feast? What can we learn from Jesus?
5. Read verse 11. What did Jesus reveal through this miracle? What is Jesus’ glory? After seeing Jesus’ first miraculous sign, what did His disciples do?
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Message
Wedding at Cana
John 2:1-11
Key verse 2:11
“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
These days, “change” has become an important concept in public dialogue. President Obama can probably be credited with much of this. In his campaign for president, “change” was his message. Not just any change, but “change you can believe in.” His message brought hope to many people. People hoped to see a change in politics as usual; to see people working together for the common good. In response to doubters who said that the system could not be changed, Obama replied, “Yes, we can.”
Recent events in North Africa and the Middle East have brought the hope of change to millions around the world--change from dictatorships to democracy.
However, even if democracy spreads, the economy is fixed, and politicians are nice to each other, the world will remain, from God’s point of view, fundamentally unchanged by these things. People are still living under the power of sin; people are still separated from God.
In this passage, however, we find true hope for change. Jesus changed water into wine. This gives us hope. Can Jesus change us? Yes, he can. May God help us to open our hearts to this message.
In this passage, Jesus reveals his glory for the first time. Up until this point in his life, he had not done any miraculous signs that would indicate his identity as the Son of God.
Look at verse 1:
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.”
The events of this passage take place on the third day since Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus had called his first disciples, and they followed him from Bethany to Cana--a distance of about seventy miles.
After arriving in Cana, Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding. In those days, a wedding celebration was a big event for an entire community.
Look at verse 3:
“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.””
Jesus’ mother, Mary, was at the wedding. It seems that she may have been helping with the wedding, because she was one of the only people to know that the wine was gone. If this news got out, it would be a serious embarrassment to the bride and groom. Mary took responsibility for this problem, but there was nothing she could do on her own to solve it. So, she brought the problem to Jesus.
Now let’s see how Jesus responded. Look at verse 4:
“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
At first, it seemed that Jesus was saying that he could not do anything about this problem. Why not? Because his time had not yet come. The time Jesus was referring to was most likely the time for him to perform a miraculous sign and reveal himself as the Son of God. Jesus’ words reveal that he did not do things randomly. He didn’t act according to his feelings or based on the situation. He did everything according to God’s time.
Look at verse 5: “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””
Mary was not discouraged by Jesus’ words. She didn’t argue or plead with him. Instead, she simply turned to the servants and said, “Do whatever he tells you.” She believed that Jesus would be able to do something if servants were prepared to do whatever he said.
How did Mary develop this faith? I think it may be from her own personal experience as a servant of God. Many years earlier, when she was a young woman, the angel Gabriel visited her and told her she would become pregnant as a virgin and give birth to the Son of God. This news meant that her whole life would change. How did she respond? In Luke 1:38, she said to the angel: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Mary offered herself to God as God’s servant, and God’s time to send the Christ came. In this passage, many years later, Mary does the same thing by preparing servants to do whatever Jesus says.
Who knows what miracles will God do through us when we offer ourselves to Him as obedient servants?
Look at verses 6-8:
“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.””
After Mary provided Jesus with willing servants, he went to work. He told the servants to fill some very large, stone water jars with water. This was a lot of work. These jars were used to hold water for ceremonial washing, which included washing hands and feet. The servants obeyed. In fact, they filled the jars to the brim.
Then Jesus told the servants to do something much more difficult—he told them to draw some of the water out and take it to the master of the banquet. That master of the banquet was expecting wine, not water. Would he be angry if they brought him water instead of wine? Probably. Yet they obeyed.
Look at verses 9-10:
“and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “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 till now.”
Not only did Jesus change water into wine, but the quality of the wine was exceptional. The master of the banquet thought that the bridegroom had saved the best wine to the end, but the truth is that the best wine had already been served. Jesus’ wine made the best wine in the house seem like cheep 99-Cent store wine.
Look at verse 11a:
“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.”
I believe it is not a coincidence that Jesus’ first miraculous sign was different from all his other miraculous signs. Jesus healed people, raised the dead, and even walked on water, but this is the only miracle recorded in the Bible in which Jesus changed one thing into another. He changed foot-washing water that was not fit to drink into the choicest of wines. He changed the worthless into the priceless. This is this miracle Jesus performs every day in the lives of people around the world. Jesus changes lost sinners into children of God.
For many people, this is the first miracle Jesus performs in their lives. After hearing Jesus’ words and repenting of my sins, I was changed. I know so many people who were also completely changed by Jesus. This is indeed the first miracle many people experience--but it is not the last. As we offer our lives to God, we experience many more.
