You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace.
Join us.
We are continuing our study of John's Gospel this morning in chapter 2, where we're going
to read of one of those greater things that last week Jesus told his disciples they would
see as they follow him.
This is, as Derek said, the story of Jesus turning the water into wine at a wedding reception.
Before we read it, ask yourself if this is the way that you would have started Jesus' ministry
if you were his PR consultant.
If you wanted to introduce Jesus with a big splash, I mean, don't you think for the first
miracle, maybe like a resurrection would have been a good idea?
Something really big?
One thing scholars have observed over the years is that this reality testifies to the historicity
of this story, that it really happened, that it's not the way that someone else seeking
to promote Jesus and make him into something he wasn't, that's not really the plan they
would have come up with.
John is telling us what really happened.
And there's so many things to love about this miracle.
We can't talk about them all this morning.
It speaks to the blessing of marriage, to have Jesus' first miracle in that context.
It shows that Jesus provides for the smallest needs in your life.
This first public miracle basically removes some embarrassment from a couple of unprepared teenagers.
What a kind, kind King Jesus is to all of us, right?
But none of these are really at the heart of the story itself.
Let's read it together and think about the first taste we get of the one John has told
us has come to bring life to the world.
John chapter 2 at verse 1.
On the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.
And when the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him,
They have no wine.
And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does this have to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.
His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification,
each holding 20 or 30 gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water.
And they filled them up to the brim.
And he said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.
So they took it.
When the master of the feast tasted the water, now become wine,
and did not know where it came from,
though the servants who had drawn the water knew,
The master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him,
Everyone serves the good wine first,
and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine.
But you have kept the good wine until now.
This, the first of his signs,
Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,
and manifested his glory.
And his disciples believed in him.
Thus far, God's holy, inerrant, infallible word for which we give him thanks.
Amen.
I'm so thankful there's something more, he said.
A Southwood man was recounting to me this week one of his best days,
personally and professionally.
He got an award.
He shared the celebration with people he really loves.
And then as people returned to their home,
and he was by himself,
he felt a gnawing sense of the emptiness,
of even the best days.
He had known, he'd anticipated this moment,
that it wasn't completely going to satisfy him,
and sure enough, in that moment of success,
his thought was,
I'm so thankful there's something more.
Later that same day,
another of our members said the very same thing to me.
I'm so thankful there's something more.
But she was feeling that,
not on one of her best days,
but on one of her worst days.
She was hurting.
Grieving the loss of her husband.
Not wanting to be dealing with the difficulties
that she was facing that day.
The pain felt fresh again,
and the emptiness of life in a broken world was palpable.
And her smile, through the tears,
came from a hope, she said,
for the future, a promise of reunion,
evidence all around her of God's faithfulness,
and experience that she was having
of Jesus' presence with her
on even the hardest and worst of days.
Whether it's on our best day,
or our worst day,
and most of us, most days are somewhere in between,
we know what it's like to taste emptiness, don't we?
To feel something is missing,
to long for something more.
If you are honest,
I think every single one of us,
somewhere in our lives this morning,
there's a hunger that we feel,
and Jesus comes to meet you right there.
Wherever it is you're feeling that hunger,
he promises to provide a fullness of life
that is not found anywhere else.
He gets the emptiness.
He comes to bring something entirely new
that will truly satisfy you.
That's what this story is about.
This story is about that new fullness.
You feel that hunger,
that longing,
you can begin to taste the sweetness of Jesus,
and then over time you realize
that Jesus fulfills you like nothing
and no one else.
Jesus can be yours today
and forevermore.
Look at this story again.
Jesus' first public miracle,
changing water into wine.
Certainly that is an amazing act of power, right?
I can't do that.
But he's not merely putting his divine power
on display randomly,
like he just decided to pull a rabbit out of a hat
and it would be the same thing.
No, the point of this story
is not that if you have a wedding
and you run out of wine,
Jesus might be able to help.
And thankfully, it's so much more than that.
No, John tells us at the end of this passage
that this is a sign
that points to Jesus' glory.
