FHCC
20251116 Worship
Isaiah 46:3ESV
Psalm 24:5ESV
John 2:1–11NKJV
- IntroductionTuesday and Wednesday of this week Chase County experienced a phenom that is not normal. I noticed several of you posted on Social media pictures of the red and green hues in our sky.I’ve yet to learn any proposed significance to these lights the fact that the aurora borealis was observed this far south. Nobody is blaming climate change, I have not heard of extra-terrestrial visitors, even “smoke from Canadian wildfires” have not been credited. Similarly, I’ve not heard of any belief systems that have changed. It has simply been a “wow, isn’t that cool” type of phenom.Sometimes and event is just an event to notice and remember, other times an event contains a meaning or a message that changes those who see it. It is this second type of event that the Gospel of John calls a sign—a sign that breeds belief. John’s Gospel frequently mentions signs and subsequent belief,Jn 2:11 - the first of his signsJn 2:18 - What sign do you show us?Jn 2:23 - when they saw the signs that he was doingJn 3:2 - no one can do these signs that you doJn 4:48 - Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believeJn 4:54 - this was no the second sign that Jesus did...These 6 references are just in the first 4 chapters of John’s gospel. There are many more references and the importance of signs is picked up again by John as he penned the book of the Revelation.Several experiences or visions have prompted the initiation of many world religions, but John seems to hold that belief is not based upon wishes, but upon evidence that can be observed and tested. John, along with his brother James and Simon who was renamed Peter were in Jesus’ inner, inner circle.Jesus called 12, he sent out 72, but there were only 3 with him at some of the most intimate moments of his life (the Garden of Gethsemane, the mount of Transfiguration, and others). John was the last Gospel written, but it was written by someone who well understood life of Jews in the time of Jesus. Before John loses his memories, he writes the memoirs of what convinced him to believe, a belief that sustained him until the end of his life.I don’t have words or a photo to convince you that the sky was red earlier this week. But enough people have seen it and testified of it that it would be unreasonable for you to doubt that it happened. In the same way, John tells us that Jesus did so many things that were observed and told by others that it caused them to believe, so it is only reasonable that we believe as well.The first sign is what we call a “nature miracle” - every single grape you have ever eaten was once water. Jesus just super accelerates the process and he does it better than those who had harvested and fermented the earlier wine.TRANSITION: Join me as we look at the testimony of an eyewitness to an event that caused people to believe that Jesus was no ordinary man.Jesus - Involved in a Community (John 2:1-3)Jesus participates in a PLACENew Testament scholars attest that the author of this 4th Gospel was especially accurate in his depiction of places in surrounding Jerusalem before the fall of A.D. 70. When John names a village and a region, there is no reason to doubt its historicity.On some specific Tuesday in a known, but obscure village, there was a wedding (normally a 7 day feast) that had been going on long enough that they ran out of wine.In contrast to “long, long ago in a place far, far away...” John names the day of the week, the name of the village, and at least 14 of the guests as well as household servants who could testify to the accuracy of his tale.Jesus participates in RELATIONSHIPSWe don’t know Mary’s relation to the father of the bride. But we do see Jesus’ relation to at least 13 of the guests.He is there as a son.He is there as an invited guest (he must have known the family)He is there as the Rabbi or teacher of a group of disciples.Jesus is no stranger who just happens to drop by. He (or at least his mother) is known well enough that the servants do exactly what she tells them, which is to do whatever he says.TRANSITION: At an event that happened in a real place with real people, Jesus’s presence is different than many citizens in our world today.Jesus contributes as a BLESSING, not a BURDENCities on both the East and West coasts in our nation just elected mayors based largely upon promises to people who expect society to give to them, rather than for them to contribute to their community.The longest shut-down of our federal government just ended on Wednesday evening, after an attempt, or at least a delayed one to win favor of citizens by underwriting healthcare insurance expenses.It’s been a minute since the ethos of our country was “Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country.”Jesus was not just an anonymous participant, he was not a parasite who expected to take without giving. He was a benefactor who left the wedding better than when he came.Would the same thing be said of your contribution to our county, state or country when your days end?TRANSITION: Not only does John mention where Jesus intervenes, but he highlights when he did it. It wasn’t just a Tuesday (third day), it was before Jesus’ hour had come.Jesus Enters the constraint