“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

017 - Jesus Attends A Wedding
How to Get God’s Best for Your Life

Isn’t a wedding a fun event to attend? Do you remember your wedding? Have you attended someone else’s wedding lately? I declared at our wedding (after a SONday morning worship service) “We want to get married!” We almost ran out of food at the reception! Wedding customs vary in other countries and cultures.

We are in John 2:1-12. Jesus and His followers attend a wedding. What does this teach us about how to get God’s best for our life?

Go Where Jesus Is! – John 2:1-2

Jesus is visiting in Cana of Galilee, about 5 miles N. of Nazareth. At this time, we only know of 5 disciples that are traveling with Him.

Jesus’ presence at the wedding further establishes God’s endorsement of the institution of marriage (which has always been undisputed as the union of one man and one woman for life)!This modern notion that same sex couples can “get married” is an abomination to the life of Jesus and the teachings of God’s word! We will deal with that later in “Walking With Jesus”.

Have you ever gone to a party and they didn’t have enough food or beverage? My wife and I have been to such and once or twice hosted one.

In the middle of this wedding, well before the festivities are over, they run out of wine. This will be an extremely bad reflection on the groom who hasn’t prepared enough for the guests. How embarrassing to run out of something to drink before the crowd has even started to leave!

Trust His Wisdom! – John 2:3-5

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is somehow be involved in the serving of food at the feast for the wedding. She believes that her Son can do something about it. So she challenges Jesus to find a solution.

Jesus addresses His mother as “woman” instead of “mother”. This may be a statement that He is now a grown man and not a “son”.He is now transitioning from “son” to “Lord”! The reference may be somewhat in humor, but it is definitely not in disrespect.

Jesus’ reply to His mother reflects that it is not time for Him to be doing anything that is miraculous. “My time has not yet come” will be used four more times in John’s Gospel.(“My time has come” will later be mentioned 3 times.)

Jesus appears to refuse to help His mother with this problem. However, she trusts His ability to do something so she tells her helpers to do what ever He says. She knows that she can trust her Son to find a solution to the situation. Nothing indicates that she is expecting the miracle that follows.

Obey His Commands! – John 2:6-8

Jesus instructs the helpers to fill six water jugs that are nearby with water. These jars hold from 20-30 gallons of water that is normally used for purification rites. They go to the community well and fill the jugs. Meanwhile, some of the guests are getting thirsty! Completely out or just low?

Upon returning, Jesus tells them to take some of it to the person who is in charge of the feast. Somewhere between drawing the water and it arriving before the master of the feast, it becomes a very fine wine!

Reap His Blessings! – John 2:9-12

Normally, the best wine is served first. The guests will be somewhat under the influence when the cheaper wine comes out and won’t notice the inferior quality as much. Not so in this situation. The master of the feast comments (criticizing or commending?) to the groom that the new wine is better than the first. That is not how things are normally done. Sometimes, breaking the routine is the solution to the problem!

The wine that Jesus has just made is better than that which was served first. Jesus could not do less than the best. To create a “regular” or “inferior” wine is against His nature as God’s Son. This is the first sign that Jesus does to establish who He is as the Son of God! Much greater miracles are yet to be seen.

CONCLUSION

John only records seven of Jesus’ “signs”. All of them are related to Jesus as the “Word of Life”.

Next Week: After the wedding, Jesus goes to Capernaum where He will “reside” during most of the next three years. His mother and disciples accompany Him. We will accompany Him also as we continue “Walking With Jesus”! This event took place just before the first Passover after Jesus was immersed. Three years from this Passover, He will die on the cross for your sins and mine!