We're gonna run into several of these
in John's account of Jesus' life.
signs, pointers that reveal to us
something about who Jesus is,
that validate his claims that he's making.
They're signs to point us to Jesus.
And the result of this sign
is that his disciples see Jesus
and put their trust in him.
Again, it's not a big splash
in front of thousands of people.
In fact, some of the only people at the wedding
who even know what Jesus does,
that he's the one that's made this happen,
are what?
The servants.
They remind me of the shepherds
who hear the angelic announcement
and get to rush to Bethlehem
and see the baby in the manger.
The servants know where the wine comes from.
Jesus' entrance onto the public stage,
like his entrance into the world,
brings the lowliest,
the most marginalized people
into the center of his kingdom.
Don't you love that?
God is telling us this story
so that even those of us
who feel most distant from him this morning
might follow the sign
and believe,
or believe again,
in Jesus,
in who he is
and what he provides for us.
So let's get to it.
Let's see what is the sign,
this new life,
this fullness found nowhere else.
How is that in Jesus?
Maybe you hear that and you say,
I've already rejected the notion
that Jesus could bring that.
But I would ask you this morning,
you're here,
are you hungry enough
to listen to what he promises to bring
if you believe in him?
It may be different from what you expect.
You may meet the real Jesus
and find him not to be
what you always thought.
First, Jesus offers fullness of joy.
In the Bible,
wine is a symbol of gladness.
Yes, also at times,
its bitterness is highlighted.
Yes, there are certainly places
where we're warned against its abuse.
We should take those warnings very seriously.
But in this story,
Jesus uses his miraculous power
to provide about 150 gallons or so.
That's a lot.
of excellent wine to keep a party going.
Now listen, there is no question,
if you read the life of Jesus,
if you listen to his teachings,
he will call us to suffering
and self-denial
because if we're following in his steps,
that's a big part of what
life with Jesus looks like.
But even those experiences
come within the new life
full of joy that Jesus brings.
This kingdom I bring,
Jesus announces here,
is a feast to enjoy,
not merely a job to do.
It's a relationship to cherish,
not merely a set of beliefs
to assent to.
It's a celebration to bring you joy,
not merely work to bring you a wage.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good,
the psalmist says.
Taste the wine I bring,
Jesus says,
that I give overflowing,
filled to the brim,
the best wine of the whole feast,
and experience as you taste it,
the lavish, gracious Lord of all creation
who gives so many choice fruits
to his creatures.
Every kind that he created for you
to eat and drink and enjoy.
See, he wants us to taste and see,
not just think about.
Jeremy's already made fun
of intellectual Presbyterians,
but there's some seriousness there,
isn't there?
It's more than thinking.
That's why he often pictures
his kingdom as a feast,
an eternal banquet.
It's throughout the Bible.
Isaiah 25 pictures the coming kingdom
of Jesus this way.
On this mountain where Jesus
is gonna play out his kingdom,
the Lord of hosts will make
for all peoples a feast of rich food,
a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow,
of aged wine well-refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast
over all peoples,
the veil that is spread
over all nations.
He will swallow up death forever.
And the Lord God will wipe away tears
from all faces.
And the reproach of his people
he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
You wanna talk about joy?
No more tears.
Death swallowed up
in the victory of Jesus.
And then in that context,
a feast of the richest foods,
the most delicious things you've eaten,
the choice wine laid out for you
for all peoples to gather together
and enjoy with him.
That is a joy that Jesus is offering
that no one and nothing else in this world
can offer to you.
And he's giving us a taste
at the wedding in Cana
that fullness of joy
is found in him.
18th century preacher Jonathan Edwards
famously described
what I think Jesus is pointing to
with this miracle of water to wine.
Edwards says,
it's the difference between
believing that honey is sweet,
have you heard that it is?
And actually tasting
the sweetness of honey.
Have you had honey before?
Jesus has come
so that we can actually
taste
fullness
of joy,
life
to its fullest,
the things we
long to
experience.
Is there a hunger
somewhere in your
heart today?