Look at verse 11b:
“He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
Interestingly, the passage concludes by focusing on Jesus’ disciples. Through this miracle, Jesus revealed his glory as the Son of God. His disciples were whiteness of this event, and through it they put their faith in him.
In conclusion, through this passage we see that Jesus is the one whom God sent to change lives just like he changed water into wine. If we offer ourselves to God in humble obedience, we may not only see his glory but also experience his life-changing power.
One word: Jesus revealed his glory
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Biblenote
Jesus Revealed His Glory
John 2:1-11
Key verse 2:11
“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.
He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
Introduction: This passage is the account of Jesus’ first miraculous sign. Through this sign, Jesus revealed of his glory. He is revealed as the one who came to capture our heart’s devotion, who came to bless us with a full, happy life in a love relationship with him.
1. Read verses 1-3.
ANSWER:
Jn 2:1-3 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
Cana was a small town located about 6-7 miles to the northeast of Nazareth. It was the home town of Nathanael according to Jn 21:2.
The marriage celebration was a happy occasion in an otherwise difficult life under cruel Roman rule. Jewish people celebrated the wedding for a whole week (Gen 29:27). The people of the whole town gathered together and celebrated it.
At this wedding who was invited?
ANSWER:
Jesus’ mother, Mary. Maybe she was a relative of either the bride or bridegroom.
Jesus and his disciples (Peter, Andrew, John, Philip, Nathanael). They believed that Jesus is the Messiah.
What problem arose?
ANSWER:
The wine ran out. During the first part of the wedding, there was enough wine. But perhaps the wine ran out because Jesus’ disciples consumed so much wine.
This was a serious problem. In that culture, there was a high expectation of good hospitality. To not have wine was a social disgrace to the bridegroom and his family. The guests might leave.
The wine running out could represent this world’s joys which do not last.
Why did Jesus’ mother bring this problem to Jesus?
ANSWER:
Because she believed that Jesus was the Son of God and could solve the problem.
She didn’t try to solve the problem by human methods. Rather than bringing the problem to the banquet master or complaining about it, she took the initiative to ask Jesus to take care of it.
She could have demanded Jesus to solve the problem because she was his mother but she humbly brought it to his attention. She set a good example in terms of prayer. It was not a prayer for herself but an intercessory prayer.
Mary was a mere guest but she had a sense of problem and a sense of ownership. She noticed the problem and then considered it to be her own problem and wanted to solve it. God uses those who have a sense ownership. Apostle Paul is an example (Rom 1:14). God also used Msn. Samuel C Lee to serve world mission through UBF.
2. Read verses 4-5.
ANSWER:
Jn 2:4-5 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
What was Jesus’ answer?
ANSWER:
“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” “My time has not yet come.”
Why did he answer that way?
ANSWER:
By saying, “Dear woman,” Jesus was addressing her in way that was a respectful; it was a polite way of addressing a lady in that culture.
There are two instances in John’s Gospel in which Jesus addresses his mother: Jn 2:4 and 19:26 which correspond to the start of his ministry and the end of his ministry. With the word "woman" in 2:4, Jesus declared to her that now he began his messianic ministry and was unavailable to serve his duty as her son. With the word "woman" in 19:26 he fulfills his duty as her son.
By saying, “...why do you involve me?” (literally, “...what to me and to you?”) Jesus politely put a distance between himself and her. Jesus did not do anything according to people’s need or demand. Rather he was concerned about doing what God wants when he wants it. Jesus was not family- or people-centered, but God-centered.
Jesus was not rejecting her request but was asking her to wait on God’s time for him to act. Jesus did not focus on solving the problem per se. He wanted to make sure that the person who offered a prayer had his or her personal faith.
By saying, “My time has not yet come,” Jesus was saying that he acts according to the time set by his Father. He works according to God’s time schedule to please his Father.
Jesus’ time was in reference to his glorification on the cross, the completion of his mission as Christ (7:6, 8; 12:23; 17:1). Whatever he did was in view of that time.
How did Jesus’ mother respond?
ANSWER:
Jn 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Why?
ANSWER:
Mary could have been disappointed a lot but she was not. Rather, she put her trust in Jesus and figured out what she could do by faith. She did not hear what Jesus said negatively. She waited by absolute faith.