of Time (John 2:4-5)Over time vines turn water into grapes and fermentation turns grapes into wine.1. What makes this event a miracle?Is it because a feast is enabled to continue?Is it a provision of excessive alcohol?Is it a rescue of a father’s reputation?Is it unheard of that water would become wine?2. John highlights time and timeless.Was the hour that had not come, the era when Jesus would do miracles?Why does Jesus begin now to do miracles?John doesn’t call this a miracle, he calls it a sign.Each of Jesus’ miracles was primarily a testament to His divinity, His superiority, and His authority.Jesus did not do miracles to show off. He did signs to prove He was no ordinary man.The timeless One entered into our world. While yielding to the constraints of our sequence of events, John 1 testifies that He existed before matter or space, and Revelation states that He will reign when time is no more.Servants obeyed without knowing why (John 2:6-8)Will you do me a favor? If I asked you this question, most of you would give a “qualified yes” or a “depends on what it is”Those responses are wise since I am a fallen human. Our country has no kings but King Jesus, and our church has no kings and no oligarchs, just entrusted leaders and one King Jesus. The servants in today’s narrative respond immediately, with no reservation or qualifications.The Purpose of Water - religiosity (Jn 2.6)1. This water was not for drinking.2. This water was not for doing dishes, wiping tables, or removing dirt from hands or feet.Purification—the process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges.[i]3. Jesus uses something religious to teach something theological. His authority was greater than routine rituals.The Amount of Water - 120+ gallons (Jn 2.6b)1. Since gallons were not a measure in the first century, what did John actually say?2. The text says 2 or 3 metretas3. According to Greek dictionaries, it connects to Hebrew word used by Jewish historians.4. A metretes was 39 liters, or about nine gallons [ii] and John’s text says each jar was 2 or 3 of these (so translators substitute “20 or 30 gallons” for 78-117 liters times 6 = 468 -702 liters total.5. In a day when the water did not come from a spigot, but only a well or stream, drawing this much water would be a significant ask of these servants.TRANSITION: Now that we know what was done and why, I’d like to highlight some observations John makes about this sign.Better than... (John 2:9-11)Jesus’ wine was better than the first (Jn 2.10)I don’t know the difference between good wine and bad vinegar, but this man who was in charge of all the feast details claims Jesus’ wine was noticeable better.Jesus’ glory was better than Moses or DavidThe glory associated with ritual observance is eclipsed by the glory of one who steps out of eternity and controls the flow of time.Jesus’ sign results in BELIEF (Jn 2.11b)His disciples - even before the miracle, these men are identified back in Jn 2.2 as his disciples. These men had already heard or seen something that made them willing to follow this teacher.As a simple, quick bonus observation, look quickly at Jn 2:12 - As protestants we believe Mary and Joseph had other children after Jesus was born. Here the Bible speaks of his brothers. Some try to explain this away as if the Bible is speaking of brothers and sister in God’s family. But notice Jn 2.12 mentions both his siblings AND his followers. When I was in Bible college we were taught a principle of Bible interpretation that says “when the plain sense, makes sense, seek no other sense.”believed - now their following (as students follow a teacher) becomes something more. Their following becomes belief.the top gloss (the possible ways a word can be used) in BDAG isA Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (πιστεύω) “to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust”following (curiosity? hope?) becomes worthy of one’s trust.ConclusionThis 3rd subpoint of the 4th point of this sermon is the hook that ties it all together. This is not a story that teaches God is okay with celebratory alcohol. It is not a story that merely wows us into being impressed by an illusionist.It is a testament that demands a decision. Have you seen enough evidence to believe that Jesus is not some ordinary man? Are you convinced that He is God in flesh?This is the first of several signs that tell us Jesus has divine authority and he gives abundant (undeserved, amazing, extravagant) gifts.That greatest gift is the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation that ends the wrath of God. It is what we call the Gospel.We’ve just spent 10 weeks looking at wisdom and foolishness, the wisest thing you could do today is to become convinced that Jesus was God and that He continues to offer something greater than 150 gallons of great wine — he offers a remedy for the sin problem that plagues all of us![i] Easton, M. G. 1893. In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature, 567. New York: Harper & Brothers.[ii] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 643. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
John 2:10NKJV
John 2:11NKJV
John 2:10NKJV
John 2:11NKJV
John 2:10NKJV
John 2:11NKJV
- My Faith Has Found a Resting Place
2 Corinthians 13:14ESV