Maybe you've
tasted a lot
of what the world
has
to offer.
But there's this
gnawing ache
for something
more than that.
or maybe you've
been sitting
in church
your whole life
but you've
just kind of
started to realize
that
I've never
tasted this
myself.
I didn't know
I was invited
to the feast.
You've just
watched
and listened
to others
talk about
the feast
and thought
about whether
you might like
or whether
you ever
could be able
to actually
experience
these things.
You hear other
people talking
about relationships
with God
walking with
Jesus
talking to
him
and you're
thinking
is that
for me?
Would you
give Jesus
a taste
today?
See if he's
not just
sweet and
delightful
also
fulfilling
eventually
deeply
fulfilling
as well.
See I think
the problem
for many of us
maybe for
you
is that
you've been
told
Christianity
is not
honey
it's not
wine
it's
broccoli
kids
who wants
broccoli
for lunch
hands up
broccoli
for lunch
a big
good
some of you
have good
parents who
have taught
you to eat
your vegetables
vegetables
most of us
aren't excited
about broccoli
you've been
told though
that it's
something you
should eat
but you don't
really have to
like it
I mean it's
good for you
but you won't
enjoy it
I've talked
to enough
of you
to know
that many
of you
grew up
in church
and experienced
Christianity
as a somber
rule following
restrictive
don't smoke
drink
chew
or go
with girls
who do
that was
what it
meant
to be a
Christian
you were
told you
needed it
but you
weren't
expected
to like
it
to be
honest
if that's
your
experience
you
may well
have been
offered that
by someone
who only
knew
Christianity
in that
way
that that
was the
only thing
they had
experienced
of it
please hear
me this
morning
that's
not
what
Jesus
offers
I'm
so
thankful
there is
something
more
young
people
please
don't
think
that
the
idea
is
I've
got
to
get
to
college
to
go
find
real
life
out
there
somewhere
and in
the
meantime
I'm
supposed
to sit
in
church
because
I
need
to
get
into
heaven
because
that's
important
eventually
but I'm
going to
have to
go
searching
somewhere
else
for
real
life
and
true
joy
that's
a
lie
Jesus
invites
you
to
feast
with
him
now
a
feast
where
you
eat
deeply
and
you're
really
satisfied
he wants
you actually
to taste
it
to experience
living
with him
because
life
in his
kingdom
in relationship
with him
is an
adventure
of
pain
that has
a purpose
it's a
journey
where you're
never truly
alone
where you're
always
ultimately
safe
and where
you're
never
without
hope
no matter
what
happens
it's a
celebration
with joy
that never
ends
and people
don't have
to leave
and be
gone
and tears
don't come
back
don't you
want your
friends
to have
that kind
of joy
on their
best days
and on their
worst days
you might
need to
share a
taste
of it
how does
that develop
where do
you get
that
fullness
of joy
let's
notice
the details
of the
sign
that point
to how
Jesus
gives us
that life
there's
this
confusing
interaction
here
between
Jesus
and his
mother
right
it's
hard
to
understand
Mary
comes
and she
highlights
the need
of the
hour
Jesus
they
have
no
wine
problem
and the
best ways
that we
translate
his
response
sound
like
and have
always
sounded
to me
like
nope
I will
not
help
anybody
else
read it
that way
that's
a
misunderstanding
okay
let me
show you
we know
that
because
Mary
understands
what
Jesus
say
to mean
that he
will
help
just
do
whatever
he
tells
you
she
says
always
a good
posture
toward
Jesus
right
and
we
know
it
because
Jesus
immediately
does
help
right
he
must
not
be
saying
the
opposite
so
go
back
and
look
at
what
Jesus
is
contemplating
here
he
