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Sermon: The Unexpected Glory at the Wedding Feast (John 2:1-11)

Grace and peace be with you as we begin this New Year and celebrate the revelation of Jesus’ glory. Amen.

After the whirlwind of Christmas and the testimony of John the Baptist, we move quickly in the Gospel of John to the very first public sign—first miracle—performed by Jesus: the wedding feast at Cana. This is not a grand, world-shaking event, but a small, embarrassing social crisis at a party. Yet, within this quiet moment, the glory of God is revealed, setting the stage for Jesus’ entire ministry.

1. The Crisis of the Ordinary (John 2:1-5)

A wedding in first-century Galilee was not a single afternoon event; it was a multi-day feast, a sign of honor and prosperity for the families involved. For the hosts to run out of wine was more than just awkward; it was a profound social disgrace that would damage their reputation for years.

Wedding as a Covenant Event: A wedding was the central social event in a family's life, often lasting several days (sometimes up to a week). It was the public covenant between two families. To host such an event was to affirm one's honor and standing in the community.

Wine as a Symbol of Joy and Blessing: Wine was not merely a beverage; it was the essential symbol of joy, abundance, and God's blessing upon the new union. To run out of wine was effectively to say, "The joy has failed," or "Our blessing has dried up."

In the middle of this domestic crisis stands Mary, Jesus’ mother. She simply states the facts to her son: “They have no wine.” (v. 3).

Mary’s simple request is an act of profound faith. She brings the most common, everyday problem to the Son of God. She understood that even the small, ordinary embarrassments of life were within His purview. Jesus’ reply—“My hour has not yet come” (v. 4)—is a gentle reminder that His timing is divine, but Mary doesn’t argue. She simply tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

This is my absolute favorite lesson from the Bible! The reason it’s my favorite? When Jesus tells his mother, his Jewish mother, it’s not his time yet, what does she do? Totally ignores his response and tells the servants, “do whatever he tells you”! She wasn’t having it, she was his mother and he was going to fix this, because she knew he could!

This is our first great lesson: Bring your everyday needs, your practical embarrassments, and your ordinary crises to Christ. And then, heed Mary’s command: Do whatever He tells you.

2. The Abundance of the Divine (John 2:6-10)

Jesus directs the servants to six stone water jars; the kind used for ceremonial purification—the washing required by Jewish law. These jars represented the rigid requirements and endless routines of the old covenant. They were designed to hold water for cleansing, not wine for celebration.

Jesus tells the servants two simple things: “Fill the jars with water.” (v. 7), and then, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” (v. 8).

Imagine the servant’s confusion! They fill massive stone jars with common water, and then, without any fanfare or spoken spell, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary. The chief steward tastes it and, having no idea of the miracle, declares it the best wine, saved until last.

This abundance is the second great lesson:

• Jesus doesn’t just meet a need; He provides excess. Six stone jars held around 120-180 gallons of water. This was an extravagant, glorious, overwhelming amount of wine.

• The New is Better than the Old. The water of purification (the Law) is transformed into the wine of celebration (the Gospel). Jesus takes the things we use to try to clean ourselves and transforms them into the source of true joy.

3. The Revelation of Glory (John 2:11)

The final verse states, “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

The miracle at Cana was not primarily a lesson in hospitality; it was a sign—a pointer—to Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God. His glory was revealed not in a thunderous pronouncement, but in a quiet act of grace that saved a family from disgrace.

The world runs out of wine. It runs out of joy, it runs out of solutions, and it runs out of grace. But Jesus reveals that in Him, there is always new wine, always surprising abundance, and always the best of God’s gifts saved for His people.

As we start this new year, may we remember that the Lord of the universe cares about the small crises in our homes. And when we follow His simple commands—filling the jars of our lives with obedience—He transforms our ordinary efforts into extraordinary glory. Amen.