SERMON TEXT:
John 2:1-11
INTRODUCTION
There are some things in scripture that are very easy to understand. There are some things that are very difficult. Some passages qualify as milk for the baby Christian. But God also provides meat for the mature. For those who came to know the Lord later in life, you can attest to the fact that when you first started to read God’s Word on a daily basis not everything was clear. Some things were disturbing, some things were confusing. But there also was a sense that there was more to be discovered. Many of us have benefitted from a study-Bible, where the commentator explained the historical context or brought to life a connection from the old testament. And even for those who have read through the Bible multiple times we understand that there are many biblical treasures yet to be discovered, insights that are not readily apparent on the surface. How can we truly understand the Lord’s supper, if we know nothing about the passover? If we don’t know about Zechariah’s prophecy, how can we fully appreciate the triumphal entry? How can we venerate Jesus as High Priest, if we know nothing about the priesthood. But scripture will often drop us hints that the passage conceals deeper truths waiting to be uncovered. And I believe that is what John does in our text this morning when He says, “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification.”
WORSHIP IN THE OLD COVENANT
To understand John 2, we must begin with the levitical system. And the levitical system had at its center a sacred space. And this sacred space contains sacred objects, holy implements, used to perform various rituals. The tent of meeting is a portable sanctuary characterized by a series of meticulously crafted elements. First, there is a wooden frame that makes the shape of a rectangle. The frame was covered by woven fabric and constructed in such a way to facilitate efficient assembly and disassembly; it needed to be mobile. God had consigned the jews to a nomadic life. They wandered for 40 years in the wilderness due to their lack of faith. Now the frame which acted as fencing, establishes the first principle of jewish worship, separation. There’s an inside and an outside. The inside has the main courtyard, which was accessible to all the Israelites, and it contains the main sacrificial altar with a large ramp that led up to the fire. Next to that is the bronze laver for ablutions, where they would perform ceremonial purification washings. About halfway in, stood the shrine proper, where a small screen would admit only those of the tribe of levi. Inside is where the lampstand, the table of showbread, and the incense altar were housed. And then there is a shrine, within a shrine, The Holy of Holies, an inner sanctum in the shape of a perfect cube.
TRANSITIONING TO THE NEW COVENANT
Let’s look at Mark chapter 1. At this time, the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting. This is likely due to the fact that it had become customary to fast, on occasion, especially during periods of mourning. The prophet Isaiah drew this connection in Isaiah 58. And so the disciples of John were in mourning as John had recently been imprisoned. And the Pharisees were also fasting, but for a completely different reason. In the old testament, the only day where fasting was a requirement was the day of atonement according to Leviticus 16. But a pharisaical tradition had arisen and the Pharisees were fasting every Monday and Thursday. The genesis behind this practice remains a mystery as does its significance in their religious devotion. But similar to the hand washing tradition, the Pharisees were adding more and more unprescribed, external displays of righteousness to the religion.
CONTRAST #1: EXTERNAL WATER / INTERNAL WINE
The water is external, the wine is internal. if you had a skin disease, if you came into contact with an unclean animal, if you came into contact with a corpse, if you had a bodily discharge, if you touched the bed of someone with a bodily discharge, if a man lies with a woman, you had to wash your external body with water to obtain ritual purity. In contrast, the wine isn’t used for your skin; it is not a surface cleanser. The wine is ingested; it goes in your body. Christ is concerned about truth in the inward parts.
CONTRAST #2: WORK / REST
The water is characterized by toil, work, and labor. The wine is characterized by rest. The six stone jars would’ve held 20-30 gallons each. To try and visualize how much water that is, it’s approximately 6 bathtubs full. How many trips to the well would it take to fill all those? How many times per week would you have to use that water? Ritual washing had become such a chore that people avoided being made unclean at all costs.
CONTRAST #3: SORROW / JOY
Thirdly, unlike the toil characterized by the water, the wine represents joy. I love this interaction between Mary and Jesus. It says, “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.’ I don’t know exactly what happened, but it seems to be written in a way where Mary doesn’t even acknowledge Jesus’ statement. There’s an unspoken mother/son connection.
CONCLUSION: NEW COVENANT JOY ROOTED IN HOPE
Jesus wept at the death of his friend. The truth of this fallen world and the reality of death reigning over this planet cut Jesus to the heart. Grief and sorrow brought him to tears. But he did not lose his joy because Jesus knew that joy thrives and flourishes and feeds on the hope of the promises of God. The death of death is near. The promise of Isaiah and Hosea says, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Jesus foreshadows his mission by raising Lazarus from the dead. The professional mourners and wailers have nothing to cry about anymore. Mary and Martha have their brother back. And we have an example to look at. Bad things will happen in this life. People will do evil things and get away with it. Loved ones will die. Natural disasters will destroy things. We’ll be strapped with incompetent leaders. But the difference is, our joy is not diminished by any of these things because we have hope in the promises of God.