says
my
hour
has
not
yet
come
we
are
going
to
read
through
the rest
of
John's
gospel
over
the next
several
decades
and
what
you're
going
to
see
is
I
love
that
y'all
are
excited
about
that
me
too
when
this
word
hour
is
used
over
and
over
it
is
referring
to
the
hour
of
Jesus
death
Jesus
is
contemplating
his
death
best
I
can
tell
what
Jesus
is
saying
is
no
wine
that's
not
hard
today
no
big
deal
because
this
is
not
yet
the
hard
day
when
the
wine
needed
will
be
my
blood
don't
agree
with
me
that's
okay
watch
what
happens
it's
going
to
get
us
there
anyway
we're
told
that
these
stone
water
jars
were
there
for
the
Jewish
rites
of
purification
this
is
ritual
washing
that
God's
people
would
do
over
and
over
often
multiple
times
a day
every
time
they
entered
the
temple
for
example
to
make
them
clean
for
God's
presence
so
that
they
are
able
to
be
in
relationship
with
him
that's
what
the
jars
are
there
for
but
those
six
jars
are
empty
seven
in
fact
is
the
complete
number
that
system
is
incomplete
not
bad
but
incomplete
Jesus
comes
to bring
true
cleansing
that
fully
and
finally
once
and
for
all
brings
peace
with
God
that
the
repeated
washings
and
sacrificings
and
law
abidings
could
never
fully
and
finally
bring
when
Jesus
produces
wine
what does
he do
he
covers
the
shame
of
this
groom
and
he
gives
him
credit
that
he
doesn't
deserve
isn't
that
awesome
do you
see
the
goodness
and
the
grace
of
this
sign
what
it's
pointing
to
what
Jesus
does
for
us
now
we
know
what
Jesus
was
contemplating
right
he
does
all
this
through
his
death
cleansing
us
from
all
our
sins
welcoming
us
into
relationship
with
God
making
peace
for
us
with
God
when
we
were
God's
enemies
unable
to come
into
his
presence
can you
imagine
living
where you
always
needed
to be
cleansed
again
to be
with
God
to
talk
to him
in
prayer
to feel
at home
with
him
maybe
you
can
maybe
you're
thinking
gosh
well
that's
the only
way
I
imagine
God
and
relating
to
him
constantly
my
whole
life
it's
been
keep
clean
or
keep
your
distance
and
I've
gone
back
and
forth
trying
to
figure
this
God
out
I'm
so
thankful
there's
something
more
than
that
way
of
relating
to
God
Jesus
says
fullness
of
life
with
me
means
trust
me
to
have
washed
you
once
and
for
all
and
taste
the
grace
of
God
fullness
of
peace
with
him
in
such
a
way
that
you're
no
longer
ashamed
can
you
imagine
know
God
so
closely
that
you
come
to
trust
his
heart
his
sovereign
wisdom
tastes
sweeter
to
you
it
makes
your
worry
and
control
feel
empty
in
comparison
relate
to
God
so
personally
that
you
bring
your
anxiety
and
your
hurts
and
your
confusion
and
even
your
anger
to
him
and
you
pour
it
all
out
and
at
the
same
time
know
that
you're
at
peace
because
the
blood
of
Jesus
brings
you
to a
God
who
has
tasted
your
pain
who
has
entered
into
it
who
hasn't
left
you
alone
there
and
who
washes
all
your
sins
away
so
that
you
can
be
near
to
him
so
there's
fullness
of
peace
that
you
can
never
ever
be
separated
from
God
actually
taste
the
wine
that
brings
you
peace
you
can
come
to
him
today
maybe
you
never
have
and
you
can
drink
with
God
in
the
midst
of
real
life
and
honest
emotions
you
can
rest
in
him
forever
taste
and
see
that
close
intimate
relationship
with
God
is the
last
piece
of the
full
life
I
want
us
to
see
Jesus
providing
here
I
believe
one
of
the
reasons
that
Jesus
introduces
himself
with
this
miracle
is so
that
we
will
know
he
has
not
come
merely
to be
king
or judge
not
merely
the
healer
or the
provider
but
truly
our
bridegroom
who
loves
us
more
personally
and more
perpetually
than we
can even
fathom
look at
verse 9
when
the
master
of
the
