Joy

When the joy runs out, John 2:1-11

• Weddings
  • Beautiful to tragic. 
    • The first wedding I performed was a great joy. It was a lake setting, and my daughter was there and dreamed of getting married there, even that day she mentioned it. “Daddy, I wan’t to get married here” (FIRST WEDDING PIC).
    • That same young lady was recently married (2ND WEDDING PIC) And though it was not the same location, it is was even better, a lake setting just like the first one I did, but this one she walks out to a small island. (3rd WEDDING PIC)
    • The joy of a wedding.
      • • The face of the groom, the father/daughter dance
          • For me, not only walking her down but then turning around and marrying them. And of course, the reception (4th pic)
• The same emotions are in our text. 
  • Jewish weddings in the first century lasted a week. Including a parade, and non-stop celebration! 
    • Wine has an interesting symbolism in the scriptures. 

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart. Psalm 104:14–15

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1

the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men…’ Judges 9:13

• Wine represents joy, a gladness of heart! 
  • But something also happens at weddings which is the opposite of joy… Drama! 
    • In fact, a reality show was based on it called “Bridezilla”
      • Wedding gone wild

Read vs. 3,  they run out of wine. 

• Don’t underestimate this… Back then a lawsuit could be established if they ran out of wine. This was a big deal. 
  • It showed a lack of hospitality, disrespect to the master of the feast, imagine the anxiousness, the fear of those who planned and coordinated in the background! 
    • “Childhood dreams of the ideal wedding were about to dissolve into a nightmare” They are out of wine meant they were running out of joy… 
    • “Life without Christ is life without wine”  Hughes
• Is this not a metaphor for life? 
  • Does it not seem in marriage, work, parenting, that the “wine runs out”? 
  • Wine as a metaphor for joy, when the joy runs out. You can have EVERYTHING but the newness, the 
    • Ernest Hemingway story.  Know for his book “the old man and the sea”. He was a man who had it all! Some would say when writing in “the Snows of Kilimanjaro” that he was writing of himself when the wife of a dying hunter says, “Why, your’e the most complete man I’’ve ever met”. In his biography by Carlos Baker, we read these final words. 

• The book of Ecclesiastes picks up this dilemma- “Nothing new under the sun”
  • It’s all vanity, Soloman, a young king asks God for help. 
  • Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 1 Kings 3:9–13
    • He pursued pleasure, 1000 wives, he built kingdoms, planted forests, intellect, all of it, but ends with this, all is vanity. 
    • And much like the book of Ecclesiastes, our story has a similar solution. You see we must look beyond the sun for true joy! We must look to God! The difference is, in this little wedding in Cana, the God who became flesh and dwelt among us just happened to be at their wedding. 

Read vs. 4-8

• These jars were for the Jewish rites of purification. This is no small thing. 
  • A new way to be purified, the old wine is out, new wine has come! 
    • FF Bruce says, “Christ is changing the water Jewish purification into the wine of the new age” 
  • Jesus makes wine, and is it not true that Jesus brings joy? 
    • “I have come that you may have life, and that much more abundantly. 
      • Fruit of the Spirit, JOY.
• These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
  • There are sorrows, but joy is always available! 
  • to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; Isaiah 61:3
    • And this joy can grow! It does not have to fade, but like a fine wine, gets better with age! 

Read vs. 9-10

• In Christ, grace upon grace can grow into a free and joyful love of God and others! 
• We need not grow in bitterness/ etc. 
• Why? The vine of Christ’s joy is eternal. 

Vs. 11, do you believe?  GOSPEL & Communion (Tie in Advent) 

We have a wedding to attend. It’s the marriage feast fo the lamb and all those believe are invited to drink freely of his joy! 

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:9

Advent: Joy