Epiphany 2-2023

John 2:1–11 (EHV)
2 Three days later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was
there. 2Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
4Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time
has not come yet.”
5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6Six stone water jars, which the Jews used for ceremonial cleansing, were standing
there, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim. 8Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to
the master of the banquet.” And they did.
9When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had now become wine, he
did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew).
The master of the banquet called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the
good wine first, and when the guests have had plenty to drink, then the cheaper wine.
You saved the good wine until now!”
11This, the beginning of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee.
He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Dear fellow redeemed: As we continue through this epiphany season, we come fresh
from the temple where Jesus as a twelve-year old was manifest by His own word as the Son of
God. This next event, about 18 years later, is an obvious subject for our observance of the
epiphany season because 11This, the beginning of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed
in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
This week we see the significance of this miraculous sign that reveals His divinity, but we
also note the circumstance – contributing in a miraculous way to His own institution of Marriage.
We see Jesus as
THE GLORIOUS LORD OVER CREATION
I. He Put the World Together and Keeps It
II. He Put the Family Together and Keeps It
I. He Put the World Together and Keeps It
In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul writes about Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,
things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things
have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and all things hold
together in him.” (Colossians 1:15–17, EHV)
All of creation – visible and invisible is under His control and continues to exist because
of His creative word.
So, if a “sign” is a miracle that reveals something about God’s nature, mind, or will, then
this miracle, in which Jesus exercises dominion over the physical world, is surely a sign. It
reveals that here we have the Creator Himself. He didn’t make grape juice into wine, just short-
ening the time, he brought something into these jars that was not there before, changing water
into something else.
We can quickly review the event.
3
Three days later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
2Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
Mary’s concern for the embarrassment of the couple’s family, however, is not the point.
4Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not
come yet.” It is clear enough that Jesus’ agenda, not Mary’s, is at work here, and Jesus will
accomplish more than shield someone from a social gaffe. Mary understood that He did not say
“No,” so … 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
What Jesus told them was to finish filling the water jars with 120-150 gallons of water.
6Six stone water jars, which the Jews used for ceremonial cleansing, were standing there,
each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they
filled them to the brim. 8Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the
master of the banquet.” And they did.
Here John the apostolic chronicler describes the miracle in a way that makes it clear that
there is no other understanding of what happened than the one that he gives here. There was
no adding wine to water or water to wine. There was no confusing wine jars with water jars.
What went into the jars was water and what came out was wine – good wine.
9When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had now become wine, he
did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew).
The master of the banquet called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the
good wine first, and when the guests have had plenty to drink, then the cheaper wine.
You saved the good wine until now!”
John presents us with an inescapable sign: Here God has entered into His creation:
11This, the beginning of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He
revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
The One who lived a perfect life for you died your death for you, and rose again is no less
then God in the flesh, God the Son of Mary, God the Creator, God the One who will judge heaven
and earth on the last day.
II. He Put the Family Together and Keeps It
Christians have always also taken of the fact that Jesus’ presence at and contribution
toward this celebration of a marriage underscores what is written in Hebrews “Marriage is to be
held in hon