feast
tasted
the
water
now
become
wine
and
did
not
know
where
it
came
from
though
the
servants
knew
who
had
drawn
the
water
they
knew
the
master
of
the
feast
called
the
bridegroom
and
said
to
him
you
get
the
credit
everyone
serves
the
good
wine
first
and
when
people
have
drunk
freely
then
the
poor
wine
but
you
have
kept
the
good
wine
until
now
the
master
of
the
feast
didn't
know
the
source
of
the
good
wine
so
credit
goes
to
the
bridegroom
except
we
know
Jesus
is the
one
who
has
really
provided
the
best
wine
Jesus
is the
true
bridegroom
who
at the
end
to
complete
what
is
needed
is
going
to
bring
out
the
best
wine
listen
this
day
at
this
wedding
in
Cana
was
not
his
hour
it
is
not
the
full
and
finest
wine
he
will
provide
but
what
would
it
take
at
his
wedding
as
Jesus
starts
to
contemplate
this
what
would
it
take
at
his
wedding
for
his
bride
to
be
there
and
be
clean
for
him
to
have
wine
at
his
wedding
feast
we
know
now
what
Jesus
knew
then
it
would
be
his
blood
that
would
be
the
best
wine
he
would
say
the
cup
of
the
covenant
relationship
it
brings
us
clean
into
relationship
with
God
Jesus
is
telling
you
with
this
miracle
right up
front
from the
outset
that
he
loves
you
and
he
wants
you
to
taste
his
love
to
drink
deeply
of
its
fullness
in
relationship
with
him
he
wants
you
to
know
that
because
we
were
empty
unclean
unworthy
to drag
ourselves
to the
altar
for the
wedding
but
Jesus
instead
of running
off
to find
a more
beautiful
bride
Jesus
came chasing
after us
at the cost
of his
own
blood
to make
us
clean
to dress
us in
white
to pledge
himself
to us
forever
to embrace
us
passionately
and then
to come
to the
reception
and put
the
wine
of
gladness
in
our
hands
that
reception
is the
wedding
feast
of the
lamb
it's what
God's
eternal
kingdom
is
pictured
as
we read
it earlier
in
revelation
together
we heard
it promised
in Isaiah
the feast
to end
all
feasts
you don't
want to
miss this
one
our
bridegroom
swallows
up
death
forever
by dying
and achieving
victory
over death
rising
from the
grave
so that
even
death
itself
will never
separate us
from him
and his
love
forever
amen
love that
perseveres
in sickness
and in
health
for better
or worse
in joy
or sorrow
it's the
kind of
love
that we
look
desperately
for in
human
marriage
isn't
it
maybe
you're
feeling
hunger
right
there
maybe
you're
coming up
empty
there
Jesus
offers
fullness
unmarried
friends
Jesus
frees
you up
from
looking
to
marriage
the
marriage
that
left
a bad
taste
in your
mouth
or the
marriage
you've
never
tasted
either
way
you're
freed up
from looking
to marriage
to fulfill
you
there is a
fulfilling
relationship
with him
that you
can know
now
and that
will never
end
because
even
death
will not
part you
too
it already
tried that
it didn't
work
married
friends
Jesus
frees
us
up
not
to look
to
marriage
to
fulfill
us
and
to
enjoy
the
best
moments
of the
best
marriages
as
foretastes
of
love
that
sees
you
at
your
worst
and yet
embraces
you
that
holds
you
tight
and
wipes
away
your
tears
that
gives
itself
to
you
sacrificially
for
your
joy
and
your
flourishing
and
all
of
us
in
Christ
will
get
to
taste
that
love
fully
and
forever
married
or
unmarried
here
that's
the
kind
of
love
that
you'll
get
to
experience
I
had
known
about
Jesus
for
a
long
time
before
actually
tasting
the
sweetness
of
that
love
it's
not
the
sugary
sweetness
of
Kool-Aid
which
I
confess
I
really
like
both
the
drink
itself
and
the
quick
shot
of
good
feeling
that
you
get
the
praise
of
man
can
do
that
quick
shot
worldly
success
can
give
you
a
quick
shot
of
winning
a
football
game
winning
an
award
professionally
