Sermon Tone Analysis

So, we have a wedding at Cana

Read the text…

NKJV

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.”

And they filled them up to the brim.

And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.”

And they took it.

When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.

And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.

You have kept the good wine until now!”

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

Pray…

Background & Context of Weddings

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 2:3

On the backgrounds of this miracle J. D. M. Derrett pointed out among other things the strong element of reciprocity about weddings in the Ancient Near East.

It was possible in certain circumstances to take legal action against the man who failed to provide an appropriate wedding gift.

The bridegroom and family here might have been involved in a financial liability for failing to provide adequately for their guests (“Water into Wine,” BZ 7 [1963]: 80–97).

Was Mary asking for a miracle?

There is no evidence that Jesus had worked any miracles prior to this (although this is an argument from silence).

Some think Mary was only reporting the situation, or (as Calvin thought) asking Jesus to give some godly exhortations to the guests and thus relieve the bridegroom’s embarrassment.

But the words, and the reply of Jesus in v. 4, seem to imply more.

It is not inconceivable that Mary, who had probably been witness to the events of the preceding days, or at least was aware of them, knew that her son’s public career was beginning.

She also knew the supernatural events surrounding his birth, and the prophetic words of the angel, and of Simeon and Anna in the temple at Jesus’ dedication.

In short, she had good reason to believe Jesus to be the Messiah, and now his public ministry had begun.

In this kind of context, her request does seem more significant.

Potential Messages

-Don’t rush God… “women”

-God saves the best for last...

-Miracles begin, glory revealed, people believe...

This story has often raised a number of additional problems for readers.

One issue involves the role of Mary and her relationship to the wedding festival.

Another involves the way in which Jesus seems to have treated his mother.

Still another involves for some people the whole question of wine as alcohol.

Yet another of the issues involves the use of this text in Christian wedding services as a proof-text for legitimizing the church’s role in marriage.

And the list could be greatly expanded.

The text thus involves both sociological and theological issues.

Today I want us to be more like a detective or an explorer, looking for what others may just pass by…

The title of our message is SIX STONE JARS… note takers…

Our main text…

NKJV

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

Why are we here, what is important… well nothing is here by accident… so I ask you to bear with me as we examine the immense important of SIX STONE JARS

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 2:6

Significantly, these jars held water for Jewish ceremonial washing (purification rituals).

The water of Jewish ritual purification has become the wine of the new messianic age.

The wine may also be, after the fashion of Johannine double meanings, a reference to the wine of the Lord’s Supper.

A number have suggested this, but there does not seem to be anything in the immediate context which compels this; it seems more related to how frequently a given interpreter sees references to the sacraments in John’s Gospel as a whole.

We don’t have time this morning to dive into this purification topic in depth, but it is really neat stuff.

-Purification OT v NT - The water of Jewish ritual purification has become the wine of the new messianic age.

-Water & Wine

-New Wine… Jesus tells us a little something about wine…

NKJV

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined.

But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

NKJV

Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined.

But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

NKJV

But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Background & Context of Weddings

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 2:22

The meaning of the saying new wine is poured into new skins is that the presence and teaching of Jesus was something new and signaled the passing of the old.

It could not be confined within the old religion of Judaism but involved the inauguration and consummation of the kingdom of God.

Why do I read these passages…?

Because Jesus is doing something cosmically profound in

This story has often raised a number of additional problems for readers.

One issue involves the role of Mary and her relationship to the wedding festival.

Another involves the way in which Jesus seems to have treated his mother.

Still another involves for some people the whole question of wine as alcohol.

Yet another of the issues involves the use of this text in Christian wedding services as a proof-text for legitimizing the church’s role in marriage.

And the list could be greatly expanded.

The text thus involves both sociological and theological issues.

Their purpose provides a clue to one of the meanings of the story: the water represents the old order of Jewish law and custom, which Jesus was to replace with something better (cf.

1:16).

Jesus is not just starting his miracles, He’s starting a new age, the messianic age leading to the church...

Jesus is not just starting his miracles, He’s starting a new age, the messianic age leading to the church...

NKJV

Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Where is this portion of scripture?

What was Pentecost?

Here is what some OT prophs say about new wine…

NKJV

And it will come to pass in that day

And it will come to pass in that day

That the mountains shall drip with new wine,

The hills shall flow with milk,

And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water;

A fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord

And water the Valley of Acacias.

The New King James Version.

(1982).

().

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

NKJV

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,