Changing from the inside out

John 2:6-10

Theme: The changes Jesus makes

I. The water

II. The wine

III. The water

Intro: Chapter two of John’s gospel begins with Jesus first miracle, changing water to wine. I find it odd the only discussion this miracle receives is that of whether the wine was real or was it grape juice and if it was real was it watered. We are spending time arguing about whether we have found a Biblical loophole that allows drinking of alcohol while we are ignoring a lesson the lord is trying to teach us. Let’s take just a moment and put this matter of alcohol content in perspective. If that is all you can find to talk about from John chapter two verses 1-11, then you better do some checking up. If you accept the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God that it contains no errors or contradiction, then you know this. The casual consumption of alcohol for pleasure or drunkenness is not tolerated in the word of God.

While this is the subject of another sermon, let’s consider the context of today’s sermon. We see Jesus, His disciples and His mother at a wedding. Why would the son of God even be at a wedding? As I said moments ago, Jesus had a lesson to teach and we have something to learn. In case you didn’t already know weddings were a big to do in Jesus day. They were approximately a year in the making, beginning with the engagement and completing about a year later in a wedding ceremony. Well were here and Jesus is present and Mary comes to Him with a problem they have no wine, the Bible doesn’t say they ran out of wine it says “they have no wine”. Then Jesus makes His very misunderstood statement “woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour has not yet come”. How does this response fit into the problem of having no wine? John records the statement “mine hour has not yet come” two more times in his gospel. Then in Chapter 17 before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus tells the Father “mine hour has come”. The time of Jesus passion had arrived. Immediately before this in John chapter 16 Jesus talks to His disciples about their sorrows being turned into joy. That’s where I want us to focus today, on the water, wine and witness of this marriage.

I. The water cleansing was an old Jewish ceremony. Like all ceremonies they are created by man for man. Ceremonies always show certain characteristics of man.

A. Intention (V.6)

The guests intended the ceremony of water to cleanse them and make them acceptable. We too have ceremonies that we intend on using to make us acceptable.

(1) Ceremonies are empty.

(2) Ceremonies create sorrow.

(3) Ceremonies create need.

B. Expectation

The guests expected a ceremony to prepare them and qualify them for the wedding feast. Some people today expect ceremony to prepare them and qualify them for heaven. Those who expect too much from ceremonies all share the same disappointments.

(1) Dissatisfied people

(2) Repetitive work

(3) Unachievable goals

C. Limitations

Ceremonies can only do so much and permit you to go so far. They have limitations; our ceremonies today have the same limitations as the one in our text.

(1) Physical – It only cleans the outside.

(2) Exhaustible – It only lasts for a short while.

II. The Wine as used in this text represents joy, were it not for Jesus there would be no Joy.

A. The wine was wanted. (V.3) when something is wanted it should tell us something about the person or people asking.

(1) Indicates a need

(2) Indicates their condition

(3) Indicates their inability

B. The wine was welcomed. (V.10) when people see their need, realize their condition and understand their inability and accept what Jesus has to offer they see what He has is.

(1) Good wine

(a) Choice – There is none better

(b) Useful – It lasts and doesn’t spoil.

(c) Virtuous – It produces only good and noble deeds.

III. The witness is merely the contrast to what the wedding feast was when the guests had only water opposed to the miracle Jesus supplied. Our passage shows us something’s we can apply to our life.

A. Ceremony will always

(1) Exhaust itself

(2) Be meaningless

(3) Require repetition.

B. Jesus will always

(1) Provide the miracle of change.

(2) Meet the needs of His own.

(3) Provide opportunity to everyone.

Conc. Jesus always has made and always will make good changes in a person’s life. Jesus can do it only if and when we ask and permit Him to do so. We can spend our entire life trying to satisfy the ever changing demands of man, going through one ceremony after another. Or we can ask Jesus to change the sorrowful waters of our life into joy and fruit and wine that only he can create and make use of. A Joy that will testify to His love, grace, goodness and mercy.