She also prepared the environment for Jesus to work by instructing the servants. She prepared them to obey his word by planting faith in them that he had power to solve the problem (Rom 1:5). She prepared them to be ready to do “whatever” he told them – to obey his word no matter how unusual or unexpected it might seem, even something which seemed unbelievable, foolish or difficult.
Mary set a good example in this matter (Luk 1:38). She knew the value of obedience through her firsthand experience. God’s work does not rely on the mere number of people but on the quality of one’s faith and obedience.
3. Read verses 6-8.
ANSWER:
Jn 2:6-8 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,
What were Jesus’ two commands to the servants?
ANSWER:
"Fill the jars with water"
"Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
What does their action of filling the jars ‘to the brim’ reveal about them?
ANSWER:
It reveals their great faith.
Jesus’ request did not make sense. He asked them to get water but they needed wine, not water. The jars were for washing.
Jesus’ request was difficult. Filling these jars involved lifting and carrying so much weight. If one gallon weighs 8.34 pounds, then each jar contained 167 to 250 pounds of water. Plus these were large stone jars (they were heavy).
These servants were probably very busy due to so many demanding guests and a prolonged wedding feast. They may already have been tired.
It reveals their obedience. They did more than they were asked. They obeyed willingly with their whole heart, filling the jars to the brim.
They could have ignored Jesus’ command with the excuse that it was foolish or too difficult.
They could have asked Jesus, “Why?” They could have complained or argued with him.
They could have done a minimum job or a half-hearted job, dragging their legs.
They were prepared to obey thanks to Mary’s prayer and personal help.
Why must it have been hard to serve this water to the banquet master?
ANSWER:
If the water turned out to be just water, they might anger their boss and lose their job. Yet, amazingly, they obeyed.
They did not sample the wine first to see if it was suitable. They did not ask Jesus if he was really sure about this request.
They seemed to have no brain. They simply trusted Jesus and overcame their reason and logic in order to obey his command.
What can we learn from them?
ANSWER:
God does a glorious, transforming miracle through Jesus’ word as we hear it, accept it, trust it and obey it (Jn 5:24-25, 6:63, 8:31-32). Like the servants, we must simply trust and obey Jesus’ word, rather than calculating.
4. Read verses 9-10.
ANSWER:
Jn 2:9-10 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "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 till now."
What had happened to the water in the jars?
ANSWER:
It turned into wine, the best wine ever tasted on earth.
The master of the banquet acted as an impartial, unbiased taste tester. He certified that Jesus’ wine was the best.
Who knew where this wine came from?
ANSWER:
The servants who obeyed Jesus’ two commands (9)
Mary (5)
The disciples (11)
How did this miracle change the wedding feast?
ANSWER:
The circumstances were now completely reversed: The wedding was doomed but now it was blessed. They now had 180 gallons of the best wine to celebrate with.
What can we learn from Jesus?
ANSWER:
He came to bless all mankind, just as he blessed the wedding. He came to bring us happiness (Jn 15:11, 17:13) and life to the full (Jn 10:10) in a love relationship with him (Jn 3:29).
He has power to change anyone.
The law of Moses is perhaps represented by the water for ceremonial washing
The old works of the law cannot really cleanse or transform our inner person. In contrast, the revealing of Jesus’ glory and power makes us a new person (Jn 1:17, 2Co 5:17).
The first miracle of Moses turned water into blood; the first miracle of Jesus turned water into wine. Turning water into blood shows the terrors of the curse of the law – the law results in death. Turning water into wine shows the blessings of Jesus who was made curse for us. It shows that his ministry brings life – full life.
5. Read verse 11.
ANSWER:
Jn 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
What did Jesus reveal through this miracle?
ANSWER:
His glory.
By entering into the humble tent of his human body (Jn 1:14), Jesus’ glory as God the One and Only was veiled. But now, by this miracle, his glory was revealed.
What is Jesus’ glory?
ANSWER:
The word “glory” means splendor, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace – a most exalted state.
Jesus’ glory refers to the attributes he possessed as God the One and Only: His surpassing greatness, goodness, majesty, power, etc.
After seeing Jesus’ first miraculous sign, what did His disciples do?
ANSWER:
They “put their faith” in Jesus.
This revelation of Jesus’ glory captured them. They saw a glimpse of one worthy of their adoration and of their life’s devotion and their trust. Jesus was revealed as the true bridegroom of his church (Jn 3:29, Mat 13:44, Isa 55:5).
Conclusion:
Praise Jesus our Lord who is concerned about our true happiness. May the Lord Jesus help us trust and obey his word so that his glory may be revealed to us personally. Amen.
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