can
we
be
honest
how
quickly
that
fades
I'm
so
thankful
that
there's
something
more
my
friend
Dave
helped
me
understand
God's
love
is the
rich
sweetness
of
wine
that can
be
savored
that
really
lasts
that
truly
fulfills
it's
not
gone
the
next
day
the
love
of
Jesus
really
is
sweeter
than
the
praise
of
man
it
really
is
more
fulfilling
than
working
hard
to be
successful
to be
wealthy
to make
yourself
lovable
it
really
is
more
joyful
than
a
life
where
you're
just
trying
your
best
to
fly
right
and
hope
it
all
works
out
okay
and
that
you're
better
than
the
next
guy
there's
more
joy
than
that
I've
tasted
it
when
I
least
deserved
it
I've
tasted
it
when
I've
gone
months
without
drinking
deeply
of
it
I've
tasted
it
when
I
felt
most
unlovable
and
Jesus
has
met
me
and
put
the
cup
of
his
love
in
my
hand
and
said
drink
of
this
deeply
if
I
love
you
now
you
know
I
always
will
but
I
don't
want
you
just
to
take
that
from
me
Jesus
offers
the
cup
to
you
he
invites
you
with
any
pang
of
hunger
you're
feeling
this
morning
any
feeling
of
emptiness
any
sense
of
dissatisfaction
to come
not merely
to rules
not merely
to beliefs
but really
and truly
and personally
to him
to taste
and see
that he
is good
that in
his
presence
is
fullness
of joy
and
pleasures
forevermore
that nothing
will ever
separate you
from the
love of
God
in Christ
Jesus
your
Lord
Jesus
told his
disciples
of that
love
many
times
but at
that last
supper
especially
he said
to them
taste
and see
as they
were eating
Jesus
took bread
and he
broke it
and gave
it to his
disciples
as I'm
ministering
in his
name
give this
bread to
you
he didn't
say
think
even
contemplate
he said
take and
eat
this is
my body
that's
given for
you
do this
in remembrance
of me
and then
after supper
he took
the cup
and he
said
drink of
this cup
this is
my blood
of the
covenant
which is
poured out
for you
for the
forgiveness
of sins
drink
of this
cup
taste
and see
that I
gave my
blood
for you
because
I tell
you I'll
not drink
again of
this fruit
of the
vine
until I
drink of
it with
you
in my
eternal
kingdom
if by
faith
Jesus
is the
one who
gives
you
fullness
of joy
peace
with
God
and
unbreakable
and unstoppable
love
then come
and eat
and drink
you're going
to have
a feast
forever
you're looking
forward to that
feast
come now
he eats with
you to give
you a foretaste
of that
and his body
and blood
given for you
if that's not
your story
if you're not
sure what to
think about
Jesus this
morning
I'd invite
you not
to this
table
that is
a sign
it's a
foretaste
that points
to the
real thing
I have
the privilege
in Jesus
name
of extending
an invitation
to you
to the
real thing
you can
come
and be
there
forever
you know
what you
have to
do
trust him
have
his
blood
cover
you
it will
have
him
be the
one
who
fulfills
the
longings
of your
heart
the deepest
longings
you
have
and let
him
do
that
he
will
don't
come
this
morning
to
this
table
come
pray
with
us
sit
talk
with
him
would
you
consider
the
invitation
he
extends
to
you
to
sit
at
his
table
with
him
forever
let's
pray
Jesus
what a
gift
you
have
given
us
fullness
of life
and joy
that we
can't
find
for
ourselves
that we
can't
make
happen
that we
can't
earn
but your
body
and blood
reminds us
again this
morning
that you
have
and that
you
offer
it
freely
would
you use
these
common
elements
for a
sacred
purpose
in our
hearts
because
we've
looked
for
life
in other
places
this
week
oh
forgive
us
call us
back to
where
full
life
is
found
do that
by your
spirit
in this
time
we ask
in Jesus
name
amen
for more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org
in
on