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Sunday Sermon Outline NOTES ON THE
GOSPEL OF JOHN- PART 14
Chapter
two, verses 1- 12- “the third
day” is
believed to be three days from This incident of a miracle or “sign” =sameion- an event used to convey a spiritual or moral
lesson. There are 7 listed in
John’s gospel-(2:1-11; His intent to travel there
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Typology of the
incident:
first, the lack of wine and empty water pots depict Israel, as a nation, without the
joy of a relationship with God; second, the empty pots speak of futility of
ritual & ceremony under the Law; thirdly, the mother of Jesus asking for
assistance speaks of the plea for strength and resource by the believing Remnant
of Israel; fourth, the amazing wine indicates the joy of a new relationship with
the Messiah at His Return (miraculously accomplished); last of all, “third day”
may point to His return at end of 2000 years (day=1000
years). It is conspicuous that Mary is called “the mother of
Jesus” three
times, without being named. She may have felt a personal
responsibility to help when the wine ran out as Jesus and his disciples were
possibly unexpected guests. Her remark, “they have no
wine” may indicate some sense of expectation on Mary’s part. Although Jesus had previously done no
miracle, perhaps He had acted to attend to needs or circumstances showing mature
responsibility. In vs.4, we have Jesus’ reaction- “Woman, what does your
concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet
come.” The word, “woman”
may sound sharp or harsh in our culture, but was a term that carried no idea of
disrespect in the first century.
His question may be intended to create an appropriate distance between He and Mary in
view of His testing and baptism. He has greater responsibilities
than responding to her requests.
The phrase “my hour has not yet come” relates
to the matter of Him being subject to human control (and abuse)—see “hour” in
7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1. The “hour” encompasses His endurance of
suffering as He conforms to the Father’s will and brings glory to the
Father. His use of “hour” in ch.2:4
may be to respond to her attempt to control Him with her
request. Yet, Mary addresses the servants to do
as He tells them as she nevertheless anticipates some action by
Him. In vs.6, the waterpots were there for ceremonial cleansing as well as
simply washing (Matt.23:25-26) and Jesus directs the servants to “fill…with
water”. Ø
The spiritual lesson is that Jesus can transform the
natural into the super- natural (work of the New Birth- ch. 3)—give life where it is
not—1:4. He takes what appears “dead” and
gives it life- 11:43, Eph.2:1, Col.3:3-4.
Page 2 In vs.8-10, the writer, the
apostle John, goes into careful detail with the dialogue by the master of the
feast to show his amazement at the quality of the wine made by Jesus.
This information is supporting data to give
credence to a valid miracle by
Jesus. John then comments on vs.11 that
this was the beginning of
signs done by Jesus adding its location-
to
make visible or to be seen.
His
glory-
see And his disciples
believed on Him—does this indicate a believing unto eternal life (?)
or a believing of deeper trust (?). A question may be raised as to the
“novelty” of turning water-to-wine; that is, Could not another supernatural
event have been more effective or is there an element of entertainment in this
particular act by Jesus? John uses
“sign”-
not miracle (dynamis is used by synoptic gospels). But the purpose of the sign was to
manifest His glory (essential power as deity), not merely satiate the thirst of
guests at the wedding. But if
elements of the incident are carefully viewed, it becomes evident this was
appropriate as His first miracle: wedding- an occasion of joyous
celebration that was met by a shortage or lacking that
Jesus met by His power water- a natural element that conveys
His use of ‘means’ wine- understood to be refreshing and
associated with joy—contrasted with Moses who turned water to blood
(judgment) instantaneously done- no incantation, slight of hand or
grandstanding by Jesus master of the
feast-
used to give supporting evidence of the unusual
event of
present sign- an action intended to teach a
lesson or point to a greater truth |